NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY®

WWAAVVEESSMAKING

March 2013, Issue 16

Achieving Excellence. Success Beyond Measure.

Dr. Tony Atwater, President • A Newsletter for Faculty, Staff, Alumni and Friends of Norfolk State University

Sen. Mark Warner will be

the keynote speaker for the

spring 2013 commencement

ceremony, Saturday, May 4, at the

Norfolk Scope. The processional

begins at 9:30 a.m., with the

ceremony following at 10 a.m.

Warner was elected to the U. S.

Senate in November 2008 and serves

on the Senate Banking, Budget,

Commerce and Intelligence

committees. He has led Congressional

efforts to promote private-sector

innovation and to help small business

and start-up companies succeed.

Warner was chosen by his colleagues

on the Budget Committee to lead a

bipartisan task force to eliminate

unnecessary program overlap and

wasteful duplication within the federal

bureaucracy. He has introduced bills to

measure and eliminate waste in federal

agencies. Warner organized the

Senate’s “Gang of Six,” which has

worked since 2011 to find a bipartisan

path towards responsible deficit and

debt reduction.

From 2002-2006, Warner served

as Governor of Virginia. During his

term, he worked in a bipartisan way

to turn record budget deficits into a

surplus. He also focused on improving

public education and expanding

economic opportunity throughout the

state. Under his tenure, Virginia was

consistently recognized as the nation’s

“best-managed state.”

Before entering public office,

Warner was an early investor in the

cellular telephone business. He co-

founded the company that became

Nextel, and ultimately made early

investments in hundreds of start-up

technology companies that have

created tens-of-thousands of

private-sector jobs.

The “High Risk Behaviors: You Can Live Without Them” initiative

is entering its second phase. Launched in the fall semester, High Risk

Behaviors (HRB) is an educational campaign for Norfolk State University

students initiated by President Tony Atwater. It’s a frank discussion about

topics such as sexual behavior, hazing, cyber bullying, substance use

and abuse that put college students at risk.

HRB week, sponsored by the Division of Student Affairs, is set

for March 25–29. As part of the week’s activities, from March 25–27,

students will design t-shirts for the clothesline project—which addresses

the issue of violence against women. Each night from 7–8 p.m., speakers

will conduct presentations on an HRB topic. The main event will take

place Thursday, March 28, from noon–2 p.m. in the lobby of the Student

Center. Students will hang the t-shirts from the clothesline project and a

keynote speaker will talk about sexual assault and domestic violence

on college campuses.

Sen. Mark Warnerto Address Graduates

Sen. Mark Warner

McSwain Takes Helm as Dean Dr. Arletha McSwain has been named

dean of the School of Extended Learning

(SEL). In this position, she provides leadership

and academic expertise to support the design,

development, and execution of the distance

education programs in keeping with

accreditation and federal guidelines.

During her tenure as interim dean, Norfolk

State University’s distance education programs

received the Quality Standards Certification

offered by the United States Distance

Learning Association.

Dr. McSwain is the 2011 award recipient

for Innovative Excellence in Teaching, Learning

and Technology given at the International

Conference on College Teaching and Learning.

She is a nationally known content expert

on issues related to early childhood

education, and early childhood special

education while targeting males

of diversity.

She has written numerous

successful grant proposals totaling

over $6 million. Nationally, she serves

as a consultant to mentor other faculty

in the area of early childhood special

education program development thus

enabling the faculty to secure external

funding. To date, five universities,

including the United Tribal College,

have secured federal funding in the

amount of $800,000 per university.

Dr. McSwain has numerous

publications and is part of a cohort

of content experts who review

personnel grant proposals for the

U. S. Department of Education, Office

of Special Education and Rehabilitative

Services. She is a graduate of the

University of Missouri-Columbia

with a Ph.D. in early childhood

special education.

Making Waves 2

Making Waves is publishedby the Office of Communications

and Marketing.

(757) 823-8373

Tony Atwater, Ph.D.President

Stephen McDanielInterim VP for University Advancement

Cheryl Bates-LeeAVP of University Relations

Stevalynn Adams

Regina Lightfoot

Christopher Setzer

MAKING

marketing@nsu.edu

WAVESWAVES

Arletha McSwain

While many students choose online courses because of convenience

and compatibility with their schedules, they still have a need to feel

connected to the University. NSU is helping distance learners feel that

they are part of the campus through the Cyber Spartan experience, which helps

distance learners and on-campus students interact with each other. Socializing,

which is very much a part of on-campus learning, can now be enjoyed by

students who may never step foot on campus.

Under the initiative, according to Dr. Arletha McSwain, dean of the School

of Extended Learning, on-campus students will collaborate with Cyber Spartans

via social media outlets such as the School of Extended Learning Group

Facebook page, iTunes University, and support and activities sites. An online

virtual tablet will provide app-like links that can be used to contact Blackboard

support, the bookstore, library, financial aid, and client services for IT support.

