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Dr. Valenti receives UNC Award for Teaching Excellence

The Board of Governors of the 16-campus University of North Carolina selected Dr. Patricia Valenti (English) to receive its 10th annual Award for Excellence in Teaching.

The board annually names one faculty member from each of the 16 campuses to receive a commemorative bronze medallion and a $7,500 cash prize. Dr. Valenti will serve as grand marshal of Spring Commencement 2004.

Dr. Roger Brown, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, hailed the award as a lifetime achievement for a faculty member.

“We take great pride in the reputation of UNC Pembroke as a center for excellent teaching,” Dr. Brown said. “To be selected by one’s students and peers as the Board of Governors Teacher of Excellence is the highest award that we can bestow upon one of our colleagues.”

“I have heard from members of the awards committee that Professor Valenti's classroom presence is dynamic, enthusiastic and highly knowledgeable,” Dr. Brown said. “She is the embodiment of the teacher/scholar that we value so highly at UNC Pembroke. I am very proud to be a colleague of Professor Patricia Valenti.”

Dr. Valenti joined the faculty in 1984. In addition to her teaching duties, she is coordinator for the Master of Arts in English education program.

“I am honored to have been chosen as this year’s recipient of the Board of Governors award,” Dr. Valenti said. “I love to study, teach and make literature and writing relevant to my students’ lives.”

“I hope to share my enthusiasm for literature and writing for many years to come,” she said.

Dr. Valenti is a scholar of 19th century American author Nathaniel Hawthorne and his family. In 1991, LSU Press published Dr. Valenti’s book on Hawthorne’s daughter, “To Myself a Stranger: A Biography of Rose Hawthorne Lathrop.”

The first volume of Dr. Valenti’s biography of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s wife, entitled “Sophia Peabody Hawthorne, A Life, Volume I through 1847,” will be published this spring by the University of Missouri Press. During the 2001-2002 academic year, she was funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities for a one-year research grant to write the book.
Dr. Valenti was also invited to participate in the planning of the Hawthorne Museum in Salem, Mass., his birthplace.

Last year, she served as distinguished visiting professor in the Department of English and Fine Arts at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Co. That year, Greenwood Press published Dr. Valenti’s book, “Understanding ‘The Old Man and the Sea’: A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources, and Historical Documents.”

An important element of Dr. Valenti’s professional activities is assisting in the development of other public school teachers and faculty members. She successfully applied for a National Endowment for the Humanities Focus Grant to work with area teachers to develop techniques for effectively teaching Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter.”

Dr. Valenti received the University’s Outstanding Teacher Award and several faculty development grants. A New York City native, she received her Ph.D. and M.A. degrees from The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and a B.A. degree from Marymount College.

Dr. Thomas Leach, a long-time colleague of Dr. Valenti’s in the English Department and Dean of the College of Arts, said she is a model teacher-scholar.

“In her 20 years of service to UNCP, Dr. Patricia Valenti has enhanced the learning of her students, providing an example of a teacher-scholar whose commitment to teaching is enriched by her outstanding scholarship,” Dr. Leach said. “She is an esteemed colleague, and I am proud of her achievement in receiving this distinguished award.”

The Board of Governors Committee on Personnel and Tenure, chaired by John W. Davis III of Winston-Salem, N.C., selected the 16 recipients. The Board of Governors established the award in 1994 to underscore the importance of teaching and to reward good teaching. The awards are given annually to a tenured faculty member from each UNC campus.

UNC President Molly Corbett Broad and Board of Governors Chairman J. Bradley Wilson of Cary will present the awards at a recognition luncheon to be held in conjunction with the board’s May meeting.

Pembroke Magazine No. 36

The 2004 edition of the acclaimed literary journal Pembroke Magazine is now available. It features North Carolina writers Tim McLaurin and Chris Fuhrman. The journal is Editor Shelby Stephenson’s 26th. To purchase a copy, please contact Managing Editor Tina Emanual at (910) 521-6358 or tina.emanual@uncp.edu.

