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by Spencer McClenty
spencer.l.mcclenty@jsums.edu

Kent Nelson

(JACKSON, Miss.) – Renowned Utah music educator Kent Nelson will give a lecture at Jackson Sate University at noon Wednesday, Feb. 8, in the F.D. Hall Music Center Recital Hall followed by a master class at 2 p.m. in the same venue. The event is sponsored by the JSU College of Liberal Arts and the Music Department and is open to JSU students, faculty and staff.

Nelson is in his 24th year at Olympus Junior High School near Salt Lake City, where he teaches instrumental music, including orchestra, band, jazz band, percussion ensemble and guitar. He has received the Granite School District Excel Award (2007), the Utah PTA Gingerbread House Festival Teacher of the Year Award (2006) and the Fulbright Memorial Fund (Japan, 2004) in recognition of his teaching. He is currently the musical director and conductor of the Granite Junior Youth Symphony, an honors organization encompassing the 15 junior high schools in the school district. He has been associated with the group for more than 20 years. Nelson is also a doctoral candidate at Boston University.

For more information, call assistant professor of music education David Akombo at 601-979-2584.

Michael Thomas

(JACKSON, Miss.) – Jackson State University Vice President for Finance and Operations Michael Thomas has been named to the Jackson Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors on behalf of the university.

The chamber, which operates under the Greater Jackson Partnership, aims to improve the community through education, business/community development, legislative issues, marketing the city internally and externally and public safety.

Thomas joined the administration in 2010 after 16 years with the Jackson Public School District where he managed a $350 million budget. The 1985 JSU alumnus holds a bachelor’s degree in finance.

– JSU –

About Jackson State University: Challenging Minds, Changing Lives

Jackson State University, founded in 1877, is a historically black, high research activity university located in Jackson, the capital city of the state of Mississippi. Jackson State’s nurturing academic environment challenges individuals to change lives through teaching, research and service. Officially designated as Mississippi’s Urban University, Jackson State continues to enhance the state, nation and world through comprehensive economic development, health-care, technological and educational initiatives. The only public university in the Jackson metropolitan area, Jackson State is located near downtown, with three satellite campuses throughout the city. For more information, visit www.jsums.edu.

Carroll, 22, a senior meteorology major from Dallas who touts a 3.91 grade

Dereka Carroll

point average, is the winner of the JSU Student of the Year HEADWAE award.

“I am very humbled,” she said. “When you work hard, sometimes you get discouraged. But this award shows that I have what it takes to succeed. So I’m very excited.”

Carroll’s academic honors and memberships include the Minorities Striving and Pursuing Higher Degrees of Success in Earth System Science 2011-2013 Cohort, the Golden Key International Honor Society, the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, and the W.E.B DuBois Honors College. She’s also currently a mentor in the Increasing Minorities in Atmospheric Science through Research, Application and Partnership program and a student leader in the JSU campus ministry Reform University Fellowship.

Hossain, winner of the JSU Faculty of the Year HEADWAE award, is an assistant professor in the JSU Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

“This is a great honor,” Hossain said.  “It brings prestige for my department and for the university.”

Alamgir Hossain

Hossain received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry from the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh and a Ph.D. in supramolecular chemistry from Hokkaido University in Japan. He was a recipient of a prestigious Alexander Humboldt Fellowship for his postdoctoral work in Germany. Hossain’s research includes supramolecular and macromolecular chemistry focusing non-covalent interactions between synthetic hosts and guest species, and to develop new biomimetic sensors for anions of environmental and biological relevance. Hossain has published more than 50 research articles in chemistry journals, which were cited more than 700 times by other researchers.

The goal of the appreciation day program, which is hosted by the state Legislature each February in Jackson, is to encourage excellence among those involved in higher education as a way to further leadership, increase knowledge, and to promote good citizens capable of thriving in today’s society and prepared to meet future challenges. To this end, one student and one faculty honoree are annually selected from each of the 36 public and private member institutions of the Mississippi Association of Colleges. The honorees are welcomed by the Lieutenant Governor, recognized in each chamber of the Legislature and recognized by name at a luncheon attended by institution leaders, corporate sponsors, and legislators.
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by Spencer McClenty
spencer.l.mcclenty@jsums.edu

Brooke Kelly

Jackson State University last semester, has been named a Chips Quinn Scholar and will spend the spring 2012 semester in Washington, D.C., writing stories and developing multi-media projects as an intern for the Scripps Howard Foundation Wire.

