Vol.1 No.1
Winter 2011

The Dean's Communique

It is my pleasure to present The College of Community and Public Service (CCPS) Communicator, an e-newsletter in which we will highlight some of the many activities and accomplishments of our college community of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and collaborators.

The mission of our college is to educate students for professional careers through teaching, learning, scholarship, and service that promotes just and democratic communities, and ethical and effective leadership. In striving for this mission, we have assembled a unique array of programs. The College of Community and Public Service consists of the School of Criminal Justice, Hospitality and Tourism Management, the School of Public, Nonprofit and Health Administration, the Johnson Center for Philanthropy, and the CCPS Undergraduate Advising Center.

There are so many stories we could tell that selecting those to include in this issue has been challenging. Each unit and individual within the College, as well as each of our alumni and community partners, contributes to the overall vitality and success of our students and community.

As a college, we are contributing to the wellbeing of citizens at the local, state, national, and global levels. Because of our commitment to service, we are able to foster experiential learning by bringing these meaningful, real activities into the classroom or taking the ‘classroom’ to those events. This enriches the learning opportunities for students.

Each issue of The CCPS Communicator will feature what our faculty, staff, students and alumni are doing – innovative and creative approaches to education, scholarship, and service; accomplishments and honors; events and activities that engage our college members with community partners. We anticipate an issue each semester and a special topics issue once a year.

We hope that you will plan to share YOUR story of success with creative activities, scholarship, service, collaborations with community partners and innovations in undergraduate and graduate education with the Dean’s Office for future issues of this newsletter. Give us constructive feedback so that we can make this newsletter a worthwhile effort for all as we forge ahead on fulfilling our shared vision for the College of Community and Public Service.

CCPS is on the Move

The College of Community and Public Service (CCPS) contributes significantly to the GVSU educational and service mission and offers synergies to all of its members in our pursuit of high quality public service, community collaborations, applied research and global reach. What follows is a brief introduction to our college, its vision, and some key dimensions of each of the units. With this introduction as a foundation, in this issue you will find articles that feature creative, high quality contributions of our College family in the areas of education, scholarly and creative work, and service and collaboration activities within the university and the greater community.

The CCPS is comprised of four academic units: the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management; the  School of Criminal Justice; School of Public, Nonprofit & Health Administration ;  School of Social Work;  a research and service arm – the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy; and two support units, the CCPS Undergraduate Advising Center and the CCPS Deans Office . The vision and mission of the College demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement of our high-quality, innovative professional education, community leadership (ranging from local to global), lifelong learning, ethical and compassionate service, collegiality and collaboration, inclusiveness, sustainability and social justice. Each unit in the College contributes to that mission through its own full range of activities.  Full story...

CCPS Welcomes....

We welcome the following individuals who have joined the faculty/staff of the College of Community and Public Service since Fall Semester 2010.

Tenure/Tenure Track Faculty Members:
• Dr. Cary Countryman, Associate Professor, HTM
• Dr. Muthoni Imungi, Field Education Coordinator, SW
• Dr. Michael Scantlebury, Associate Professor, HTM
• Dr. John Walsh, Assistant Professor, CJ

Executive, Administrative Professionals:
• Dr. James Edwards, Executive Director, JCP
• Leijhi Koval, Senior Academic Advisor, Advising Center

Visiting Faculty:
• Sue E. Nieboer, Visiting Professor, SPNHA
• Jamie Langlois, Adjunct Professor Director, SW Continuing Education

Staff:
• Michelle Hodde, Secretary, School of Social Work

  Follow this link for information about each of our newest colleagues...

Edwards shares his vision for the Johnson Center

In February, James Edwards was selected as the new executive director of the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy replacing Kathy Agard, who retired in December.

Edwards, who served as director of the Johnson Center’s Community Research Institute since 2008 and as assistant professor of social work at Grand Valley since 2003, previously was the program director for Network 180 Access Center in Kent County.  Full Story...
 

