Dr. Charles L. Welch appointed new ASU system president
On Tuesday, Nov. 9, the Board of Trustees of Arkansas State University voted unanimously to appoint Dr. Charles L. (Chuck) Welch of Arkadelphia to serve as the next president of the Arkansas State University System. Welch, who grew up in Jonesboro, is currently serving as president of Henderson State University. Details about his contract and starting date will be worked out with Dr. Welch by Mrs. Florine Tousant Milligan of Forrest City, board chair. The board interviewed Dr. Welch in executive session Tuesday morning, then deliberated until about 12:40 p.m. After a break for lunch, the trustees went back into executive session for further discussion before reconvening in public. On a motion by Trustee Mike Gibson of Osceola, and seconded by Dan Pierce of Jonesboro, the board voted to appoint Welch as the ASU System’s second president, with the contract details to be worked out. Following the vote, Dr. Welch addressed the board and the audience. Prior to his appointment at Henderson, Dr. Welch served as chancellor of the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope, and before that he was vice chancellor for academic affairs at ASU-Beebe. He earned his doctoral degree in higher education administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, his master’s degree in political management from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. For details, see the ASU Presidential Search news release of Nov. 9.

Dr. Sifford receives national foundation award for study
Dr. Susan Sifford, Nursing, received a $2,830 award from the American Nurses Foundation for her study: “Victims’ Perceptions of Triggers of Resident-to-Resident Violence in Nursing Homes.”  The award includes the distinction of Sifford being named the 2010 Hildegard E. Peplau, EdD, RN, FAAN/ANF Scholar. Dr. Hildegard Peplau, for whom the award was named, was known as the mother of psychiatric nursing. Peplau left an indelible stamp on the profession of nursing and on the lives of the mentally ill in the U.S. Sifford's paper examined resident-to-resident violence (RRV), a common and growing problem that threatens the safety and quality of life of elders residing in nursing homes. Resident-to-resident violence, which is not confined strictly to individuals with dementia, is particularly problematic because it has the potential to result in serious consequences for residents, their caregivers, and their loved ones. Consequences of RRV include physical harm, emotional harm, the use of interventions that are known to be detrimental to residents, such as physical and chemical restraints, and transfer to inpatient geropsychiatric units. There are few studies, to date, that have focused on RRV despite emerging evidence that indicates that it is a common and constant problem in the nation's nursing homes. Sifford's proposed research builds upon the findings of a dissertation study that explored caregiver perceptions of RRV.

Dr. Trauth presents talk at Ozarks Studies Symposium
Dr. Stan Trauth, Zoology, presented a talk entitled, “Winter/Spring Precipitation in Northern Arkansas and the Risk of Decreasing Reptilian Biodiversity by Rapid Reservoir Inundation: A Classic Story of the Eastern Collared Lizard, Crotaphytus collaris,” at the fourth annual Ozarks Studies Symposium held in September at Missouri State University-West Plains. The presentation focused on the potential harm caused by an overabundance of winter/spring precipitation in the Arkansas Ozarks, which can drastically alter reservoir hydrology of the impoundments of the White River System and lead to extirpation of some reptilian populations. For example, in years of catastrophic flood conditions (as in 2008) the rapid inundation of suitable shoreline habitats preceded the exiting of collared lizards from their hibernation burrows; thus, these populations of lizards (i.e., those that occurred along Norfork and Bull Shoals lakes) were effectively submerged and extirpated, resulting in a complete population crash of this species within shoreline environments.

Dr. Turnage, Dr. Jacinto present papers at conference
Dr. Barbara F. Turnage, chair, Social Work, and Dr. George A. Jacinto,  director, Master of Social Work program, presented a paper, "Rural-Based Clinical Practice," at the 35th Annual National Institute on Social Work and Human Services in Rural Areas, Presque Isle, Maine. Rural-based clinical practice is a practice approach that Dr. Turnage and Dr. Jacinto have developed in the construction of the Master of Social Work (MSW) program at ASU. Rural-based clinical social work practice is a holistic approach in the provision of services to people living in the Mississippi Delta region. Dr. Turnage also presented a paper, "Social Work Ethics," which chronicled the use of student writing to enhance ethical reasoning during a course she taught at ASU last year.  Dr. Jacinto presented a paper, "Online Task Groups: Implications for Rural-Based Social Work Education and Practice," which focused on the positive aspects of online group work both in the classroom and in agency settings where there are a number of offices over a large territory. The three papers presented at the conference have been submitted to the peer-reviewed Journal of Contemporary Rural Social Work.

Fowler Center Series presents 'Forever Plaid' Nov. 14
The 2020-11 Fowler Center Series will feature its second performance, “Forever Plaid,” on Sunday, Nov. 14, at 2 p.m. "Forever Plaid" is the deliciously goofy and charming story of a classic 1950s all-male singing group who return from the dead for a final stab at musical glory. After a fatal collision with a bus full of Catholic teens en route to see the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show, the Plaids are miraculously revived to perform the concert that never was in this hilariously nostalgic musical. They perform precision harmonies and execute delightfully outlandish choreography. The Plaids perform some of the greatest hits of the 1950s:  “Catch a Falling Star,” “Three Coins in the Fountain,” and “Love Is a Many Splendored Thing.” Ticket prices are $30 and $20 for adults; $24 and $16 for ASU faculty and staff; $23 and $15 for senior adults and K-12 students; and $10 and $6 for ASU students. Tickets for all Fowler Center Series events may be purchased by calling (870) 972-2781 or (888) 278-3267, or online. On performance evenings, the box office in Fowler Center opens one hour prior to the event. Visit Fowler Center online for upcoming events or call ext. 3471. For an overview of the Fowler Center Series 2010-11 season, see the NewsPage release. For show details, see Fowler Center's online press release for "Forever Plaid."

ASU Trombone Choir presents concert Nov. 15
The Department of Music presents the ASU Trombone Choir on Monday, Nov. 15, at 7:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Recital Hall. The concert is free of charge and open to the public. The ASU Trombone Choir is under the direction of Dr. Neale Bartee. The ASU Trombone Choir was formed in 1973 and gave its first formal concert in 1974. The ensemble has performed at two of international trombone festivals and several state music conventions. There have also been numerous graduates from the choir who have been accepted to prestigious graduate music schools and alumni who are performing and teaching throughout the United States. The night’s performance will begin with “Ricercare del 12° tono” by Andrea Gabrieli, arranged by Jay Friedman; “Three Equali for Four Trombones” by Ludwig van Beethoven; “Inveni David” by Anton Bruckner, arranged by Donald V. King; and “Piece for Six Trombones” by Burrill Phillips.  After a short intermission, the choir will proceed with “”Big Band Bones” by James Christensen; “Here’s That Rainy Day: by Jimmy Van Heusen, arranged by Lew Davies; “Jazz Brazil” by Dave Wheeler, to be performed by Dad’s Bones; and “Bap Bap” by Mark Mullins. For a list of personnel, see the NewsPage release.

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