TWU Awards four Faculty Development Leaves for 2008-2009

In a competitive application process, Texas Woman’s University has awarded four Faculty Development Leaves for the academic year 2008-2009. 

Dr. Lou Thompson, English Speech and Foreign Languages, will complete an edited volume of essays in Fall 2008 discussing the work of the documentary filmmaker, Errol Morris. Morris is an Emmy, Oscar and MacArthur Foundation award winning documentarian, whose films include The Thin Blue Line and a Brief History of Time.  This book will impact both her undergraduate and film and literature courses.

Dr. Philip Yang, Sociology and Social Work, will use his faculty development leave in Spring 2009 to complete the manuscript for his newest book, Asian Immigration to the United States. This book will look at multiple causes and interactions that best explain Asian immigration to the United States post-1965. His work will directly inform his graduate and undergraduate teaching as well as contribute to the TW Asia Initiative.

Dr. Mary Williford-Shade, Professor of Dance, has been approved to use her faculty development leave in Spring 2009 to commission a one-woman show consisting of four solo dances, four artistic mini documentaries and an educational DVD. This collaboration with choreographers from China and the United States and with a videographer will result in a national and international tour of this performance work. This work will inform Dr. Williford-Shade’s graduate and undergraduate teaching and create new knowledge in performance theory.

Dr. Hugh Burns, English Speech & Foreign Languages, will spend a semester as Visiting Scholar of Digital Media and Composition at the Ohio State University in Spring 2009.  As Visiting Scholar, Dr. Burns will explore technology rich writing environments, investigate the impact of global discourse on new technology and assist in the development of criteria for digital press publications.  His work will directly impact his teaching in the areas of digital media as well as new interdisciplinary writing courses.

The Southern Nursing Research Society has named Dr. Gail Davis (nursing, Denton) the 2008 recipient of the John A. Hartford Geriatric Nursing Research Award.

Dr. Davis will receive this award in recognition for her research on older adults during the society’s annual conference scheduled Feb. 21-23 in Birmingham, Ala.

“My research with older adults, which focuses on testing interventions for the improvement of pain self-management and for the maintenance of bone health, has been extremely gratifying,” said Dr. Davis, B.S.N., M.Ed., Ed.D.  “My hope is that my research will add to the knowledge that nurses and other healthcare professionals can use in their practice.  Receiving this award from the Southern Nursing Research Society is, for me, a distinct honor.”

The John A. Hartford Geriatric Nursing Research Award is given annually to recognize the contributions of an individual whose established program of research has enhanced the science and practice of geriatric nursing in the Southern region.  It is one of only five awards the Southern Nursing Research Society gives during its annual conference.

Mary Thompson honored at the national APTA Combined Sections Meeting in February:

2007 President’s Award for Exceptional Contributions to the Section of Geriatrics

2007 Distinguished Educator Award for Excellence as a Physical Therapy Educator