What is Philanthropy? A Documentary Film

Salvatore Alaimo, Assistant Professor of Nonprofit Management in the School of Public, Nonprofit and Health Administration, is creating a documentary film with that title to answer just this question.  What is Philanthropy? [WIP] seeks to show what philanthropy is, how it works, who participates, why people give, and its importance to American culture and society and to explore what is working well and what is not in the world of philanthropy. The film uses in depth research and a holistic approach to philanthropy, encompassing history, contemporary issues, and the intertwining of religion, government and business in the American culture. The stakeholders interviewed for the film represent many sectors – government, higher education, media, nonprofits, community groups, corporations, funding organization and include high profile activists, leaders from each sector, and everyday folks engaged in giving. Some of those philanthropic ‘stars’ interviewed include Mike Farrell, (pictured) of M*A*S*H* fame and social activist, U.S. Senator, Charles Grassley (R – Iowa, Chair Senate Finance Committee), and Dr. William G. Anderson (Civil Rights leader and founder of the Albany Movement in Albany, Georgia).  

What is Philanthropy is an example of how a unique research project, undertaken by a CCPS faculty scholar, both educates and illuminates the nature and significance of philanthropy in our daily lives, and the multitude of ways that Americans give of their time, talents, goods and services, and financial resources in order to help others and enhance society. Full story...

ArtPrize Survey

Seohee Chang, assistant professor of hospitality and tourism management, collected data from the 2010 ArtPrize event attendees with students. This study was to examine the tourism and economic impacts of the 2010 ArtPrize event and understand attendees’ experiences. The data were collected from onsite attendees during the event and further from post-hoc attendees, those who intended to take part in the follow up online survey after the event ended in order to compare onsite responses with post hoc online responses.  Full story...

Graduate Showcase/Student Scholars/Awards

Graduate Showcase 2011 – March 28, 2011 - Poster Abstracts

The work of two of the more outstanding graduate research projects from each graduate program in CCPS was featured in the Graduate Showcase sponsored by the Office of Graduate Studies on March 28.

A. Blackmer, Master of Science, Criminal Justice – Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program
M.K. Cardinal, Master of Science, Criminal Justice – 61st District Sobriety Court Evaluation
A.N. Rossman, Master of Health Administration, School of Public and Nonprofit Health Administration – The U.S. Nursing Shortage & Nonprofits
CC Faber, Master of Health Administration, School of Public and Nonprofit Health Administration – Rationing of Health Care During a Flu Pandemic
E. McMurray, Master of Public Administration, School of Public and Nonprofit Health Administration – Mapping the Success of Storytime at Sundaes
Workman, T., Master of Public Administration, School of Public and Nonprofit Health Administration – P.R.O.V.E. Grant Community Partner Analysis
A. Freehafer, Master of Social Work, School of Social Work – A Study of Faith-Based Organizations in Prison Reentry
C.J. Waterstradt, Master of Social Work, School of Social Work – From Tears to Triumph: Women’s Spiritual Healing After Clergy Sexual Abuse

Student Scholars Day - April 13, 2011 - Held once each year to celebrate the scholarship and creative work performed by GVSU Students

Criminal Justice – Sara Pugh and Michele Verellen
School of Public and Nonprofit and Health Administration – Ricardo Benavidez and Nichole Rydahl
Hospitality and Tourism Management – Maria Ahern and Erin Pruitt
School of Social Work – Dianna Johnson and Jacob Rohde
 

STUDENT AWARDS

Graduate Dean's Citations for Academic Excellence:

Excellence in a Major:
Heather M. Andrews, Criminal Justice
Carolyn C. Faber, Health Admin.
Andrew W. Crosby, Public Admin.

Outstanding Master’s Final Project in a Major:
Heather M. Andrews, Criminal Justice

Excellence in Service to the Community or Profession:
Emily Martin, Public Admin.

Excellence in Leadership & Service to GVSU:
Justin Ott, Health Admin.
Todd B. Workman, Public Admin.

Excellence in Promoting Diversity & Inclusion at GVSU:
Rachael L. DeWitt, MPA/MSW

Outstanding Contribution:

Thomas M. Seykora Award
Alyssa T. Tierney, Public Administration

New Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society Members from CCPS

Sixteen students (12 undergraduate and 4 graduate) in the College of Community and Public Service were inducted into the Grand Valley Chapter of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society in March. Phi Kappa Phi is a national academic honor society in which membership is by invitation to those students who qualify academically. Since it began in 1897, its mission has been "to recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others". The motto of the honor society is: “Let the love of learning rule mankind.” CCPS inductees this year included:

