FVSU Points of Pride - September 2014

A State and Land-Grant Institution

University System of Georgia

News Release1005 State University Drive • Fort Valley, Georgia 31030-4313

Fort Valley StateUniversity

Professional earth sciences organization to honor Crumbly

July 3, 2014 - A prominent, national scientific group is recognizing an FVSU administrator and

pioneer for his outstanding efforts to help prepare minorities and women for professional careers

in the geosciences.

The Geological Society of America, a professional organization that provides resources to earth

scientists in all sectors, recently named Dr. Isaac Crumbly, associate vice president of Career and

Collaborative Programs, as the recipient of its 2014 Bromery Award. The honor is given in support

of minorities that have made significant contributions to research in the geological sciences, or

those who have been instrumental in opening up the geosciences field to other minorities.

He will receive his award during the organization’s GSA Annual Meeting from Oct. 19-22, in

Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada.

“Dr. Crumbly has labored steadfastly and successfully in the educational vineyards in general and in the STEM vineyards

in particular for several decades," FVSU president Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith said. "This new accolade is therefore a fitting

recognition of his efforts and achievements. He is one of our institutional treasures, which is partly why I promoted him

to my cabinet earlier this year. Moreover, an endowed professorship in his name is one of my goals. He has mentored

and nurtured hundreds of students who have gone on to be successful professional in and out of the energy industry. A

chair in his name would be one powerful way for these professionals to thank him and pay forward to future Wildcats.”

“Considering the outstanding individuals who have received the Bromery Award, I am indeed humbled to be a recipient,”

Crumbly said.

Individuals must be nominated to qualify for the award. Crumbly was recognized for founding the Cooperative

Developmental Energy Program at FVSU. The dual-degree program that allows students to earn two bachelor’s degrees

– one in a science, technology, engineering and mathematics-related field, and another in an energy-related one -- has

helped minority students enter in the geosciences profession.

“The reason I am receiving the Bromery Award is because the Cooperative Developmental Energy Program has

developed a geosciences pipeline for minorities,” Crumbly said. “CDEP and partnering universities have graduates 31

minority and female geoscientists. CDEP’s geosciences pipeline begins in the ninth grade and continues through college.”

The honor, created in 1998, is named after Randolph W. “Bill” Bromery, an African-American scholar, geologist, Tuskegee

Airman and former Chancellor for the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. The National Academy of Sciences named

the pioneer as an outstanding black scientist in 1997. In addition to his scientific work, Bromery also established the

W.E.B. Du Bois Archives at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Bromery and his wife, Cecile, established the

Bromery Fund for Minorities with the GSA Foundation in 1999 to provide support for the award. Bromery passed away

in 2014.

For more information, contact the Cooperative Developmental Energy Program at (478) 825- 6243.

--FVSU--

Contact: Office of Marketing and Communications • (478) 825-6319





FVSU to repair and reopen pool thanks to USG funding

July 2, 2014 - Fort Valley State University’s damaged swimming pool will soon

undergo repairs thanks to $400,000 in funding that President Ivelaw Lloyd

Griffith secured from University System of Georgia's Board of Regents

Chancellor Hank M. Huckaby.

Construction on FVSU’s pool - closed since 2009 due to a crack- will begin

within the next two months.

“[Repairing] the pool has been the most talked about subject on campus,” said

Dr. Dwayne Crew, FVSU's associate vice president for business and finance.

“Everybody is ready for it to reopen.”

“The issues with the original construction of the pool caused it to crack,” Crew said. Due to the faulty construction, the

facility has been closed since 2009. “We thought it was best to tear out the pool and start again.”

The university consulted with Lyman Davidson Dooly, an architectural firm, recommended fixing the 12-foot pool by

tearing out and replacing its bottom. After the concrete is upended, new concrete will be poured into the structure. The

new depth of the pool will be 7 to 8 feet, instead of 12 feet. There will be no diving boards.

Even though the construction project hasn’t been officially placed out for bids yet, Crew believes the project will take six

to ten weeks to complete, and will be finished late in September 2014. President Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith hopes to have a

grand party during FVSU’s homecoming to celebrate the re-opening of the pool.

