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Professional Reflections - Spring 2015, College Of Education And Human Development

College of Education and Human Development News

• Message from the Dean
• Student Spotlight
• Education in Poverty
• Washington Writers’ Academy
• Dietetic Interns Grant
• Student Profiles
• Faculty and Staff Spotlight
• Excellence in Discovery
• CEHD Grant Winners
• Faculty and Staff Profiles
• Alumni Spotlight
• Accultured Alumni
• CEHD Alumni Award Winners
• Alumni Profiles
• Throughout the College
• College Academic Profile
• Reading Clinic: Literacy in Action
• ECCU Education Forum
• D.R. Doctoral Program
• CEHD Award Winners
• CEHD Global Initiatives
• CEHD New Faculty and Staff

Fact Book 2015-16, Western Michigan University

Western Michigan University Fact Books

• General Information
• Enrollment Information
• Institutional Comparison
• Student Information
• Faculty Information
• Budgets and Resources

2014-15 Annual Report, University Center For The Humanities

University Center for the Humanities Events

The mission of the Center is to recognize and support the humanities at Western Michigan University. As a gathering place for dialogue, the Center acts an incubator for the exchange of ideas among faculty, emeriti, alumni, undergraduate and graduate students, and people in the wider community. Through the understanding of diverse cultural, professional, political, and intellectual landscapes, we nurture engaged and vital academic life.

Notes From The Editor

The Hilltop Review

Notes from the Editor for the Fall 2015 Issue of The Hilltop Review

The Hilltop Review, Vol 8, No 1. Fall 2015

The Hilltop Review

No abstract provided.

Religious Discourse And Interdisciplinarity In Sport Studies, Zachary T. Smith

The Hilltop Review

Religious and theological explorations of leisure have remained few and far between, as religious studies perceive sport and game related studies as trivial, and as leisure theorists find social scientific methods more compelling. And yet, religious traditions and thinkers have been offering accounts and ethics of leisure activities for thousands of years, and anthropological evidence suggests the origination of sport and game play arose in the context of religious cult activity (Huizinga, 1949; Guttmann, 2007). Further, contemporary research has indicated that religion plays an important role in structuring the thought and behavior of religious persons towards their leisure (Waller, 2009) …

2015-16 Series Brochure - Reimagining Community, University Center For The Humanities

University Center for the Humanities Events

The theme for our speaker series in 2015-16 is Reimagining Community. In a global culture of war, social injustice and environmental calamity, and with our country’s stark racial turmoil and political divisions, reimagining the idea of community—what it means for us now and for our future on this planet—might be the most important first task for all of us as we attempt to address the issues of human healthcare, racial equity, gender roles, feeding the human population, and the idea of the human community. We are all in this planet’s developing story together, regardless of our ideologies, faiths, and perceptions. …

"And They Shall Be Two In One Flesh": The Battle Over The Virgin's Body In The Life Of Christina Of Markyate, Alexandra Locking

Medieval Feminist Forum: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality

No abstract provided.

Notes On Contributors, Molly Lynde-Recchia

Transference

Brief biographical notes on contributing translators.

Western News, Dec. 4, 2014, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: Events staged to honor Martin Luther King; Need-based scholarship aids top incoming students; WMU international student enrollment continues to grow; Unique event touts WMU's 11th, 12th LEED certifications; On Campus with Sandra Kelly.

Place-Based Education: An Impetus For Teacher Efficacy, Tamara Chase Coleman

Dissertations

This research investigated professional development in place-based (PB) methodology on the efficacy of science teachers. While teachers are expected to use best practices they do not always implement them due to a lack of efficacy in implementation. A professional development program (PD) was designed to increase confidence among teachers planning to incorporate PB methods. Place-based education (PBE) is recognized as a best-practice among professional educators. PBE includes the selection, design and engagement with science using the geographic place as the content. The literature reports that student learning and teacher efficacy will improve when teachers are prepared effectively in PB practices. …

Medieval Women In Film: An Annotated Handlist And Reference Guide, With Essays On Teaching The Sorceress, Virginia Blanton, Martha M. Johnson-Olin, Charlene Miller Avrich

Medieval Feminist Forum: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality

No abstract provided.

November 9, 2014: Traub To Deliver Comparative Drama Distinguished Lecture, Department Of English

Gleanings: Department of English Blog Archive

No abstract provided.