Business Competitiveness Symposium May 12

The first annual Business Competitiveness Symposium is May 12.

Sponsored by the School of Business, in partnership with The Regional Center for Economic, Community and Professional Development, the symposium is Wednesday, May 12, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Moore Hall on the UNCP campus.

School of Business faculty members will address current business issues of special interest to the Southeastern North Carolina business community. Topics covered will be of keen interest to managers of all levels and other professionals in large and small organizations throughout the region.

The registration fee for this inaugural event is $25; it includes refreshments and lunch.

Registration inquiries should be directed to Illya Chavis at the Regional Center for Economic, Community and Professional Development; P.O. Box 1510; Pembroke, N.C., 28372; (910) 522-8410; or email illya.chavis@uncp.edu.

Questions concerning the program agenda should be directed to Dr. John Parnell, Belk Chair of Management, School of Business at (910) 521-6465 or email at john.parnell@uncp.edu.

• 9 a.m. - Welcome: Dr. Allen Meadors, Chancellor, and Dr. John Parnell, Belk Chair and Symposium Director
• 9:15 a.m. - The Business Economic Climate: Dr. Mohammad Ashraf
• 9:45 a.m. - Cultivating and Valuing Human Resources: Mr. Don Soucy
• 10:30 a.m. - Building a Successful Marketing Program: Dr. Carmen Calabrese
• 11 a.m. - Winning Strategies in the Competitive Marketplace: Dr. Bob Guffey
• 11:30 a.m. - Roundtable Discussion
• Noon - Luncheon hosted by School of Business Dean, Dr. Eric Dent

Art professors lead group to Belize

John Antione Labadie and Margie Labadie of the UNCP Art Department are headed to Belize and Tikal July 8 - 17 this summer.

In association with the UNCP Alumni Association and Friends, they are leading a small group of interested travelers for an exotic adventure into the rainforests, ruins and reefs system of Central America.

There is room in the van, so they invite interested faculty, students and staff to join them. For details call the Office of Alumni Relations at (910) 521-6533, or go to the Alumni travel pages at www.uncp.edu/alumni/travel/, or to www.geocities.com/uncpbelize04/index.html.

LSOP honors campus volunteers

At the Leadership and Service Opportunity (LSOP) awards brunch on April 21, the following campus offices and individuals were honored for their contributions to the program: Family Life Center, Athletic Department, Baptist Student Union, Career Services Center, Chancellor Meadors, University Computing and Information Services, Disability Support Services, Dr. Anita Guynn (English), Dr. John Bowman (Sociology), Dr. Leslie Hossfeld (Sociology), Dr. Liliana Wendorff (Spanish), Dr. Robert Reising (English), Givens Performing Arts Center, University Honors College, University Center, Media Center, Academic Affairs, Advisement and Retention, Counseling and Testing, Enrollment Management, Minority Affairs, Student Activities, Student Affairs, Physical Plant, Regional Center for Economic, Community and Professional Development, Social Work Program, Sodhexo Food Services, Student Health Services, Teaching Fellows, Attorney Donna Payne, University Housing and University and Community Relations.

Director of LSOP is Melanie Clark of the Office of Student Activities. LSOP’s student volunteers logged more than 6,000 volunteer hours during the school year.

Family Day was fun for more than 400

Family Day drew more than 400 to campus on April 24 for festivities and free food. Some, like Katie Wrinkle, touched some scary looking reptiles at the popular Herpes Alive exhibit.

“I want to take the monkey-tailed skink home, but my mom won’t let me,” Wrinkle said.

Wrinkle is the daughter of Debbie Wrinkle, a student intern and volunteer at the Office of Student Activities, which threw the party.

Abdul Ghaffar (Student Activities) estimated the crowd at 400 faculty, staff, students and children. More than 200 ate at the Cafeteria in the first hour and lines formed for the balloon and sketch artists.

Two bicycles, a Walkman, a cordless phone and a boom box were raffled off during the day. Families also had free use of the U.C. game room and bowling alleys.