"The re-opening of the pool has been a key pursuit of mine, and for several reasons," Dr. Griffith said, who said that

Regent Larry Walker played a special role in faciliating the process of acquiring the additional funding. "It is a vital

wellness facility for both campus and community use. Moreover, it is an important revenue stream, especially as our

university faces severe budget challenges. As such, the pool is an expression of the two E aspects of our existence; we

are an Educational enterprise and an Economic enterprise."

The facility’s re-opening is essential for several reasons, according to Donald Moore, HPE Complex/Campus Events

Manager. The pool helps provide the school with additional revenue.

The pool is rented out to local campuses, such as Perry and Westfield High Schools, for swim meets. Additionally, it has

served as the site for a state swim meet. The university’s Wildcat Battalion has also trained at the facility in the past. Since

the pool’s closing, the ROTC cadets have travelled almost 20 miles to Robins Air Force to complete their exercises.

For more information, contact Crew at (478) 825-6200.

--FVSU--






FVSU receives NSF grant to start minor in applied statistics

July 3, 2014 - The National Science Foundation recently awarded Fort Valley

State University’s mathematics and computer science department a $393,684

grant to launch a new minor program in Applied Statistics.

The award, which was sought by co-principal investigators Dr. Dawit Aberra,

chair of the university’s math and computer science department, and assistant

professors of mathematics, Dr. Haixan Wang and Dr. Shadreck Chitsonga, is

effective July 1, 2014.

“I am delighted with this latest grant, which is further evidence of our Dreaming

and Doing in research," said Dr. Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith, FVSU president. "This new

pursuit will not only extend our engagement in the critical STEM cluster, but it

will provide additional opportunity for faculty and students to pursue one of my

top priorities: undergraduate research.”

Aberra sought funding for a project entitled, “Targeted Infusion Project: Developing a Minor Program in Applied Statistics

within the Department of Mathematics and Computers Science at FVSU.”

“I’m excited about this grant,” Aberra said. “The proposed minor program in Applied Statistics will change overall student

attitude about job markets and will actually broaden job opportunities for students graduating from FVSU with a minor

in Applied Statistics.”

He continued, “It will also increase the number of African Americans represented in the data sciences and research

opportunities that require application of statistics. The program will be available for all FVSU students and is in line with

the university’s mission to increase enrollment and improve academic programs.”

The program will help FVSU students pursue STEM graduate programs and careers. The minor program also will help

students develop statistical knowledge and thinking through activities that require scientific and data-driven decision

making processes. The new unit will help improve enrollment and retention in statistic-related fields.

Lisa Wilson said the new NSF grant is evidence that the campus is meeting its mission as a research institution within the

state.

“FVSU currently administers more than $46 million in sponsored funding and so far this year, funding is up 8 percent over

last year,” Wilson said. “The NSF Targeted Infusion Award is another indication that FVSU is excelling in its mission as a

research university, attracting more public and private external funding and creating opportunities that are changing

lives.”

--FVSU--






New pre-kindergarten program available in Macon County

July 25, 2014 - A new pre-kindergarten program is now available at no

charge for children in Macon County.

On July 2, Fort Valley State University’s Head Start Program received

$63,000 from the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, to

start a new pre-kindergarten program in Macon County for the 2014-

2015 school year. The program will serve 20 children at FVSU’s Head

Start facility in Marshallville. Classes begin Aug. 18.

The purpose of a pre- kindergarten program is to provide educational

services to four-year-old children and their families. Evelyn Byrd, director of FVSU’s Head Start Program, said

this is the first time that a pre-kindergarten program will blend with FVSU’s Head Start Program.

“We’re excited about the fact that Head Start and pre-k have a collaboration effort,” Byrd said. She said the

classrooms that consist of pre-kindergarten students will be called Head Start, pre-kindergarten blended

classrooms. By combining the 20 pre-kindergarten students with the 86 Macon County Head Start students,

FVSU will be servicing 106 children at its Macon County Head Start Center. Furthermore, children in pre-

kindergarten blended classrooms will receive the full services that Head Start offers. This includes health

screenings, access to a research based education curriculum and transportation to and from the Head Start

Center.

In addition, students enrolled in the pre-kindergarten program can receive services from two family advocates

(social workers).

Dr. Vivian Fluellen, executive director of FVSU’s Head Start Program, said the pre-kindergarten program will

have a positive impact on children, families and the local community by improving school readiness skills in

language, literacy, math and general knowledge. “By acquiring these skills early on, pre-k children stand a

greater chance of reading on grade level which better positions them for future academic excellence,” Fluellen

said.