Wmu International News Fall 2014, Haenicke Institute

WMU International News

• WMU helps grow education in the Dominican Republic
• Japanese teachers of English learn U.S. methods at WMU
• For the girls: Senegalese Fulbright Fellow seeks gender equity in homeland schools
• Senior research project helps Dominican Republic banana industry go green
• Advancing education and development goal for three Pakistani doctoral candidates in political science

The British Women’S Land Army: Gender, Identity, And Landscapes, Hilary M.K. Anderson

Masters Theses

The land girls who comprised the Women’s Land Army in Great Britain during the Second World War challenged cultural assumptions regarding gender and femininity. Through their work in agriculture, social anxieties were provoked regarding proper notions of femininity and separate spheres, which left these women in conflicting positions as they carved a spot for themselves in a war torn society. In order to carry out their work in the Women’s Land Army, land girls operated at the convergence of private and public spheres in a conjoined space. Living and operating in this conjoined space enabled them to blur the ideological …

Starting A Charter School In Benton Harbor, Michigan, Donald W. Pearson

Masters Theses

This project investigates the process of starting a public school academy (i.e., charter school) in Benton Harbor, Michigan and completing the authorizing application. The dynamics of the project is documented in four phases. The first is the inquiry phase which is identifying, clarifying and documenting the problem. Phase two is designing a comprehension strategy in response to the problem. The third phase is implementing, creating and submitting a viable application for authorization to an educational institution and which is to be submitted to the Michigan State Department of Education for a charter school grant. The last phase of the project …

Of Tribes, Wars, And Jungles: A Study Of U.S.College Students’ Perceptions Of Africa And Africans, Seseer P. Mou

Masters Theses

This study examined American college students’ perceptions of Africans. Knowledge Gap and Systems Theory were applied to creating and discussing the research questions. Systems Theory addresses processes and levels of information transfer (Westley & Maclean, 1965). It requires an understanding of the sources, channels, messages, and the people who receive information in a communication encounter. Knowledge Gap Theory, on the other hand, states that when information circulates in a system, gaps in knowledge are formed and these gaps increase as more information enters the system (Tichenor, Donohue, & Olien, 1970). The results showed that consumption of radio and newspaper news, …

A Cross-Cultural Study Exploring Structural Factors Of Men's Sheds, Kaitlyn Mcgrail

Honors Theses

The Men’s Shed program was developed in Australia in 2006 with the explicit goal of establishing a place for men to socially interact and to help maintain their health and well-being. The Men’s Shed program has grown tremendously and has continued their growth in many other countries. There is limited research conducted about the organizational and structural features of the Men’s Shed program. There has been no research to date conducted cross-culturally on the program. The aim of this study is to conduct a descriptive, cross-cultural study on Men’s Shed organizations and the characteristics of the Men’s Shed participants. By …

Labeling Of Retinal Ganglion Cells In A Rat Glaucoma Model, Lucia Rodriguez

Honors Theses

Glaucoma is a degenerative disease of the retina containing multifactorial structural and functional defects. There is a loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) seen in this optic disorder. Cupping of the optic disk seen in glaucoma is a result of the loss of RGC axons at the optic nerve head where the nerve fibers connect. As a result of these factors, visual field loss is common among glaucoma patients.¹ In the United States, this visual field loss associated with glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness since glaucoma is difficult to detect.² Usually, increased intraocular pressure …

¡Vamos: Es Hora De Conocer España! Unit Plan For The Life And Culture Of Spain, Katheryn Cook

Honors Theses

This thesis, ¡Vamos: es hora de conocer España!, is a unit plan for a high school Spanish course focusing on the life and culture of Spain, with an intense focus on the languages of Spain other than Spanish. The cultures of the regions where these languages are found in Spain are rich with history and are quite individual and unique. The goal of this unit was to create a connection between language and culture for new language learners. When someone has a story and a context behind what they are learning, they will have a connection to the material …

Haworthnews (04/2014), Western Michigan University

Haworth College of Business News

• Dolly Xtractor grabs first place at second annual PITCH competition
• MACPA high school leaders conference
• Jeff Suffolk
• ISM students earn honors in regional competition
• Light Center research grant awarded to business professors

