August 2009 Newsletter Texas State College of Applied Arts

CAA Quarterly Newsletter August 2009

College of Applied Arts Newsletter

Dates to Remember

August 6 CAA Hooding Ceremony Centennial Hall Teaching Theater Room 157, 6 pm 7 CAA Chair’s Retreat McCoy’s Building Frost Bank Room, 8 am 14 Commencement Ceremonies Strahan Coliseum, 2 pm 21 CAA: GS 101 – Graduate Student Orientation Ag 204, 11:45 am 24 MSW Orientation Health Professions Building 8:30 – 3:30 pm 25 Convocation Evans Auditorium, 9 am CAA Meeting Ag 204, 11 am Human Nutrition Orientation FCS 181T, 4 pm FSC Graduate Reception FCS Building, 5 pm Graduate College Orientation LBJSC Teaching Theatre, 6:30 pm

September 1 Ag Graduate Reception Ag Building, 5:30 pm 3 OCED Graduate Reception Pedernales Building, 5:30 pm 14 CJ Graduate Reception Hines Building, Rm 205, 6 pm

Dear Graduate Students, The College of Applied Arts is enthusiastic about the new additions to the College. We welcome the School of Social Work, who joined our College this fall. The Master’s program in Social Work offers two tracks, advance standing and regular track, both on campus, as well as a complete online graduate program. For information about the on campus tracks, contact Dr. Mary Tijerina at 245-2592 or [email protected]. For information on the online program, contact, Dr. Mary Jo Biggs at 245- 2586 or at [email protected].

We are also proud of the new doctoral program in Criminal Justice. The Coordinating Board of Higher Education in Austin, Texas met and approved the program on July 30th. The Criminal Justice Department has initiated the selection of the first cohort of 12 – 15 doctoral students for fall 2009, which will be comprised of both full-time and part-time students.

The Ph.D. program will prepare doctoral students for academic and high-level policy careers in the field of criminal justice. Students will learn statistically advanced research methods, coupled with cutting-edge criminological and criminal justice theories, in order to equip them to address the difficult challenges in the criminal justice system facing Texas and the rest of the nation. Students will acquire the expertise to conduct original research in crime, law, public policy, and the administration of the criminal justice system. For information contact Dr. Mark Stafford at 245-5410 or at [email protected].

We are committed to our graduate students’ continued success. With the recent awarding of eight Graduate Research Fellowships for the 2009 – 2010 academic year in the respective departments, we anticipate stellar collaboration between faculty and students on innovative and progressive research endeavors. In addition, the college awarded fifty-one, one time $1,000 graduate tuition scholarships to new graduate students for fall. Jaime T. Chahin Dean of the College of Applied Arts

From the Dean’s Desk


Department of Agriculture

Faculty Accomplishments

Occupational Education Program

FACULTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Dr. Stephen Springer spoke at the Annual Texas Industrial Vocational Association (TIVA) Conference on July 15, 2009 in Houston Texas in regard to the “Teacher as a Leader.” Ms. Barbara Wilson, Senior Lecturer in Occupational Education, served on the Summer Commencement Speaker Committee on July 14, 2009.

Publications McFarland, A., T.M. Waliczek and J.M. Zajicek. 2009. Graduate student use of campus green spaces and the impact on their perceptions of quality of life, HortTechnology, (accepted for publication). Doxey, J., T.M. Waliczek and J.M. Zajicek. 2009. The impact of interior plants in university classrooms on course performance and student perceptions of the course and instructor, HortScience, 19(3). Gorham, M., T.M. Waliczek, A. Snelgrove and J.M. Zajicek. 2009. The effect of community gardens on incidence of crime in Houston, HortTechnology, 19(2)291-296. Abstracts and Presentations Waliczek, T.M. 2009. The benefits of integrating service teaching and learning techniques into the undergraduate horticulture curriculum. International Research Conference on Service Learning and Community Engagement, October, Ottawa, Ontario.

August 2009 Master’s Candidates, Terrence Parker, MSIS

& Ezzard Castillo, M Ed.

August 2009 Master’s Candidates in Agricultural Education,

Jennifer Smith & April Winston.


Faculty Accomplishments

PRESS RELEASE Dr. Kim Rossmo presented on Criminal Investigative Failures, April 7, 2009, at 7 pm in the Alkek Library Theater at Texas State University-San Marcos. This presentation, based on his new book, discussed problems underlying unsolved investigations and wrongful convictions: tunnel vision and cognitive biases; groupthink and organizational traps; and probability errors in forensic science and criminal profiling.

