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2022-December-01-Etsu Participated In National Research Symposium, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

JOHNSON CITY – Earlier this month, students from East Tennessee State University participated in the 22nd annual Appalachian Teaching Project (ATP) Symposium. The conference, supported by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and organized by the Center for Appalachian Studies and Services at ETSU, is the capstone for the ATP program. Students designed and led their own applied research projects to help address a community or economic need in their region.  

During the symposium, ETSU students from the Department of Appalachian Studies presented research from their “Appalachian Community Engagement” graduate course taught by Dr. Rebecca Adkins Fletcher.

Photo by the Appalachian …

2022-December-01-Etsu Scientist Captures State Award, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

JOHNSON CITY – Dr. Lev Yampolsky, a respected scientist who has earned prestigious grants and published on a range of topics, has won the Tennessee Academy of Sciences 2022 Distinguished College/University Scientist Award.

It is among the highest honors available to scientists in the Volunteer State.  

Yampolsky is a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at East Tennessee State University. 

“It is a great honor for me to receive the TAS Award. We have been lucky to publish a few good papers recently and this is probably what affected the choice of me among many, I am sure, highly …

2022-December-01-Etsu Releases 2022 Annual Holiday Video, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

Download the video: https://etsuur.box.com/s/8wnu9s87ictabfqyeizij4m1uenm8t00 

The holidays are a joyous time, but the season is not without its frustrations. The 2022 annual ETSU holiday video, released today, makes light of a familiar holiday fiasco, spoofing the iconic holiday lights scene from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. 

The video's plot centers on "behind-the-scenes" footage of ETSU President Dr. Brian Noland attempting to help with the campus light display. Things don't go according to plan.

ETSU's First Lady Donna Noland, Provost Dr. Kimberly McCorkle, Vice President of Student Life and Enrollment Dr. Joe Sherlin, Head Volleyball Coach Benavia Jenkins, and Head Chef …

2022-December-01-Etsu Unveils Limited Edition Holiday Ornament, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

JOHNSON CITY – East Tennessee State University has unveiled a hand-painted, limited-edition ornament for sale this holiday season.

By Artist Penny Lee Livingston

A new annual tradition, this year’s ornament features Gilbreath Hall – the building where it all began in 1911 in what was then East Tennessee State Normal School. Named for Sidney Gilbreath, the college’s first president, Gilbreath Hall is where many alumni enjoyed a performance in the Bud Frank Theatre or took their first mathematics or computer science course.  

The ornament is only available at: 

• 
  
  Bowman Jewelers, 401 W. Oakland Ave., (423) 282-8101.
• Monkee’s of Johnson …

2022-December-01-Etsu Rotc Will Commission Graduates, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

JOHNSON CITY – Family, friends and programs supporters will gather as cadets in the Army ROTC Program at East Tennessee State University will be commissioned as second lieutenants.  

The 3 p.m. ceremony is in the Brown Hall Auditorium, located on the university’s main campus along Stout and Sherrod Drive near University School, on Friday, Dec. 9.  

Dr. Tom Kwasigroch, a professor in the Department of Medical Education and recipient of the Purple Heart for his service in Vietnam, will be the guest speaker. The winner of the Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal, Kwasigroch taught at the Chemical Biological and …

2022-December-01-Etsu's Final 2022 'Heritage Day' Is Saturday, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

The great railroads from yesterday will return to life in model form at the free-admission George L. Carter Railroad Museum, located in the Campus Center Building of East Tennessee State University with “Fallen Flags.” 

The event is Saturday, Dec. 17, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 

The term “Fallen Flags” referred to the removal of real flags from a locomotive at the end of its job, organizers said. Today’s super railroads were spawned by the combing of numerous firms, and to market themselves, most of these operations had signature identities through logos, slogans, songs, paint schemes and more.

Event is from 10 …

2022-December-01-Etsu's Jessie Wang Named To Leadership Tennessee Next, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

JOHNSON CITY – An East Tennessee State University administrator has been named to the next class of Leadership Tennessee NEXT, a program designed to offer personal and professional career development for Tennessee’s best and brightest early- and mid-career professionals. 

Jessica “Jessie” Wang, assistant dean of Equity, Inclusion and Student Success with ETSU’s Clemmer College, has been selected as one of 29 professionals named across the state.  

Wang holds a bachelor’s degree from Emmanuel College in counseling psychology, and a master's degree from Harvard University in higher education, where her research centered on fostering historically underrepresented student success at predominantly white …

2022-December-01-Knoxville Native Builds Career Through Hands-On Experience At Etsu, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

JOHNSON CITY – As her high school graduation drew near, Knoxville native Haley Mullins toured colleges not far from where she grew up. 