To be eligible for pre-kindergarten, children must be four-years-old by Sept. 1 of the school year. At this time,

all 20 pre-kindergarten slots for the 2014-2015 year are filled. For more information about the pre-

kindergarten program in Macon County, contact FVSU’s Macon County Head Start Center at (478) 967-2155 or

e-mail Angela McDonald, FVSU’s Macon County Head Start family advocate at [email protected].

--FVSU--

Contact: FVSU Agricultural Communications Department • (478) 825-6345





FVSU future teachers attend NASA institute

August 15, 2014 - Future educators from Fort Valley State

University’s College of Education learned advanced teaching

techniques during an institute at one of the nation’s leading space

centers. FVSU students attended the NASA Pre-Service Teaching

Institute at the George C. Marshall Space Center in Redstone

Arsenal, Ala.. The program provides teachers with the latest

instruction techniques science, technology, engineering and

mathematics areas.

NASA’s Pre-Service Teacher Institute, or PSTI, was developed to

provide more in-depth experience for pre-service teachers.

“This institute has been in existence for 14 years,” said Dr. Edward

Hill, FVSU’s College of Education dean. “One of the major goals [of

this institute] is to transfer [teacher’s] acquired knowledge into

useable lessons plans for teaching science, technology, engineering,

mathematics or STEM.”

During the week-long institute, aspiring educators interact with

NASA personnel, and toured Marshall Space Center. They were exposed to problem-based learning, mathematics,

science and technology-enrichment activities.

“The NASA Pre-Service Institute was engaging, empowering, and built my confidence for planning, designing and

implementing standards-based STEM curriculum,” said Latravia Ferguson, a senior middle grades education major. “The

programs strengthened my science content using NASA resources.”

At the height of the session, teachers learned to develop problem-based lesson plans for local school children.

“I experienced firsthand, authentic learning experience within the context of new science, technology, engineering and

mathematics (STEM) discoveries. The experience has helped me to develop a sustainable collaborative network with

NASA instructors, as well as the other pre-service candidates that attended the institute. I am certain that this experience

will provide continued support for all the participants,” said Dimtri Mitchell, a FVSU junior majoring in Early Childhood

education.

For details, contact the College of Education at (478) 825-6365.

-30-






Family and consumer sciences student recognized as “Most Outstanding” by a national coalition

August 15, 2014 - Academic excellence, dedication and a commitment to service helped

a Fort Valley State University student earn a prestigious award during a national

conference.

Jhameka Jones, a 21-year-old family and consumer sciences major, earned “The Most

Outstanding Student Award” from the National Coalition for Black Development in

Family and Consumer Sciences, an affiliate of the American Association of Family and

Consumer Sciences (AAFCS). Jones received the award in St. Louis, Mo. during a banquet

this summer.

“It was a surprise: I didn’t know I was nominated. When they called my name, I was in

shock,” Jones said expressing her excitement when she learned of her achievement.

Dr. Vivian Fluellen, interim department head for FVSU’s Family and Consumer Sciences

(FCS) Program, said she nominated Jones because she is hardworking, articulate,

determined and a member of AAFCS.

Jones competed for the award against students representing land-grant universities across the U.S. She was presented

the award at the conference which drew more than 700 students and professionals.

The college senior said the conference broadened her knowledge about the family and consumer sciences discipline.

“Family and consumer sciences are the backbone of the family. In order for us to have a better economy and lifestyle,

we have to build on the family first,” Jones said.

She highlighted how the conference allowed her the opportunity to network with students, professors and professionals

from across the country. She also met Seth Henderson, winner of the seventh season of the television show, Project

Runway who was a speaker at the conference.

After attending the conference and receiving her award, the Americus native said after graduation she aspires to leave

her home state, further her education and eventually come back and teach at FVSU.

“I want to learn everything I can in my twenties so I can teach everything I’ve learned in my thirties,” she said. She

attributes her aspirations to the FCS program at FVSU.

“My major is awesome,” Jones said. “The teachers are very helpful. When you get in class, you can tell they really want

you to be somebody.”

Overall, she said her goal is to help improve the lives of families.

“It’s hard to teach older people new ways; so, if you start from the beginning with younger adults [who are] having

children, maybe we can spark a change,” Jones said.

For more information about FVSU’s Family and Consumer Sciences Program, visit ag.fvsu.edu or call (478) 825-6234.

