Dr. Bhattacharya meets with NIH, USDHHS
Dr. Gauri Bhattacharya, Social Work, was recently invited to take part in a meeting organized by the National Institutes of Health for the advancement of groundbreaking research on narrowing health disparities. The meeting focused on new research concerning the social determinants of health and the integration of science, practice, and policy. Participants discussed the importance of establishing links among biological and non-biological determinants of health in a comprehensive framework. They discussed intervention strategies and outcome measures as essential criteria for eliminating health disparities and ensuring dissemination and replication of knowledge. The meeting proposed research strategies that will advance fundamental understanding of powerful social determinants and health disparities and result in the elimination of those health disparities. Dr. Bhattacharya was also invited recently to attend a review meeting on comparative effectiveness research (CER) products organized by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USHHS). This meeting  examined approaches that may extend the reach and impact of CER products. It evaluated multiple mechanisms to effectively reach underserved populations and increase use of CER products. The meeting identified three broad primary audiences: patients/consumers; clinicians, including medical doctors and other health professionals; and policy makers. Discussion of effective evaluation of outcome measures and their validity were considered essential. Ensuring fidelity of the process was emphasized.  In particular, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality highlighted its interest in learning more about findings on what does not work or what is culturally inappropriate for specific audiences and its interest in taking timely interventions/actions. 

200 soldiers of 875th return to Arkansas, ASU Nov. 5
Join the Arkansas National Guard to welcome 200 soldiers in Jonesboro’s 875th Engineer Battalion home Friday, Nov. 5.  Buses carrying the soldiers are expected to arrive between 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at ASU’s football stadium. Parking is available at the Convocation Center. Of the 875th’s six companies, two were deployed, including the 1036th Sapper Company of Jonesboro and the 1037th Mobility Augmentation Company of Paragould. Members of the Arkansas Red Cross will be located at the Indian Mall parking lot on Caraway Road between 9 a.m.-12 noon to distribute American flags to the public to wave in support as the soldiers arrive. About a year ago, the units were deployed to Afghanistan to support Overseas Contingency Operations to complete missions of clearing roads of improvised explosive devices for the advancing coalition.

Indian Student Organization celebrates Diwali Nov. 7
Diwali will be celebrated Sunday, Nov. 7, beginning at 6 p.m. in Centennial Hall of ASU's Student Union. This festival is sponsored by the Indian Student Organization and is one of the biggest festivals of Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains, celebrated with great enthusiasm and happiness in India. The festival is celebrated for five continuous days, where the third day is celebrated as the main Diwali festival or 'Festival of Lights'. Different colorful varieties of fireworks are always associated with this festival. On this auspicious day, people light up diyas (clay oil lamps) and candles all around their houses. They perform Lakshmi puja in the evening and seek divine blessings of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity. During Diwali, Indian homes are cleaned and windows are opened to welcome the goddess Lakshmi, and lamps, lights and candles are lit as a greeting to her. The festival of Diwali is never complete without exchanges of gifts. Gifts are exchanged and sweets and festive meals are prepared during Diwali. The campus community is invited to join the festival and learn more about Indian culture. For details, contact the Multicultural Affairs Office at 680-4058.

University Singers to perform Nov. 8
The Department of Music at ASU will present the ASU University Singers in concert on Monday, Nov. 8, at 7:30 p.m. in Riceland Hall, Fowler Center. The University Singers are three different choirs--Men’s Choir, Women’s Choir, and the University/Community Choir--under the direction of Dr. Dale Miller, director of choral activities. The concert will feature selections performed by each choir and a number by the combined choirs with chamber orchestra. Selections will include “Liebe” by Franz Schubert, “Swell the Full Chorus” by George F. Handel, “Minnelied” by Johannes Brahms, “Sicut Cervus” by Rosephanye Powell, “There Is Sweet Music Here” by Z. Randall Stroope, “The Prayer of St. Francis” by Allen Pote, and “Paratum cor meum” by Johann Michael Haydn as the concert's finale. The concert is free and open to the public. For details, call the Choral Office at ext. 3841. or see the NewsPage release for the full program and personnel.