Essie Canada, six-years old and the daughter of Dr. Mark Canada (English), said the giant clown slide was her favorite activity. She was with brother, Will, who is two-and-a-half.

“The slide is crazy, but my dad won’t go. He’s chicken,” Canada said.

Sanacia Ransom, three-years old and accompanied by her aunt, Davena Deese (student), agreed the slide was great fun.

“I’ve been down twice, and I’ll probably go five more times,” Ransom said.

Michaela Evers, five-years old and the daughter of Caverlen Locklear (Student Health Services), said the lizards were fun to touch, but she was headed for the train for a second trip around GPAC.

“Riding the train was fun,” Evers said. “I am going to get my brother and do it again.”

Mateo Gomez said the slide was best, said his father Dr. Jose Gomez (English).

“He said it was fast,” Dr. Gomez said. “He did it like 10 times.”

Jennifer Lowry (Disability Support Services) said her son, Solomon, age two, loved the reptile exhibit.

“We have been there the whole time,” Lowry said. “He loved looking at the animals.”

Kytria Pittman, the five-year-old daughter of Chomeka Franklin (Brave Card), showed she was not afraid of reptiles.

“I like the turtles,” Pittman said as she got an up-close look.

Cory Fields really enjoyed the snakes. He is the grandson of Eleanor Fields (Physical Plant).	Solomon Lowry is overcome by giggles, as his mom, Jennifer (Disability Support Services) looks on.
Bradley Burnette, son of Dr. Glen Burnette Jr. (University and Community Relations,) takes a turn at the racetrack.	Dr. Mark Canada (English) takes his daughter, Essie, and son, Will, for a train ride.
Dr. Jose Gomez (English) with his son, Mateo.	Kytria Pittman gets personal with a turtle. She is the daughter of Chomeka Franklin (Business Services).
Sharon Blue (Enrollment Management) and her son, Tyler, with their balloons	Reagan Cummings gets her face painted by Ingrid Russ. Cummings was with Penny Locklear (Library) and her daughter, Madison.

Athletic Department prepares for Scholarship Golf Tournament

The Athletic Scholarship Golf Tournament is Thursday, May 6 at 1 p.m. at Pine Crest Country Club in Lumberton. Interested golfers should contact the Athletic Department as soon as possible to register their team.

The tournament features a $25,000 putting contest and several hole-in-one prizes, including a new 2004 vehicle from Lumberton Ford.

A total of 88 golfers gathered at Pine Crest County Club last year, and the tournament committee has high hopes for even more success in 2004, said Dan Kenney (Athletics).

The tournament uses a captain’s choice format with four-man teams and is limited to 25 teams. Team entry fee is $500 and includes green fees, cart, mulligan, a golf shirt for each team member, driving range balls, refreshments and beverages on the course, prizes, pre-tournament lunch provided by Michael's of Pembroke and post-tournament meal prepared by Outback Steakhouse. Team entries will also be eligible to qualify for the $25,000 putting contest and will receive hole and cart sponsorship displaying company or team name.

Entry fee is $100 per player, which includes most of the above incentives. However, individual entries will not be eligible for the putting contest, will not receive driving range balls and will not receive the sponsorship.

Trophies and prizes will be awarded for first and second place. Prizes will also be given for “Closest to the Pin” on all par three holes. Additionally, prizes will be awarded for the longest drive on holes eight and 15. Door prizes will be presented at the conclusion of the tournament.

Teams will assemble at 12:30 p.m. and prepare for a "shot-gun" start. Lunch will be provided beginning at noon.

For more information and entry forms, please contact the Athletic Department at extension 6227.

Hill briefing on job loss in Robeson draws a crowd

This article first appeared in the American Sociological Association April newsletter, “Footnotes.” It was edited for this publication. More than 50 UNCP students, faculty and staff traveled to Washington March 30. Dr. Collie Coleman, Associate Vice Chancellor for Outreach, represented the University with a presentation on the biotechnology program. Representing the Regional Center for Economic, Community, and Professional Development were Director Sylvia Pate and staff members, Illya Chavis, Alfred Bryant, Rick Ransom and Genni Watson. Melanie Clark, director of UNCP’s Leadership and Service Opportunities Program (LSOP) helped arrange for several of our students to attend.