“None felt like home,” she said. “The day I stepped foot on ETSU’s campus, I knew I was home. Nestled in the mountains and filled with an abundance of kind and hospitable people, it was easy to make ETSU my next adventure.” 

Mullins is set to graduate later this month with a master’s degree in brand and media strategy, her second degree from ETSU. And during her time in Johnson City, she has gained experience that …

2022-December-01-Foster, Thornton To Speak At Etsu Commencement, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

JOHNSON CITY – East Tennessee State University will celebrate more than 1,500 members of the Class of 2022 during two Commencement ceremonies held at the Ballad Health Athletic Center on Saturday, Dec. 10.

During the 10 a.m. ceremony, Dr. Cerrone Foster, recipient of the university’s 2022 Distinguished Faculty Award in Teaching, will be the keynote speaker. Foster is a teaching scientist at ETSU for more than a decade and in 2022 was named interim director of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities. She is also the recipient of the 2022 Notable Women of ETSU. 

At the 2 p.m. ceremony, Larry …

2022-December-01-Levy Named World Powerlifting Champ, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

JOHNSON CITY – Earning a Doctor of Pharmacy degree is a heavy lift for most student pharmacists, but East Tennessee State University Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy second-year student Brie Levy’s strength goes well beyond the classroom.

Levy, from Chattanooga, was recently named a World Powerlifting Champion in three categories for her weight class – bench press, deadlift and squat – while competing with Team USA in the International Powerlifting League Drug Tested Worlds in Surfers Paradise, Australia. In addition, she broke eight world records, six national records and eight Tennessee records.

“It is really cool knowing that I have …

2022-December-01-Etsu's University Chorale Touring East Tennessee, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

JOHNSON CITY – The award-winning East Tennessee State University Chorale, under the direction of Dr. Alan Stevens, is touring much of the region in early January.

Concerts run Jan. 8-15

The Chorale is the premier auditioned choral ensemble in the ETSU Department of Music. The ensemble has a long tradition of excellence, including tours both within the United States and abroad. In the summer of 2022, they won the Grand Prix Championship of the Bratislava International Music Agency Competition. Members are selected through a rigorous audition process and must be dedicated to the highest level of artistry. The …

2022-December-01-Joseph Headrick Wins Etsu's 3mt Competition, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

JOHNSON CITY – Master’s degree student Joseph Headrick won East Tennessee State University’s recent 2022 3 Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition with a presentation on “Salicylic Acid Inhibits Desiccation Survival of Salmonella Typhimurium.”

This competition, created at the University of Queensland, Australia, provides graduate students the opportunity to develop professional presentation and research communication skills. Participants condense complex research projects into engaging, three-minute presentations designed for a general audience using just one slide. Audience members learn what students in master’s and doctoral programs are studying and gain insight into the future of research, design and innovation in a variety of disciplines. …

2022-December-01-Sweaters For Cameron, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

JOHNSON CITY – Students, employees and visitors to the East Tennessee State University campus who strolled University Commons recently enjoyed a colorful – and meaningful – sight: a special tree wrapped in a lovingly crafted “sweater.”

“Sweaters for Cameron” is the brainchild of Abigail “Abby” Simpson, a sophomore rehabilitative health sciences major from Church Hill who is a student in ETSU’s Roan Scholars Leadership Program. Through the Roan Impact Focus Project, students read a book over the summer that centered on healthy habits and were encouraged to do meaningful projects using the healthy habits they picked up as a …

2022-December-01-Etsu Predicts Above-Normal Temperatures This Winter, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

JOHNSON CITY – Like it or not, the official start to winter is only a few days away.

And for the third straight season, winter will be characterized by the La Niña pattern. That likely means higher-than-normal temperatures for much of the Appalachian Highlands and above average precipitation, according to East Tennessee State University.

“Seasonal forecasts can be pretty tricky and the federal government through the NOAA along with the Farmer’s Almanac and Punxsutawney Phil, don’t always get it right,” said Dr. Andrew Joyner and Wil Tollefson, both members of the Department of Geosciences.

Housed in Ross Hall on …

2022-December-01-Etsu Professor Named Vice President Of Pca, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

JOHNSON CITY – East Tennessee State University’s Dr. Elwood Watson, professor of history, Black American Studies and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies whose writings and presentations have reached a wide audience, has been selected as the new vice president for Diversity, Outreach and Inclusion with The Popular Culture Association (PCA). 

Dr. Sue Matheson, president of the association and a professor at University College of the North, said: “We are pleased that Dr. Watson has accepted our request to serve in this most important position. The Governing Board is confident that Dr. Watson’s long record of service to the PCA, …

2022-December-01-Wets-Fm Launching Year-End Campaign, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

JOHNSON CITY – WETS-FM, a public radio station housed on the main campus of East Tennessee State University, is launching a year-end campaign that runs Dec. 10-16.