Professional Reflections Spring 2014, College Of Education And Human Development

College of Education and Human Development News

• College of Education and Human Development Overview
• Message from the Dean 8 Student Spotlight
• Student Employee of the Year
• TRiO Student Initiatives
• 2014 Presidential Scholars
• Fulbright Scholars
• Student Profiles
• Faculty and Staff Spotlight
• Teacher Exchange Program
• New Advising Initiatives
• Faculty and Staff Profiles
• Alumni Spotlight
• KCC Executive Leadership Team
• Brenes Appointed as Principal
• Alumni Profiles
• 2014 CoEHD Award Recipients
• New Members of the College

Teaching The Writing Methods Course: A Multiple Case Study Of Teachers’ Professional Journeys, Teaching Contexts, Theoretical Frames, And Courses, Kristin A. K. Sovis

Dissertations

This study, situated within the fields of English education and writing teacher education, illustrates not only what is happening in writing methods courses but why in its examination of writing methods courses and instructor influences. The writing methods course is identified by English educators and writing teacher educators as “pivotal” in K-12 English teacher preparation, and the purpose of this study is to better understand multiple versions of this course and how teacher influences affect the design and implementation of the course (Grossman, 1990; Smagorinsky and Whiting, 1995; McCann, 2005).

This study builds upon scholarship that explores individual versions of …

Harnessing Complexity: Analysis Methodology And Ethical Framework To Facilitate Utilization Of Video Data In Evaluations, Kurt A. Wilson

Dissertations

Most evaluations in the nonprofit and international development sectors are conducted in contexts of complexity; the specific intervention being evaluated is but one of many interrelated factors influencing the desired outcome. Video data, especially when directly generated by program participants, can provide both exceptionally rich qualitative data as well as contextually-relevant feedback within complex systems. Despite these unique strengths and opportunities, video data is underutilized in the field of evaluation. This dissertation addresses specific barriers associated with video data through three inter-related papers: Papers one and two (Chapters II and III) present the findings from two interrelated studies of an …

2013-14 Annual Report, University Center For The Humanities

University Center for the Humanities Events

The mission of the Center is to recognize and support the humanities at Western Michigan University. As a gathering place for dialogue, the Center acts an incubator for the exchange of ideas among faculty, emeriti, alumni, undergraduate and graduate students, and people in the wider community. Through the understanding of diverse cultural, professional, political, and intellectual landscapes, we nurture engaged and vital academic life.

2014-15 Series Brochure - Healing Arts, University Center For The Humanities

University Center for the Humanities Events

In our 2014-15 series “Healing Arts,” the University Center for the Humanities celebrates Kalamazoo’s rich history as a community dedicated to health and well-being. From W.E. Upjohn to Homer Stryker, medical scientists in our community have contributed to the health of people in our state, the nation, and indeed the world. And that commitment to health has led directly to strong support for the arts and humanities in Kalamazoo, endowing the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation, the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo, as well as the Black Arts & Cultural Center, the Kalamazoo Institute of Art, the …

Somos & Estamos, 2014, Department Of Spanish

Somos y Estamos

Welcome to our Somos y Estamos 2014 newsletter edition. The past year was marked by wonderful achievements on the part of our students, alumni, faculty and staff. It was a year of much gain, as we welcomed Dr. Mercedes Tubino Blanco to the department to teach linguistics and coordinate the 2000-2010 levels of basic Spanish (see the bio-sketch below for more information about her.) It was also a year of a significant loss with the passing of Dr. Carolyn Harris, our Somos y Estamos editor, last September. She left a lasting mark among all of us who knew her. In …

2014 Complete Digest, Department Of English

Gleanings: Department of English Blog Archive

No abstract provided.

Graduate - College Of Education And Human Development, College Of Education And Human Development

College of Education and Human Development News

• College Leadership
• Office Directors
• Department Chairs
• College Contact Sheet
• Key Publication Links
• Fast Facts
• Points of Pride
• Education Learning Community
• Majors at a Glance
• Program Flatsheets
• Program Guides

Social Policy And State Capacity In Iran: Health And Education Policy From 1981-2009, Masoumeh Qarakhani

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The fact that states operate under different structures and capacities in order to provide welfare and social justice for their citizens has been the subject of various studies. Since the capacity of states differs at various times and in different situations, their capabilities for welfare provision vary as well. The present paper draws upon the state-centered framework, applying quantitative methods and secondary data to study the relationship between state capacity and two aspects of social policy, education and health in Iran from 1981 to 2009. The findings reveal that there is no statistically significant relationship between state capacity and education …