GRADUATE STUDENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Department of Criminal Justice

“Criminal Justice Faculty Plan Intelligence Analysis Graduate Certificate” A research team consisting of Drs. Quint Thurman, J.D. Jamieson, and Michael Supancic and assisted by Ms. Valerie Hollier created a 15-hour intelligence analysis graduate certificate curriculum for Texas State University during the 2008-09 academic year. Funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Defense, the team solicited input from several academic units throughout the university community to help devise an in-depth and comprehensive selection of courses that would be useful for enhancing critical thinking and analytical skills that might benefit intelligence community personnel.

After many weeks reviewing similar programs at the few, already established Intelligence Community Center of Academic Excellence (ICCAE) Programs, a very diverse curriculum that includes courses in Criminal Justice, Geography, Computer Science, History, Anthropology and a variety of elective courses from other fields of study were grouped together to comprise an optimal certificate program. With careful thought also given to the faculty who would teach these courses, the anticipated curriculum was presented to the 71st Annual TIOG Texas IO Conference and hosted by the National Guard, Texas ARNG Information Operations Group, San Antonio, Texas on June 5, 2009.

Published Drs. John McLaren, Verna Henson, and William Stone. "The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner and the Successful Sexual Assault Prosecution," Women & Criminal Justice, Vol. 19 Number 2, April-June 2009, pp. 137-152. Drs. Pete Blair, Pablo Martinez, and Donna Vandiver have been awarded tenure.

Sarah Scott successfully defended her master's thesis "Validation of the Travis County, Texas Risk Assessment Instrument for the Prediction of Absconding Among Adult Probationers" with a high pass on July 13, 2009.

Master’s Graduates Jennifer Carreon, Kyla Broz, Robert Almanza, Erin Gutierrez and Valerie Hollier pose for one last pic before joining the procession for

Commencement Ceremonies on Friday, August 14th.


Texas State Launches New Doctoral Program in Criminal Justice July 30, 2009

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has given final approval to a new doctorate in criminal justice at Texas State University-San Marcos. Enrollment will begin immediately, with the Department of Criminal Justice offering classes for the fall 2009 semester. “There’s been considerable demand for a doctorate in criminal justice in this area for a very long time,” said Mark Stafford, a professor in the criminal justice department at Texas State who will supervise the program. “The department recognized the demand in Austin and San Antonio several years ago and began developing a doctoral program.” “Currently, there are only about 35 criminal justice doctoral programs in the nation. Texas State’s new criminal justice doctorate is a research degree that should appeal to people in state agencies and law enforcement who are interested in conducting original research and applying that research to the criminal justice system,” Stafford said. “Potential enrollees are not so much prosecutors or police officers as they are upper-level administrators who see the value of research and desire more graduate education.” “Our enrollment will be a mix of traditional graduate students and working professionals. Ideally we will have 50 percent of each,” he explained. “There’s been nothing in the area to serve working professionals who are place-bound.” The Texas State doctorate will also draw upon the strengths of existing programs, such as Professor Kim Rossmo’s Center for Geospatial Analysis. This will allow graduate students pursuing a criminal justice doctorate to join research projects almost immediately. “Kim Rossmo’s work is a cutting-edge, up-and-coming field of study in criminal justice. We see that as where we want to be—on the cutting edge,” Stafford said. “Here at Texas State we can make use of the interdisciplinary strengths of our university. The excellence of the Geography program is one example. It only makes sense to do so, given the expertise of our department.”

Department of Criminal Justice

McGraw-Hill Recognizes Texas State Grads

In June of 2009 McGraw-Hill sought nominations from the criminal justice departments of colleges and universities around the country for outstanding recent graduates. The purpose of the nominations was to identify what students majoring in criminal justice actually do with their degrees after graduation. Texas State University-San Marcos has been blessed to have many gain employment in a variety of fields including private security, law enforcement, and corrections in all levels of government. Julia Morris (née Martinez) received her BSCJ and MSCJ degrees from Texas State and is currently working in the field of probation in the Houston area. Randall Watkins interspersed his education with multiple deployments to the middle east as a member of the United States Marine Corps. During his most recent deployment he was struck four times by rifle fire from an AK-47 after the vehicle in which he was a passenger was destroyed by an improvised explosive device. The damage to his shoulders prevents him from pursuing his goal of being a law enforcement officer. However, after receiving both his BSCJ and MSCJ degrees he is currently employed on a full-time basis as an instructor in the ALERRT program. Biographies of these two outstanding graduates will be published by McGraw-Hill in a forthcoming book entitled CJ: Realities and Challenges by Masters, et al.


Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

Faculty Accomplishments Dr. Mira Ahn, Assistant Professor of Interior Design co-authored, “Understanding the Mature Market for Residential Technologies”, and was recognized at the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences meeting in 2009 for the best paper in the housing, equipment and resource management area published in the Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal in 2008. Mr. Jene Laman, Professor of Interior Design had two artworks accepted in the 8th Annual All Media International Juried Exhibition at Upstream Gallery in Omaha, Nebraska. The titles of the works are “Anchored” and “Voyage”. The works will be on view from August 2009 to July 2010.