In addition, distance learners will also be able to view campus events as they

are happening as well as have access to archived events. One such example

was the New Lyceum Speaker Series which brought author My Haley to

campus. The event was streamed on the University’s homepage where

distance learners could view it in real time. NSU plans to increase its mobile

learning capabilities while attracting 21st century learners.

“The goal,” said Dr. McSwain, “is to create a unified student body that is able

to meet to share experiences, collaborate on studies and encourage each other

academically and socially.”

Connects Distance Learners to Campus Resources

Continued on next page

Making Waves 3

New LabMonitors Condition of PowerApparatus and Systems

► Pictured holding the Certification Plaque (left to right) are Reggie Smith, III, chair emeritus,

board of directors, United States Distance Learning Association, and Dr. Tony Atwater,

president of Norfolk State University.

Anew Insulation Evaluation and Design Laboratory in the Marie V.

McDemmond Center for Applied Research performs research on

insulation systems used in power apparatus and systems that are

of particular interest to the Navy, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), power

utilities and electrical companies that manufacture power cables, transformers

and rotating machines. The laboratory recently held a formal open house

and ribbon-cutting ceremony to showcase its research capabilities.

The Insulation Evaluation and Design Laboratory, headed by Dr. Prathap

Basappa, associate professor of engineering, focuses on applied research

pertaining to the condition based monitoring of insulation systems with a

specialized focus on designing, developing and adopting advanced techniques

for measurement of partial discharges in the laboratory and field.This capability

is of prime importance to all electric ships used by the Navy, power utilities

and companies that manufacture power apparatus such as power cables,

transformers and generators and motors. Currently they are working on a

project sponsored by the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) and

funded through Unitech Corporation. This project focuses on designing and

developing insulated bus pipes to replace medium and high voltage cables

employed in battleships that can withstand and survive very high

temperatures that occur during enemy bombing operations.

Dr. Basappa received $87,000 in seed money from the Norfolk Foundation

to start the facility. Another $200,000 in external funding came from NAVSEA,

which builds, buys and maintains the Navy's ships and submarines and their

combat systems. “Very few universities in the USA have this type of unique

facility,” said Dr. Basappa. “Since the laboratory is an applied research facility,

it will benefit federal organizations such as the Navy and DOE and power utilities

such as Dominion Virginia Power and companies that manufacture power

apparatus as well as universities that carry out cutting-edge research in the

frontier research areas of power and energy.”

Continued from page 2

Dr. Michael Keeve, the acting

associate dean for the College

of Science Engineering and

Technology and associate professor

of mathematics, served as the

Tidewater MATHCOUNTS competition

coordinator. The competition was

hosted by the Mathematics Department

and featured Broadwater Academy

and Kemps Landing Magnet School.

Winning schools participated in

the state MATHCOUNTS

competition March 16.

Dr. Dorothy L.R.

Jones, professor of

business, has co-

authored the book,

“Your Office: Getting

Started with Business

Communication,” with

Amy S. Kinser. The

office applications textbook bridges the

gap between skill and application, and

empowers students to master Office

2010 as a tool to solve problems and

make decisions while learning the art of

effective business communication.

Daneen Logan Evans, a 2012

Ph.D. graduate of the Ethelyn R.

Strong School of Social Work, received

a $15,000 SEED grant and is

researching the health literacy levels of

grandparents who are providing kinship

care to preschool age children. Dr.

Evans is an assistant professor at

Radford University and the coordinator

of the Roanoke Extended Campus

Master of Social Work program.

Dr. Charles Ford,

professor and chair

of the history

department, was

recently appointed

to the Norfolk Public

Library Board of

Trustees by the

Norfolk City Council. His term runs

through Dec. 31, 2014. Dr. Ford also

recently reviewed Amar Wahab and

Cecily Jones, eds., “Free at Last?

Reflections on Freedom and the

Abolition of the British Transatlantic

Slave Trade” (Newcastle-upon-Tyne,

England: Cambridge Scholars

Publishing, 2011.) – Latest edition

of The Historian, vol. 74, no. 4,

pages 898-900.

Tiffany Jones, ’12, was awarded

the Teacher Recruitment and Retention

Mathematics, Physics, and Technology

Education Bonus. The grant award is

for $10,000. Jones is currently a middle

school mathematics teacher for

Hampton City Schools.

Dr. Makarand Deo, assistant

professor of engineering, and co-author

Kushal Shah, a graduate student in

engineering, recently published a

research paper in the prestigious

journal Proceedings of the National

Academy of Sciences of USA (PNAS).

The paper, titled “KCNJ2 mutation

in short QT syndrome 3 results in

atrial fibrillation and ventricular

proarrhythmia,” is available as open

access in the early online edition of

PNAS at

http://www.pnas.org.