Alstadt is final speaker in journalism series Nov. 8-9
Sandra (Sandy) R.  Alstadt, director of customer communications for Entergy Services, Inc., is the final speaker in this semester's Joel Gambill Speakers' Series for Journalism. She will be on campus Monday-Tuesday, Nov. 8-9, at ASU's College of Communications. Alstadt has a bachelor of science degree in journalism/public relations from Arkansas State University (1982). She has an associate of arts degree from Williams Baptist College (1980). She is a graduate of the Little Rock Leadership Institute (1996) and Leadership America, Inc. (1998), and she currently serves on ASU's Journalism Department advisory board. Alstadt joined the Entergy system in 1989 as a communications specialist for Arkansas Power and Light. In 1996, she was named director of utility operations communications for Entergy Services, Inc. She currently serves as director of customer communications. Her responsibilities include leading the company’s integrated customer communications initiative, a multifaceted effort that seeks to improve all of Entergy’s contacts with its customers. During major storms, Alstadt serves as Entergy’s communications command leader. The Entergy communications team has been recognized with numerous national crisis communications awards for their work following hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which struck the Entergy service territory in 2005 and hurricanes Gustav and Ike, which struck the Entergy service area in 2008. Alstadt was also named the “2006 Crisis Communicator of the Year” by PR News. In 1998, she was named to the “Top 100 Women in Arkansas” list by Arkansas Business. In 1999, the same publication named her to their “Top 40 under 40” list. Williams Baptist College awarded her Alumni of the Year in 2003. In 2010, she was selected as one of 12 “Powerful Women” by AY Magazine. For details, contact Dr. Gil Fowler, chair, the Department of Journalism, at ext. 3075, or see the NewsPage release.

Concert Orchestra to perform  Nov. 9
The Department of Music at ASU will present the ASU Concert Orchestra in performance on Tuesday, Nov. 9, at 7:30 p.m. in Riceland Hall, Fowler Center. The orchestra is under the direction of Dr. Neale Bartee. The concert is free of charge and open to the public. The evening’s performance will include “March and Procession of Bacchus” from the Ballet “Sylvia” by Leo Delibes, arranged by Merle J. Isaac; “Sous le dome epais” from the Opera “Lakme” by Leo Delibes, featuring Renee Porter Smith and Kari Rickman, soprano soloists;” Carmen Suite No. 1” by Georges Bizet; “Overture in D minor” from Concerto Grosso Op. 3, No.5 by George Frideric Handel, arranged by Merle J. Isaac; “St. Paul’s Suite for String Orchestra,” Gustav Holst; and “The Great Gate of Kiev” from Pictures at an Exhibition” by Modest Mussorgsky, orchestrated by Carl Simpson. Donations may be made to the Orchestra fund or the Aileen Matthews String Scholarship fund at the ASU Foundation, P.O. Box 1990, State University, AR, 72467. For details, contact the music office at ext. 2094, or see the NewsPage release for personnel.

Customer Service workshops to be held Nov. 9-10
ASU will be hosting a series of customer service workshops on November 9 and 10 in response to some of the concerns cited in the report issued last spring by the Taskforce on Constituent Services. These workshops will be hosted by Jonesboro native Ray Keller, who works extensively in customer service training locally, throughout the nation, and around the world. The workshops are being held in a different location each day; note the specified location for the workshop time. If you have forgotten which date and time you registered to attend, e-mail Terri Smith for assistance. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend, including student workers and part-time employees. Each session will last no more than 75 minutes. Register for the sessions online. The sessions will be held in the Student Union Auditorium and the Convocation Center Auditorium. On Tuesday, November 9, sessions are in the Student Union Auditorium at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 4 p.m. On Wednesday, Nov. 10, sessions are in the Convocation Center Auditorium at 7:30 a.m., 8:45 a.m., and 10 a.m.

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