The School of Humanities and Graduate Studies

Humanities and MHS Faculty Achievements

August 18, 2005

English and Mass Communications

Dr. Benson Prigg, Associate Professor of English, has been appointed as Director of the Step-to-College Program sponsored by Lincoln University at Overbrook High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Prigg also coordinated the 2005 Honda Campus All-Star Challenge for Lincoln students.

Dr. Marilyn Button, Professor of English and Chair of the Department of English and Mass Communications, organized a Second Annual Media Miles Communications Conference, in Spring, 2005, with Cheryl Martin, a renowned media professional, as keynote speaker and consultant.

Dr. Marie Nigro, Associate Professor of English, was selected as an NYU Summer Seminar participant. Her research topic was Native American Studies.

Dr. Oluropo Sekoni, Professor of English, presented a paper on African and African-American relations at St. Mary's College and wrote a monograph on African Ecopoetics.

Dr. J.K. VanDover, Professor of English, composed five articles for publication in The Facts on File Companion to the American Novel. His book entitled We Must Have Certainty has just been published by Susquehanna University Press.

Ms. Cynthia Whitesel, Lecturer in English, presented workshop at the University of Maryland, on "Best Online Instructional Practices."

Mrs. Sarala VanDover, part-time Assistant Professor of English, was nominated for inclusion in Who's Who Among America's Teachers for 2005.

Foreign Languages and Literatures

Dr. Abbes Maazaoui, Associate Professor of French and Chair of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, coordinated a teleconference on "Testing and Assessment in the Second Language Classroom" in cooperation with McGraw Hill Publishing Company, in October 2004.

Philosophy and Religion

Dr. Dana Flint, Professor of Philosophy, coordinated a Humanities Symposium on "Human Catastrophe and Global Response," after the Tsunami in December 2004.

Dr. Melvin Leaman, Assistant Professor of Religion, served as Coordinator of Woodrow Wilson Visiting Scholars in Spring, 2005. He also presented a paper on "Teaching Islam With Integrity" at the American Academy of Religion's Regional Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, in Spring 2005.

Dr. Gwinyai Muzorewa, Professor of Religion and the newly appointed Chair of Philosophy and Religion, is completing two books for publication--Ideologies of Black Liberation and Exploring the African American Experience.

Visual and Performing Arts

Dr. William B. Garcia, Professor of Music, Chair of Visual and Performing Arts and Conductor of the Lincoln University Concert Choir, is the founder of the Choral Festival Concert, in cooperation with choir conductors at Bowie State University, The University of Maryland at Eastern Shore and Delaware State University. The first festival occurred during the Spring of 2005. Under Dr. Garcia's direction, the Lincoln University Concert Choir continues to give stellar performances.

Mr. Charles Pettaway, Associate Professor of Music, performed three lecture-recitals for the Pennsylvania Humanities Council in November and December of 2004 and in January of 2005. Mr. Pettaway was also the featured artist recitalist at The Tourgee DeBose Artist Festival 2005 at Southern University in April, 2005.

Dr. Alvin Amos, Professor of Music, served as concept producer and photographer for the 2005 Lincoln University Gospel Choir CD--"Bringing Flava 2 Life."

Mr. Jeffrey Chapp, Associate Professor of Art, was commissioned by the Delaware Division of the Arts to design and create Delaware's 2004 Governor's Awards in the Arts sculpture, to be awarded to six recipients. One of his artworks was accepted in the NCECA 2005 Clay National Exhibition at the Center for Art and Visual Culture, UMBC, Baltimore, Maryland.

Mr. Andrew Sonpon, Assistant Professor of Art, exhibited his work in two shows: "(Sub) Urban" at the Bridge Spotters Gallery in Pittsburgh, PA, and at the Susquehanna Art Museum in Harrisburg, PA.

Master of Human Services

Dr. Virginia Smith, Associate Professor of Human Services and newly appointed Chair of Human Services, has been appointed to serve with the Commonwealth Legislation Office for Research Liaison Subcommittees (LORL) during the 2005 session of the Pennsylvania State Legislature. Dr. Smith also co-authored an article entitled "Progressing Towards a More Culturally Competent Approach to Dental Care for African-American Elders" in A Journal of Special Care in Dentistry, Nov/Dec. 2004.

Dr. Linda Stine, Professor of Human Services, has published two articles: "The Best of Both Worlds: Teaching Basic Writing in Class and Online" in The Journal of Basic Writing and Classroom Resources for Instructors Using Writing First, published by Bedford/St. Martin's Press.

Mr. Frank Worts, Lecturer in Human Services, was the recipient of the Leadership Award from the Center for Cultural and Ethnic Minority Aging, a national organization for minority scholarship and advocacy gerontology.

Dr. Szabi Ishtai-Zee, Professor of Human Services and former Interim Chair of Human Services, presented a paper entitled "A Phenomological Study of Human Services Employees Working in Mental Health Centers" at a meeting of The National Organization of Human Services Education, held in San Francisco, California.