Dr. Marvin Feit,

professor of social

work, with co-author,

Dr. Michael J.

Holosko, recently

published a book,

“Distinguishing Clinical from Upper

Level Management in Social Work,”

with the Routledge, Taylor & Francis

Group. The book details a model,

specifying the requirements needed in

the transition from clinician, to clinical

and upper-level management.

Dr. Colita Fairfax, associate

professor of social work, served on a

panel about the history of the African-

American church and community

development in Hampton at the

Hampton History Museum at two

different events.

Making Waves 4

Dr. Dorothy Jones

CAMPUS Briefs

Cre

ate

d b

y N

SU

’S O

ffice

of C

om

mu

nic

atio

ns a

nd

Ma

rke

ting

: (75

7) 8

23

-83

73

www.nsu.edu

Achieving Excellence.Success Beyond Measure. ®

These events are partially supported by Title III

and by the Alison J. and Ella W. Parsons Fund

of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation.

For more information, contact the

NSU Honors College: Discipline-Specific

Honors Programs at (757) 823-8206.

This series is free and open to the public.

NEW LYCEUM SPEAKER SERIES

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY

27MICHELE ELAMDirector of African and African American Studies,

Stanford University

HARRY ELAM Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education,

Stanford University

“Barack Obama in the Popular Imagination”

Student Center1-2 p.m.

MARCH

Presented by: Honors College: Discipline-Specific Honors Programs

Dr. Charles Ford

Dr. Marvin Feit

Making Waves 5

Maj. Aaron V.

Allen,’ 01, was

promoted to his

current rank in a

ceremony at

Kandahar Airfield

in Afghanistan.

Allen is deployed

to Afghanistan with the 311th

Expeditionary Sustainment Command,

based in Los Angeles. He is assigned

as deputy G6/network operations

officer, monitoring and maintaining

computer networks for U.S. forces

throughout Afghanistan.

Devon Henry, ’00, was

recognized as the 2012 Class 3

Entrepreneur of the Year at the Virginia

Minority Supplier Development Council

(VMSDC) 29th Annual MIC Gold Star

Awards. The VMSDC is an

organization that connects member

corporations with minority business

enterprises to develop profitable

relationships. Under Henry’s

leadership, the company’s profitability

grew by 500 percent within a year.

Members of LEGASI, NSU's LGBT

student organization, attended the

Emerging Black LGBT Summit held at

the White House in Washington, D.C.

LEGASI members in attendance were:

Raven Bell, president; Marcuis

Warren, parliamentarian; and Toni

Williams, former president. LEGASI's

faculty advisors–Drs. Charles H. Ford

and J. Elizabeth Storm–accompanied

the group. The summit was organized

by the National Black Justice Coalition,

and this was the third year in a row

that Norfolk State and LEGASI

were represented.

“I have a great affinity for HBCUs and

I liken NSU to the family school – my parents

went to NSU and I had applied to NSU,” says

Dr. Karen Holmes of her decision in 2006 to

accept a tenure-track teaching position in the

psychology department. She notes that one

of the University’s strengths is the mentoring

of students to ensure their success in college-

level studies. In the classroom, her students

are active learners and Dr. Holmes, associate

professor of psychology, builds their confidence

as scholars, telling them “Don’t be afraid

to challenge your professors – there’s a diplomatic way to do that.”

In addition to teaching, mentoring and conducting research,

Dr. Holmes serves as a senior fellow of the Honors College and is the

University’s undergraduate research symposium liaison. Undergraduate

research is her professional passion and she notes that minorities are

underrepresented in research. Dr. Holmes would like to see NSU develop

and fund a center for undergraduate research and she observes,

“Undergraduate students in the humanities may not have research skills

and a center could develop those skills, as well as critical thinking abilities,

technical writing proficiency and confidence in delivering presentations.”

Dr. Holmes includes students in her research activities and scholarly

writing, giving them invaluable preparation for graduate work. Mentee

Brett Dodd, now a psychology doctoral student at Regent University,

co-authored a peer-reviewed journal article with her on the topic of using

active learning activities derived from classic psychology studies to teach

statistics. “Research is a vehicle for learning,” she explains and Dr. Holmes

exemplifies the student-centered focus of Norfolk State University.

— Ruth A. Martin

Dr. Karen Y. Holmes

GREEN AND GOLD PROFILEDr. Karen Y. Holmes

Maj. Aaron Allen

Online Purchases at http://www.nsuchoirs.com/Tickets also available at the L.Douglas Wilder Performing Arts Center

ticket window until April 8, 2013

Tuesday, April 9, 2013 7 p.m.

For more information, please contact bimurphy@nsu.edu

“NSU Night at the Sandler”201 Market Street • Virgina Beach, VA 23462

Norfolk State University Board of Visitors and President Tony Atwater

present

•

TICKET PRICES

Advance Purchase: $20

Day of the Event: $25

Students: $10

Making Waves 6

For more information, contact University Advancement at 823-8323.