Kelly is a 21-year old senior mass communications major from Jackson, Miss., with a concentration in multimedia journalism and a minor in art.  She applied and was recommended for the Chips Quinn Scholars Program for Diversity in Journalism in October. The program, operated by the Diversity Institute and funded by the Freedom Forum, provides internships, training, an intense one-week college course in multimedia skills and financial assistance to college students from multicultural backgrounds who are pursuing careers in journalism.

“I am very excited about going to D.C. and interning. I like that it’s an 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., full-time internship, and I hope to better prepare myself for life after college with this internship,” said Kelly.  “I plan to represent myself and my school well while interning, and write stories on a variety of topics including national news, political news, and possibly local news that may have a D.C. connection.”

Kelly’s recommendations came as a result of her good academic standing, her work and writing for The Flash, The Jackson Free Press, the JSU Mass Communications Department, and other freelance opportunities. She will complete her internship on April 13.

Jody Beck, director of the Semester in Washington internship program for Scripps Howard Foundation Wire, stated in a letter to Kelly: “Your strong application, stories and recommendations make it clear you are ready to be a reporter in Washington.”

JSU Student Publications Director Sylvia Watley said she was happy to recommend Brooke for the program.

“I encouraged her to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity and to learn as much and write as much as possible,” said Watley. “The great thing about being a Chips Quinn scholar is the fact that the program offers students hands-on training and mentoring by news veterans from around the country and opens doors to newsrooms throughout the nation.

“While we will miss Brooke at The Flash this semester, we are looking forward to hearing about her adventures and reading her stories on the Scripps Howard Foundation Wire site (www.shfwire.com). With this additional training and support, I expect her to be a great career journalist.”

The Chips Quinn program, according to the Freedom Forum website, is named for John “Chips” Quinn Jr., editor of the Poughkeepsie (N.Y.) Journal, who died at age 34. His commitment to diversity has become his legacy. The former editor was the son of John Quinn, advisory trustee and former deputy chairman of the Freedom Forum, and Loie Quinn, who together founded the program in 1991. Nearly 1,200 men and women have been named Chips Quinn Scholars since 1991, making it the largest and most enduring diversity initiative of the Freedom Forum.

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About Jackson State University: Challenging Minds, Changing Lives

Jackson State University, founded in 1877, is a historically black, high research activity university located in Jackson, the capital city of the state of Mississippi. Jackson State’s nurturing academic environment challenges individuals to change lives through teaching, research and service. Officially designated as Mississippi’s Urban University, Jackson State continues to enhance the state, nation and world through comprehensive economic development, health-care, technological and educational initiatives. The only public university in the Jackson metropolitan area, Jackson State is located near downtown, with three satellite campuses throughout the city. For more information, visit www.jsums.edu.

Terry Morris

(JACKSON, Miss.) – NASA engineer and child advocate Terry Morris will be the opening speaker for Jackson State University’s 10th annual Mississippi Child Welfare Institute Conference Jan. 25-27 at the Jackson Marriott Hotel, 200 E. Amite St., in Jackson, Miss.

Sponsored by the JSU College of Public Service School of Social Work, the three-day conference will focus on “Building Bridges for a New Decade of Transformational Services with Children and Families.” The event will feature local and national experts who will provide the latest information on issues affecting vulnerable children and families.

Morris endured an abusive childhood before entering the foster care system as a youth. He later earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Mississippi State University and went on to earn a master’s in electrical engineering at Old Dominion University and a Ph.D. in systems engineering at the University of Virginia. He now works as the manager for integrated hazard analysis within the safety-critical avionics systems branch at NASA.

Juli Alvarado

The conference will begin with a youth empowerment session at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25. Morris will lead the opening plenary session at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 26.