“Public radio is vital here in the Appalachian Highlands, as well as across the nation,” said Chad Barrett, station director. “We hope our listeners will be generous as we close out 2022.” 

Donations directly support NPR programming, and help the station replace aging equipment.

“We so often hear from our wonderful listeners how much they love WETS-FM,” Barrett said. “We are asking for support to ensure this excellent programming stays on the air.” …

Validating An Internet Gaming Disorder Measure During Covid-19: Video Game Use, Distance Learning, And Impacts Of Covid-19 On Gaming Behavior, Christin Collie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For most students, playing video games is a popular, enjoyable activity to do in their leisure time. While many people play video games for fun, some do develop problems associated with their play. Excessive engagement in video game play can lead to significant impairment and clinically significant levels of harm. However, there are several important gaps in the research literature which limit understanding of potential harm. First, little is known about the gaming behavior of students, ranging from middle-school to graduate school, specifically as it relates to their reasons for playing video games and their time spent playing. Second, concerns …

An Evaluation Of Media Messaging By African Fashion Designers And Marketing Message Strategies, Esther Oyindamola Oyanibi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In recent times, African brands have been featured heavily in global landscape fashion events, with brands from Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya leading the way. Although such recognition could be traced to their expertise, the unique approach of African brands involves putting out unique designs that easily stand out in the global fashion market. However, their uniqueness goes beyond the designs they put out, as it is also strongly expressed in their media messaging and, consequentially, their marketing strategy.

This study provides a content analysis of the most important characteristics of eight brands from different regions of the African continent. …

A Frayed Edge: A Qualitative And Poetic Inquiry Analysis Of White Antiracist Protest In 2020, Emily Katt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This multiphasic study explored the narratives of five first-time Black Lives Matter protesters demonstrating during the historic confluence of conflicts in 2020 America. After positioning the liminal 2020 circumstances within an antiracist research lens, the author analyzed, first through grounded theory and then secondarily through poetic inquiry, how these five participants described their protest experiences. The grounded theory phase yielded an overarching theory that first-time protestors experienced a dual process of unsuturing and of calling-out, with three subthemes categorized within each of these two processes. The author moved into analysis with the poetic inquiry phase, crafting poems guided by six …

Return-To-The-Platform: The Case Of A Collegiate Level Weightlifter Recovering From A Meniscus Injury, Nicholas Harden

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to observe physiological metrics relative to training-induced adaptations in conjunction with laboratory- and competition-based performances in a super-heavyweight weightlifter recovering from a meniscus injury. A retrospective analysis was conducted on a collegiate level male weightlifter (23.2 yrs; 131.9 kg; 187.3 cm) over the course of 21-weeks post-meniscus surgery. Body mass, body fat percentage, hydration status, vastus lateralis muscle cross-sectional area, jump performance, and isometric midthigh pull were regularly assessed as part of an ongoing athlete monitoring program. Pre-injury baseline (T0) measurements were collected relative to a major national competition (COMP1). Post-injury measurements took place …

The Lived Experiences Of Students Who Are Single Parents And Attending Community College: A Phenomenological Study, Debbie Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study used phenomenological research methods to explore the lived experiences of single parents attending community college. The phenomenological research design was used to better understand participant experiences by examining the participant’s view of their situation. Thirteen single-parent students in community colleges in the United States were selected using purposeful sampling techniques. The participants included ten female participants and three male participants. Of these participants, nine students attended full-time, and four attended part-time. Each student participated in one-on-one interviews using Zoom technology.

The participants provided their perceptions of their experiences as single parents attending community college. These participants described …

Community College Faculty’S Perceptions Of Culturally Responsive Teaching, Sarah Tolbert-Hurysz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study sought to understand community college faculty’s perceptions of and experiences with culturally responsive teaching. Participants were full- and part-time faculty currently employed at community colleges in the Southeastern United States and purposefully selected to provide information-rich data. Data collected from the semi-structured, in-depth interviews with the participants were coded and thematically analyzed. Emerging themes included faculty’s inclusion of varied categories of cultural diversity when describing students; limited knowledge related to culturally responsive teaching; perception that culturally responsive teaching is centered on connecting and building relationships with students; belief in the value of providing students exposure to different …

Opinion Mining Of Bird Preference In Wildlife Parks, Isiwat Adenopo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Opinion Mining is becoming the fastest growing area to extract useful and insightful information to support decision making. In the age of social media, user’s opinions and discussions have become a highly valuable source to look for users preferences, likes, and dislikes.