Brandon Berens, Criminal Justice, Senior
Stacy Blackwell, Social Work, Senior
Delores Catlin, Public Administration, Grad
Jared Cowan, Public Administration, Senior
Anneshia Freeman, Social Work, Grad
Lauren Fritz, Criminal Justice, Senior
Jill Justen, Hospitality & Tourism Management, Senior
Marenta Klinger, Health Administration, Grad
Joshua La Vigne, Criminal Justice, Senior
Brittney Mestdagh, Legal Studies, Senior
Nichole Rydahl, Public Administration, Senior
Timothy Scholten, Health Administration, Grad
Kristen Smolinkski, Social Work, Senior
Allison Stephens, Social Work, Junior
Gladiany Torres Perez, Social Work, Senior
Robert Watkins, Social Work, Senior

 

Mullendore Steps Down From Faculty Governance Leadership

TGIF takes on a new meaning for Professor Kristine Mullendore, Professor of Legal Studies in the CCPS School of Criminal Justice, as she steps down from her leadership role in university governance after serving 13 of the past 14 years of nearly weekly Friday meetings. She has served continuously as Senator on the University Academic Senate since her first term as a Senator from the Division of Social Sciences in Fall 1997, except for her 2002-03 sabbatical year. Since being elected in 1999 for all but two years of her UAS service, she has also represented her Division/College on the Executive Committee of the Senate and assumed a leadership role in 2005, first as Vice Chair and then as Chair, of the Executive Committee of the University Academic Senate.  Full story...
      

Community Outreach Week (COW)

SPNHA participates in Eastown beautification project during Community Outreach Week (COW).

On Friday, March 21, of Community Outreach Week, 25 alumni, faculty and students from SPNHA assisted the Eastown Neighborhood Association in their neighborhood beautification project. The day's biggest task was to clear the association's back yard of concrete to allow for expansion of their community garden. By the end of the afternoon, two dump trucks full of concrete were hauled away.
 

Kids' Food Basket

In March, the College of Community and Public Service (CCPS) held a food drive for the Kids' Food Basket, the only organization in greater Grand Rapids dedicated to attacking childhood hunger by providing nutritious evening meals to kids (for more information, see their website at http://www.kidsfoodbasket.org/ ). This drive is one of the 50 community outreach activities encouraged by President Haas as we celebrate the 50th anniversary year of Grand Valley State University. The food drive was an effort to bring CCPS and the Kid’s Food Basket together for the battle against hungriest children in the Grand Rapids area. All units of the college contributed toward this important goal, donating $831.11 worth of food (383 pounds). In addition, students and faculty donated $450 in cash and checks made out to the organization.

Legal Studies Program Achieves Approval from the American Bar Association

The Legal Studies Program achieved a milestone during Grand Valley’s fiftieth anniversary year: the approval of the program by the America Bar Association (ABA). While the Legal Studies program, in its current form, has been offered at Grand Valley for almost twenty years, it was only three years ago that the program initiated the process of gaining ABA approval. The decision to seek approval was driven by Legal Studies faculty members with the support of the Legal Studies Advisory Board and the Grand Valley administration. ABA-approval is an important credential, because it gives external recognition to the quality of the Legal Studies program and provides Legal Studies graduates with a nationally-known mark of quality when they enter the job market.  Full story...

Art and Science of Aging Conference

GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY HOSTED THE 6TH ANNUAL ART AND SCIENCE OF AGING CONFERENCE on FEB. 11, 2011

This year the sixth annual Art & Science of Aging conference took place on February 11, 2011 and saw a record turnout of over 200 participants, with the theme of “Optimal Aging: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow”. Dr. Larry Lawhorne, Chair of the Department of Geriatrics at the Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University and former director of the Geriatric Education Center of Michigan, opened the day as the keynote speaker with a presentation entitled The Modern Fountain of Youth: an Ecology of Optimal Aging. His session combined humor with exceptional expertise and thoughtful consideration of aging and working with and for older adults to achieve an optimal aging experience for all. The quality of the session was well summarized by one attendee, who indicated: “for me, with fifteen plus years of educating others in geriatric education, Dr. Lawhorne is still informative, inspiring, and thought provoking”.

Read more about the sixth annual Art & Science of Aging conference which took place on February 11th, 2011 and saw a record turnout of over 200 participants.  Full story...