Another presentation was given March 29 in Raleigh for the North Carolina Joint Select Committee on Growth and Economic Development. UNCP will host a national conference on “Job Loss and Recovery in the Rural South” October 1-2, 2004. For more information on the Jobs for the Future project, please see: www.povertyeast.org/jobs/.

From the American Sociological Association
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Research sociologist Dr. Leslie Hossfeld, along with community leaders from Robeson County, students, faculty and administrators from UNCP, discussed the rate and impact of job loss in the county at a Congressional briefing on March 30.

The briefing was organized by the Center for Community Action (CCA), a community-based nonprofit organization in Lumberton that is working with other community and institutional agents to develop and implement strategies to address the massive job loss that has occurred in Robeson County during the last 10 years.

Dr. Hossfeld, along with Mac Legerton, executive director of CCA, and more than 150 Robeson County political and business leaders and unemployed individuals, traveled from Lumberton to Washington and participated in the Congressional briefing followed by a press conference.

At the briefing, which included seven U.S. House members and other policymakers, Dr. Hossfeld reported on a study of the impact of the precipitous job loss on the local economy and the need for small business development. Legerton delivered a presentation on federal policy recommendations to save rural jobs and rebuild rural counties in America hit hard by job losses.

The Robeson County participants, including UNCP students, faculty and staff, converged on Washington for a one-day blitz of visits to several members of Congress in order to seek government support and assistance for rural economic development.

The briefing was co-sponsored by the ASA and the co-chairs of the Congressional Rural Caucus Jobs and Economic Development Task Force, including U.S. Representatives Mike McIntyre (D-N.C.), whose district includes Robeson County, and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.).

Counted among the nation’s 250 poorest counties, Robeson has lost more than 10,000 manufacturing jobs in the last 10 years and previously employed nearly 18,000 people in manufacturing jobs. This translates to an estimated loss of $115 million in wages, but the ripple effect is even greater - totaling $674 million in losses in regional household income, according to Dr. Hossfeld.

With Robeson’s population at 123,000, its per capita income is $13,224. Unemployment payments rose from $8 million in 1994 to $20 million in 2001. Robeson’s poverty rate is nearly 33 percent.

North Carolina leads the nation in the percentage of manufacturing jobs lost since 2000, with 162,800 jobs. Robeson is also the most ethnically diverse rural county in America.

“Our jewels are our diverse people and the diversity of our locally owned and operated businesses,” said Legerton. “Our rural people and small business owners and workers have withstood the major shifts in economic policy throughout U.S. history and remain the bedrock of our economy.”

Dr. Hossfeld plans to use her grant to continue work with CCA and partner organizations in Robeson County and the state to organize a “Jobs for the Future” project. The goals include developing policy initiatives and efforts that attract major public and private grants and loans for economic development and reconstruction in the county and expanding minority-owned businesses and employment to create more equitable wealth and income distribution across families and communities of color.

Dr. Hossfeld’s ASA grant will also assist her in doing further research on the impact of job loss on the county and on methods to redress the problem by influencing policy and economic development.

Braves Card gets a new look this summer

The Braves Card, with the “smart” chip embedded in it, will be upgraded to a newer version this summer.

The office will begin making new cards for students beginning June 28 with a new look.

“The new cards come in blank now instead of pre-printed, so I asked Dr. John Labadie in the Art Department to ask his students to come up with a new design for the student ID card,” said Brave Card Administrator Michaela Mackley. “The class that he had work on the design was the Digital Arts class.”

The judging committee members were Cindy Saylor, Keats Ellis, Cynthia Redfearn, and representing the students, Daniel Armstrong.

The two students that submitted winning designs were Jennifer Hogan (also a contract designer for University and Community Relations) and Wendell Campbell.

This black-and-white winning design was submitted by Student Wendell Campbell.

This winning entry was one of three winners submitted by student Jennifer Hogan.

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