The industry of wildlife parks (or zoos) is a competitive domain that requires careful analysis of visitor’s opinions to understand and cater for their preferences when it comes to wildlife. In this thesis, an opinion mining approach was proposed and applied on textual posts on the social media platform, Twitter, to extract the popularity, polarity (sentiment), and emotions …

A Phenomenological Study Of Tenure-Track Faculty Serving In Dual Roles As Administrators, Keri L. Carter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative, phenomenological study explores the lived experiences of tenure-track faculty serving in dual roles as administrators at Carnegie classified R2 and R3 higher education institutions within the United States. Fourteen participants completed one-on-one, semi-structured interviews about their lived experiences as tenure-track faculty members serving in dual roles. Participants discussed rewards and motivations as well as challenges. Additionally, participants discussed perceptions of their academic identities. Key themes emerged during data analysis. Rewards and motivations included the following: Community change agent and student advocate, a “seat at the table,” collegiality, flexibility, confidence from prior experience and clear tenure procedures, and job …

Importance Of The Microhabitat And Microclimate Conditions In The Northern Gray-Cheeked Salamander (Plethodon Montanus) Across An Elevation Gradient, Trevor Chapman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The southern Appalachian Mountains have among the highest salamander diversity in the world, largely due to local speciation in the family Plethodontidae. Plethodontid salamanders (i.e., lungless salamanders) are particularly sensitive to habitat climate conditions due to their reliance on cutaneous respiration, and their immediate environmental conditions (microhabitat) likely influence their dispersion and activity more than the large-scale atmospheric conditions. The Northern Gray-cheeked salamander (Plethodon montanus) is restricted to high elevations in the Appalachian Mountains. Our goal was to investigate the relationship between P. montanus and its microhabitat by examining behavioral preference for climatic conditions, characterizing the microclimate with …

The Folk Festival Of The Smokies And The Role Of Music Festivals In Preserving Old-Time Music In Appalachia, Keegan Luckey-Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the history of the Folk Festival of the Smokies, which sought to preserve old-time music as an expression of southern Appalachian regional culture. The study uses qualitative methods, including personal interviews with one of the founders and significant festival participants, supplemented with archival and historical research into photographs, festival performances and literature regarding the festival. Since the festival operated for thirty-three years as a small festival in a relatively isolated location in eastern Tennessee, this case study serves as an example of the role of festivals in intangible cultural heritage preservation in relatively rural settings. The legacy …

Perceptions Of Middle School Teachers Regarding Differentiation Instruction, Karen Mclerran

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to examine the perceptions of middle school teachers regarding differentiation of instruction for students with mild to moderate disabilities. Although there has been little documentation in the literature regarding instructional differentiation five factors that facilitate change have been identified in the framework.

Data collection strategies included one-on-one semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. Analysis of data occurred in three phases: (a) transcribing interviews, (b) member checking of the transcripts, (c) coding-recoding of the data. The analysis of data was based on the theoretical proposition that student achievement, positive behaviors, and increased learner motivation fosters …

Borderline Personality Disorder And Violent Crime: The Moderating Role Of Sex And Race, Genevieve Allison

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

People receiving treatment for substance use disorders (SUD) are at risk of justice involvement. Although it is well-established that borderline personality disorder (BPD) increases risk for criminal involvement, it is unclear whether this relationship exists among people with SUDs. Furthermore, prior research has found sex and race differences in the relationships between BPD and justice involvement as well as violence, but these moderators have not been explored within a substance using sample. The current study utilized a sample receiving SUD treatment to examine whether BPD is associated with prior violent charges and, if race and sex moderated this relationship. Results …

Transfer Articulation And Transfer Agreement Success: Student Transfer From Community College To Locally Governed, Public, 4-Year Universities In Tennessee, Kathi Horne

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative nonexperimental study was to investigate the success of students who use transfer articulation agreements to transfer from any of the 13 community colleges in Tennessee to one of the state’s public, four-year, locally governed institutions to complete a bachelor's degree. Data were collected from five 4-year public universities across the state of Tennessee. The Tennessee Promise initiative was created to allow students the opportunity to begin postsecondary college careers at little to no cost. When combined with either the Tennessee Transfer Pathways or transfer articulation agreements, the goal was to create a seamless transition from …

Domestic Violence Against Men: Their Report Decision Making Process, Ngozi Aleke

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Little or nothing is really known about a man’s victimization in a domestic violence situation. Generally domestic violence is viewed from the lens of a women with the typical idea that women are the victim while men, the perpetrators of violence. Overtime, this societal perception is beginning to subside as researchers have proven that men are also victims of domestic violence (Straus, Gelles, & Steinmetz,1980). Despite this revelation, not much is known about male victimization as most men prefer not to report their victimization. This study seeks to examine the reasons for not reporting victimization and the effect of this …