CCPS Recognizes....

DOROTHY A. JOHNSON,  was awarded The Distinguished Individual of the Year Award by the GVSU Board of Trustees at their February 11, 2011 meeting.

DR. FAITH HEIKKILA, '81 - Chief Information Security Officer, Greenleaf Companies was awarded the Fall, 2010 Distinguished Alumni Award by the GVSU Alumni Association given December 10, 2010.

MYRON D. "MIKE" MAST, GVSU Professor of SPNHA, was awarded The Fall, 2010 Outstanding Educator Award by the GVSU Alumni Association given December 10, 2010.

DR. MARK HOFFMAN, Associate Professor of Public Administration and Director of SPNHA, received the Graduate Student Award for Outstanding Faculty Mentor at the Winter 2011 Graduate Student Celebration, held on April 22, 2011. 

Read the full story about the accomplishments that earned each of the above individuals the respect and recognition that led to their awards.  Full Story...

Jennifer McCaul, Director, CCPS Advising Center received the Outstanding Advising Certificate of Merit from the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) at their 2011 Annual Awards for Academic Advising Program.

Anne M. London, Academic Advisor, CCPS Advising Center received the Outstanding Academic Advising Award (primary role) by the Michigan Academic Advising Association (MIACADA).

Amy Burns, GVSU Graduate Assistant with the CCPS Advising Center, received the Outstanding Academic Advising Award (graduate student) by the Michigan Academic Advising Association (MIACADA).

Heather Andrews, Criminal Justice graduate student, was recognized as Outstanding Final Project in a Major by the Graduate Dean for her project and internship with the 20th Circuit Court.  She has since been hired by the 20th Circuit Court as an Administrative Assistant.

CCPS Upcoming Events

Saturday, April 30, 2011: Commencement Ceremony held at the VanAndel Arena at 10:00 a.m.  Featured speaker will be Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York.

SOCIAL WORK:

April 29, 2011 – 6:00 pm
Graduation recognition Hooding Ceremony.  This annual event will be held at the Helen DeVos Auditorium located at Grand Rapids Christian High School, 2300 Plymouth Ave, SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506. BSW and MSW Graduates will participate. MSW students will be hooded during the ceremony. Two Social Work alumni, Jerry Hendricks and Myra Burton, will be recognized for their contributions to GVSU social work students and their work with citizens within the Grand Rapids community.  Approximately 240 students are expected to participate in the ceremony.

Motivational Interviewing: Move from Basic Competence to Advanced Clinical Skills
Date: May 18-20, 2011 - Time:  8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: GVSU Bicycle Factory, Room 230, GR, MI
Presented By: Susie Rigas, LMSW

Licensure Exam Preparation Training
Date: June 10, 2011 Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: DeVos Center
More Information: www.gvsu.edu/swce
In collaboration with MSU School of Social Work.
Special rates to GVSU Alumni!

Energy Therapy: Techniques for the Advanced Practitioner
Date: June 2, 3 & 4, 2011 Time: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: GVSU Bicycle Factory, Room 230, GR, MI
Presented By: Douglas Chung, PhD

For more information about these offerings and registration information, please click here.

SPNHA:

Spring Celebration/Pi Alpha Alpha Induction
Wednesday, April 27, 2011 from 5-7 p.m. in the Regency Room, Richard M. DeVos Center.
Students and community professionals will be inducted into the Pi Alpha Alpha Honorary Society for Public Administration. This year, 27 students will be inducted. Also recognized this year as an honorary inductee is Chris Shea, Executive Director of Cherry Street Health Services.

HTM:

HTM Club Winter Reception & Recognition
Date: April 29, 2011 Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: Regency Room - Richard M. DeVos Center

JOHNSON CENTER FOR PHILANTHROPY:

Advanced Proposal Analysis
May 5-6, 2011, Austin, Texas

Nonprofit Board Certification Seminar Program
May 17, 2011, Grand Rapids, MI

National Summit on Family Philanthropy
May 19-20, 2011, Grand Rapids, MI

Grant Financial Analysis
May 24-25, 2011, Columbia, S.C.

The IRS and Fundraising: Is Your Organization in Compliance?
May 25, 2011, Grand Rapids, MI

For more information on these offerings and registration information, please click here.