-30-

Contact: FVSU Agricultural Communications Department • (478) 825-6345

Jhameka Jones, senior family and

consumer sciences major, earns

“The Most Outstanding Student

Award” from the National Coalition

for Black Development in Family

and Consumers Sciences.





FVSU Fulbright professor returns to campus

August 15, 2014 - Fulbright professor Dr. Peter Dumbuya recently returned from his one-year sojourn overseas.

The Fort Valley State University professor spent a year in the African nation of Sierra Leone, where he

conducted research on gender mainstreaming in Sierra Leone since a brutal civil war that killed nearly 75,000

people. During this eleven-year war that started in 1991, women and children were the most-targeted victims

of violence.

“I decided to conduct my research on gender mainstreaming, a concept was developed within the last decade

or two, which helps to bring about gender equality in the workplace, private as well as governmental,”

Dumbuya said.

According to the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, gender

mainstreaming is defined as a globally accepted strategy for promoting gender equality. In this approach, policy

makers ensure that gender equality remains a central goal in research advocacy, dialogue, legislation, resource

allocation, planning, implementation and monitoring of international programs and projects.

In the past, the nation had few rights for women. In 2007, Sierra Leone passed several laws designed to protect

women from harm. The Domestic Violence Act provided abuse victims with legal protection under the law.

Later that year, the Devolution of Estates Act became law, and granted surviving female spouses and their

families rights to their deceased husband’s estate . Before the Devolution of Estates Acts, the husband’s next

male kin inherited the property. In 2009, the Registration of Customary Marriage and Divorce Act allowed the

registration of marriages and divorces, and gave inheritance rights to women in the case of divorce or domestic

violence.

During his Fulbright period, Dumbuya spent 20 percent of his time teaching at the Fourah Bay College located

in Fourah Bay College in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The rest of the time, the scholar conducted research in gender

mainstreaming. Dumbuya met with the president of Sierra Leone, H.W. Ernest Bai Koroma, to discuss the

nation’s policies on gender mainstreaming.

-continued-

According to Dumbuya, before the 11-year war, there was no offices created to ensure the parity of women in

government. After the war, gender equality became a priority within the country.

“My methodology was historical,” Dumbuya said. “I went to the major institutions and the people responsible

for gender mainstreaming. It was part interview, part documentation. I interviewed officials in the office of the

Sierra Leone president.” The FVSU professor met with Naasu G. Fofoanah, the Special Gender Adviser to the

President of Sierra Leone. He asked about the rationale behind the establishment of the office.

“Ms. Fofoanah said the purpose of gender parity was to end the abuse of women and girls, not just in wartime,

but peacetime too, and to ensure that sexual violence was dealt with. Policies have been put in place to make

sure that women are included in policy making, especially in the government.”

After visiting with the Special Gender Adviser to the Sierra Leone President, Dumbuya visited with the nation’s

minister of defense.

“At first they didn’t believe there was a need for women in combat, but now they have women in combat

positions,” he said. “It has happened within the last five years, so it’s a new program for the government.”

Dumbuya also interviewed officials with the Sierra Leone Police about their rationale for forming a family

support unit to deal with issues of domestic and sexual violence against women. The professor also obtained

statistics regarding violence against women from the organization. He is currently tabulating his results for a

book. He says that it will take him a year or two to complete the manuscript.

“Dr. Dumbuya’s selection for the prestigious Fulbright Award by itself is a notable achievement for him and for

our university,” said Dr. Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith, president of FVSU. “And when you add the fact that the nature

and importance of his research during the year he spent there, the significance becomes greater. In addition,

he went beyond the call of research duty and taught in the school of law in Sierra Leone while there. I look

forward to Dr. Dumbuya sharing with the university community some of his research findings. I also have asked

him to organize an academic conference related to his research so we can bring scholars from across the nation

and the world to examine this vital issue.”

The Fulbright professor encourages other FVSU faculty members to apply for the Fulbright Scholars Program.

Professors may submit their application online, apply online at

http://www.cies.org/us_scholars/us_awards/Application.htm. Applicants may only apply for one award per

year.

--FVSU--


page 2

Fort Valley State University is ranked in the Top Ten universities for conferring the most degrees to African-American students in:

• Agriculture

• Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences • Mathematics and Statistics

Documents

FVSU Points of Pride - September 2014