Graduate Student Accomplishments FCS Graduate Assistant Association took time this past April to ensure the environment at the Child Development Center (CDC) was environmentally sound for the attending children. The group diligently sanitized all the toys and equipment in the classrooms and large motor area. In addition, the front lobby was repainted and the playground was cleaned. Ms. Jesse Rogers, FCS faculty, put a new roof on one of the outdoor play buildings. Dr. Beth Russell, FCS faculty helped to plant grass seed. Ms. Amy Ciaraldi, FCS graduate assistant, organized the entire event. A big “thank you” goes out to everyone that helped make this a successful event. This has become a regular event for the GA Association. The staff and parents of the CDC are grateful for the Association’s generous contribution of time, energy and talent for the children attending the CDC. Your efforts to keep the CDC center clean, healthy and safe are greatly appreciated.

Dr. Blunk poses with FCS Master’s Graduates Andrea M. Sutton & Madelynn N. Fierova-Martinez along with Dr. Morgan Russell for one last pic before joining the procession for Commencement Ceremonies on Friday, August 14th.

Construction begins and

continues on the FCS building.

June 2009, before….

.. meets after, August 2009.


School of Social Work

Center for Children and Families The Center for Children and Families, under the direction of Regents’ Professor Nancy Chavkin, fosters collaboration between academic departments and community-based agencies for interdisciplinary proposal writing, research, education and service delivery. This mission promotes comprehensive, collaborative services for children and families across a lifespan. This past year the Center coordinated grants and contracts from the Department of Family and Protective Service (DFPS), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Harford Foundation. For FY10, the Center has just received word that its Title IV-E contract has been renewed for more than $734,000. Twenty-three MSW graduate students who are DFPS employees will receive stipends for tuition and fees. Twelve students (both BSW and MSW) will receive a paid internship stipend of $4000 for their commitment to foster care an adoption programs. Ms. Martha Wildberger coordinates the program in Austin and Ms. Rhonda Smith in San Antonio. Dr. Nancy Chavkin and Dr. Karen Brown co-direct the program. The Strengthening Relationship Grant has also received $497,000 in funding. The grant, co-directed by Dr. Michelle Toews and Dr. Karen Brown, assist adolescent parents in building and maintaining healthy relationships. Internships for social work students are still available. Ms. Renee Perez coordinates the program.

Welcome to the College of Applied Arts Family! Recently the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved the administrative move of the Texas State School of Social Work from the College of Health Professions to the College of Applied Arts under the Dean Dr. Jaime Chahin. This will become effective on September 1, 2009.

The School will remain in its present quarters in the Health Professions Building. The only move is an administrative one, which will have little effect on students.

This administrative move resulted from the School’s desire to stay on the San Marcos campus. In the future, the University anticipates moving the College of Health Professions to the Round Rock campus, to join the growing health community in that area. The School of Social Work, however, believed that students would be better served if the School remained on the primary campus in San Marcos.

FACULTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS Drs. Nancy Chavkin and Karen Brown received notice of more than $735,000 in funding for FY10 from the Department of Family and Protective Services for their Title IV-E project. This project provides 38 educational stipends for 26 graduate students and 12 undergraduate students. The project also provides training for DFPS staff and foster and adoptive parents. Drs. Chavkin and Brown are conducting research as a part of a statewide evaluation of the results of this stipend program.

Hogg Foundation Bilingual Scholarships To Increase Spanish-Language Mental Health Services in Texas

The Hogg Foundation announced that four Texas State graduate social work students have been awarded Hogg Foundation Bilingual scholarships in the program’s second round of funding. For the 2009-2010 academic year, Jacqueline Hansen, San Antonio, will receive funding for a second year. New scholarship awardees are Blanca Herrera of Austin, Diane Leal of San Antonio, and Tania Motta-Allen of Austin. All are enrolled in the Master of Social Work program in the School of Social Work, College of Applied Arts.


• Graduate Support Network: Special thanks to the Graduate Students who have been a tremendous asset during the CAA: GS 101 orientation sessions as well as the Master’s Hooding Ceremonies. You have been instrumental in building a peer support network for incoming and graduating graduate students. Your mentorship has proved priceless. Thank you!