Anton J. Gunn

Other speakers will include Juli Alvarado, president and owner of the personal and professional development firm Coaching for LIFE!; Anton J. Gunn, Region IV director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and Rowena Wilson, associate dean, professor and director of the Ph.D. program at  Norfolk State University’s School of Social Work.

Rowena Wilson

Social work students, educators, practitioners, human service workers and mental and health care professionals are invited to attend. Participants are eligible for up to 11 continuing education hours.

For more information, call 601-432-6816 or 601-979-1123.

Posted by Jean Gordon Cook
601-979-1571
jean.g.cook@jsums.edu 

The College of Lifelong Learning, now School of Lifelong Learning, was established in 2003 to meet the needs of the current workforce and adult learners.

Created in 2001, the Mississippi Learning Institute is an innovative collaboration among Jackson State University, the Jackson Public School District, the Mississippi State Department of Education, the Barksdale Reading Institute and the America Reads Mississippi-AmeriCorps Program.

Since 1983, Kids Kollege has provided academic and cultural enrichment to more than 38,000 families and their pre-school and school-aged children.

“The move comes from our effort to improve our operational efficiencies,” said Dr. Mark G. Hardy, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Because of their shared goals, MLI, Lifelong Learning and Kids Kollege have always worked closely with the College of Education. We believe this move will strengthen the unit.”

The reorganization solidifies Jackson State’s academic programs into five colleges: Business, Public Service, Liberal Arts, Science, Engineering and Technology and Education and Human Development.

– JSU –

About Jackson State University: Challenging Minds, Changing Lives

Jackson State University, founded in 1877, is a historically black, high research activity university located in Jackson, the capital city of the state of Mississippi. Jackson State’s nurturing academic environment challenges individuals to change lives through teaching, research and service. Officially designated as Mississippi’s Urban University, Jackson State continues to enhance the state, nation and world through comprehensive economic development, health-care, technological and educational initiatives. The only public university in the Jackson metropolitan area, Jackson State is located near downtown, with three satellite campuses throughout the city. For more information, visit www.jsums.edu.

Biology professor Stephen Ekunwe

(JACKSON, Miss.) – Jackson State University biology professor Stephen Ekunwe has recently been named a fellow of the African Scientific Institute (ASI).

The ASI Fellows association is an international group of accomplished academics, researchers and business people in the fields of science and technology. There are currently 553 ASI Fellows from 41 countries.

The association recognizes the achievement of excellence of each fellow in his or her field through election to membership and various awards for distinguished achievement.

Ekunwe has been recognized by ASI for his achievements in cellular and molecular biology, especially in the area of colon and prostate cancer research with the edible medicinal herb, Ocimum gratissimum. He completed his undergraduate and graduate studies in biology at Jackson State University and earned a Ph.D. in microbiology/cell and molecular biology from Michigan State University. Ekunwe joined the Jackson State faculty in 1998.

For more information about ASI Fellows, visit www.asi-org.net.

Posted by Jean Gordon Cook
601-979-1571
jean.g.cook@jsums.edu 

The Jackson State University Center For Service & Community Engaged Learning is offering community service opportunities for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on Monday, January 16.

To sign up, call 601-979-1294 or 601-979-6938 or visit the center on the first floor of Jacob Reddix Hall.

Local service opportunities include:

Name of Site       Contact Person        Address                   Times                    Duties

Federal and state tax returns will be prepared in the College of Business and the Student Center and will be electronically transmitted. Jackson State professor Donald McWilliams, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), will serve as the VITA site coordinator.

Participants must bring:

• Original Social Security cards for the taxpayer and all dependents.
• Valid photo ID.
• All income documents such as W-2s, 1099s and interest statements.
• For direct deposit: A cancelled check or bank account and routing numbers.

Hours of operation:

• Jan. 23-24
  4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
  JSU College of Business, Second Floor – Room 201 and 202
• Jan. 28, Feb. 11, Feb. 25, March 3
  10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
  JSU Student Center, Second Floor – Suite 2241

For more information, contact Patricia Chaffin at 601-979-2029 or Donald McWilliams at 601-979-2699.
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posted by Spencer McClenty
spencer.l.mcclenty@jsums.edu