NSU’s 2013 MEAC TournamentDistinguished Alumnus

On March 14, Tamara A. Jones, M.D., ’96, was recognized

as NSU’s 2013 MEAC Tournament Distinguished Alumnus.

Currently, Dr. Jones serves as the chief of the Department

of Medicine-Sentara Hospital Norfolk, as well as chairman

of the Hospitalist Clinical Effectiveness Council for Sentara.

She is a Dozoretz National Institute for Mathematics and

Applied Sciences graduate, earning a bachelor of science

degree in chemistry from Norfolk State University. She received

her master of science degree in chemistry from UNC-Chapel Hill and completed

both her doctorate in medicine and residency training at Eastern Virginia Medical

School where she excelled to become the first African-American class president

to give the commencement address. Dr. Jones holds membership in several

organizations to include the Helen Mewborn-Watts Society for minority female

physicians, the Tidewater Women’s Medical Association and Alpha Kappa

Alpha Sorority, Inc.

The Office of Alumni Relations hosted more than 500 alumni

at its annual Alumni Day. The Norfolk State University Alumni Association

showed its continued support of NSU by presenting a $35,000 check to

President Tony Atwater and Athletics Director Marty Miller at the NSU

vs. Delaware State men’s basketball game. This donation supported

several programs at the University including the President’s Masquerade

Gala and Silent Auction, the NSU Night at the Sandler Center, student

support, and the NSU Athletics Foundation. Alumni Day activities also

included a brunch where the NSU Alumni Association recognized 37 new

lifetime members. Dr. Bennie Marshall, chair of the Nursing and Allied

Health Department, provided an in-depth update on the nursing program

at a special nursing alumni reception.

Alumni Day

Tamara Jones

Annual FundINVEST NOW!

I AM NSU

Making Waves 7

From left to right are Athletics Director Marty Miller; Ms. Alumni Danielle Smith Jones, ’00;Alumni President Gregory Grimes; and NSU President Tony Atwater.

Norfolk State University students

took first place in poster and

oral presentation competitions

at the 70th Joint Annual Meeting of

Beta Kappa Chi and the National

Institutes of Science Conference

recently held in Reston, Va.

In oral presentation, Sarah Nelson-

Owens won first place in the biology

category and three other NSU students

took third place in three other

categories: Bianca Riddick for biology,

Nicholas Sapp for chemistry and

Dallas Ellis for computer

science/math/physics/engineering/

environmental science. Bronson Hayes

placed third in chemistry. NSU also

took first place in the poster

presentation with Chi’Niese Evans

winning in the psychology category.

In addition to the wins, Norfolk State

students were also elected as officers

of the organizations for 2013-14. The

following students were elected to

national officers of Beta Kappa Chi

National Scientific Honor Society:

biology major Dallas Ellis, president;

biology major Ebony Nottingham,

secretary; biology major Bianca Riddick,

treasurer; and computer science major

John Ellis, historian. Biology major

Alissa Sierra Harrell was elected

eastern region vice president.

Two NSU students were elected

to national offices for the National

Institutes of Science – biology major

Ian Saunders, president and chemistry

major Crystal Bell, secretary.

Additionally, Maureen Scott, NSU

Beta Kappa Chi and National Institute

of Science advisor, was re-elected the

national historian of the Beta Kappa

Chi Scientific Honor Society.

Beta Kappa Chi encourages the

advancement of scientific education

through original investigations, the

dissemination of scientific knowledge,

and the stimulation of high scholarship

in the pure and applied sciences, while

the National Institute of Science

provides students and faculty members

at Historically Black Colleges and

Universities opportunities to exchange

information and present scholarly

research papers in science and

mathematics.

Students Place First at National Science Conference

Second Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium WinnersThe University held its second Undergraduate Research Symposium

March 12. The symposium began last year as part of NSU President Tony

Atwater’s inaugural week activities and seeks to engage a wide variety of

students and disciplines in presenting research. The winning students are

listed with their major and category.

POSTER PRESENTATION

First Place Sara Nelson-Owens (biology)

Second Place Christian C. Ezeagwu (biology)

Third Place Keevain Hood (engineering)

Honorable Mentions Candace Gilchrist and Asia Motley

(mathematics)

ORAL PRESENTATION

First Place Quarail Hale (mathematics)

Second Place (tie) Jessica Grey (social work)

Raisa Boone, Carmel Brown

and Calvin Armstrong (health, physical

education and exercise science)

Third Place Chynna Blaker (chemistry)

Honorable Mentions Michael Mingo-Dabney (accounting)

Walker Griffea (entrepreneurship) and

Albarou Sabi (finance)

Benjamin Osoba (engineering)