• Fall Graduate Welcome Receptions:

FCS – Tuesday, August 25, 5 pm AG - Wednesday, September 1, 5:30 pm OCED - Thursday, September 3, 5:30 pm CJ - Monday, September 14 at 6 pm

Graduate Studies News & Events

Graduate Research Fellowship Recipients Congratulations to the following students who were selected as recipients of the 2009 – 2010 Graduate Student Research Fellowship: The Department of Family and Consumer Sciences has selected Ms. Megan Brooks to work with two research projects; the “Kindergarten Readiness Project” with Drs. Sue Williams, Elizabeth Russell, and Elizabeth Blunk and the second is a “Strengthening Families Project” with Drs. Michelle Toews and Ani Yazedjian. In the Human Nutrition Program, Ms. Juanita Escamilla was selected to work with Drs. Vatsala Maitin and Michelle Lane on the “Role of Probiotic Bacteria and Colorectal Cancer Metastasis”. The Department of Criminal Justice has selected four fellowship recipients: Mr. Jonathon Allen has been selected to work with Dr. Pablo Martinez on a research proposal entitled “Recidivism of Residential Facilities’ Treatment Programs in Texas”. Ms. Georgianna Brain will be working with Drs. Donna Vandiver and Mark Stafford on a research project entitled “A Research Study in the Identification of Distinguishing Characteristics of Sex Offenders and Non-Sex Offenders”. Ms. Cheryl Rowden will be working with Dr. Jeff Cancino on a research project entitled “A Research Study to Identify Economic and Non-Economic Indicators of Influence on Homicides in San Antonio Neighborhoods Based on Racial/Ethnic Differences”. Ms. Stephanie Engeling will be working with Dr. Pete Blair on a research project entitled, “The Decision to Interrogate”. The Department of Agriculture has selected two students; Ms. Erica Meier will be working with Dr. Tina Cade on “A Study Looking at the Invasive Species of the Rio Grande River Basin” and Ms. Alyson Ivey, will be working with Dr. Douglas Morrish on a project entitled “The Implementation and Effect of Active Student Organizations, Clubs, and Judging Programs on Recruitment and Retention of Incoming Freshmen”.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION BY SOCIAL WORK GRADUATE STUDENTS On August 13th, the School of Social Work held its Graduation Celebration to recognize and honor the program completion of both the Bachelors (BSW) and Masters (MSW) students. Graduate students surprised everyone with a special presentation of their own. They recognized that their program completion was not solely their accomplishment but the joint effort of a significant support system that includes, faculty, family, friends and staff members like Lydia Longoria. Lydia is the Field Practicum Office Admin of the School of Social Work. Her customer service support to the students during a challenging year in their program did not go unnoticed. Her availability, care, respect and sincerity is what customer service is all about. Congratulations Lydia!


CAA: Graduate Studies 101

“I’ve applied... Now what?”

Friday, November 11:45 am in Ag 204

Orientation for all newly accepted students, pending applicants and prospective students considering Graduate

Studies. RSVP to Yolanda Quintanilla at [email protected] by Wednesday, November 18th.

Graduate Studies News & Events

Newsletter Editor Comments or questions. Yolanda Quintanilla, Graduate Recruiter

[email protected] or 245-3538

Graduate College Fall Events

The Graduate College is organizing the following events to be held on the Texas State campus this fall.

1. Graduate Information Fair on November 4th from 11 am – 2 pm in the Quad with LBJSC as the rain site.

2. International Research Conference

for Graduate Students on November 4th and 5th.

* November 4: Preconference from 3 – 5 pm, Welcome and reception from 6 – 8:30 pm * November 5: 9 – 5 pm Special Presentations and Concurrent sessions

3. IRB Workshop (Date TBD)

4. Thesis/Dissertation Workshop (Date TBD)

Specific information will be available via the Graduate College Web site and will be distributed early in the fall semester. We believe these events will provide excellent opportunities for current and prospective graduate students. Should you need additional information prior to the fall semester, please contact Dr. Sandy Rao, Assistant Dean of the Graduate College at: [email protected].

Fall 2009 Graduate Scholarship Award Recipients Alyson Ivey Mikaela McDougall Coleman Etheredge Lauren Cantrell Erica Meier Melissa Askew Travis Turner Jorge Cox Sharon Zaragoza Jill Chism Cheryl Rowden Kristy Eaton Stephanie Engeling Nicole Ellington Charles Conditt Megan Brooks Jessica Rager Jennifer Stepter Isaac Brewer Matthew Propst Sabrina Anderson Amanda Kozimor Dew Wisniewski Ashwini Bakane Barbara Smith Michael Martaindale Selah Guerra Jennifer Kucherka Kyle Jennings Michael Garcia David Marshall Aryani Montes Ashley Holland Laura Helms Carlos Granillo June Adair Elizabeth Summerville Terry Howard Micah Gum Hilary Koenig Melissa Bowden Steve Boehm Kevin Leverenz Sam Shurley Howard Williams Lynn Greenwood Brian Reyes Randall Odom Erin Nelson Jimmie Lyde William Harrell

August 2009 Newsletter Texas State College of Applied Arts

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