Warhawk Weekly 10–29: New dean of students; Distinguished faculty awards; Halloween at AUM
NEWS
Josh M. Roberts, dean of student development at Lipscomb University, has been named the new dean of student affairs, diversity and inclusion of Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM). His appointment will begin Nov. 4.
“I’m energized to start at AUM as dean of students,” Roberts said. “The heartbeat of any university is the student body, and AUM’s student body is poised for greatness. I’m eager to champion the ideas and initiatives at AUM that will help students reach their full potential.”
During his visit to AUM, Roberts said he was impressed with university’s “both challenging and nurturing” campus culture.
“AUM students have the opportunity to not just be great entrepreneurs and health care professionals and educators and scientists, but to also be deeply involved in their community,” he said. “AUM’s leadership is passionate about building an AUM that provides a home for students and place where every students feel a sense of ownership in the campus, a pride in the community, and an enduring commitment to the entire AUM family.”
Each year, faculty at Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) are recognized for their excellence in teaching, research and service at the Chancellor’s Convocation.
This year, seven faculty members from across AUM colleges were presented with Distinguished Faculty Awards for their outstanding contributions to the university and their fields of expertise. The impact of their work — from published scholarly articles and cutting-edge research to service on university committees — contributes to student success and helps to showcase academic excellence at AUM.
AUM Chancellor Carl A. Stockton recognized the following award recipients:
- Dr. Zongli Tang of the Department of Sociology, Distinguished Research Professor Award
- Dr. Keren Deal of the School of Accountancy, Distinguished Teaching Professor Award
- Dr. John Aho of the Department of Biology, Outstanding Service Award
- Dr. Jerome Goddard of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Distinguished Research Associate Professor Award
- Dr. Tara Beziat of the Department of Curriculum Instruction and Technology, Distinguished Teaching Associate Professor Award
- Elizabeth Burrows of the Department of English and Philosophy, Distinguished Lecturer Award
- Charles Livings of the Department of Communication and Theatre, Distinguished Adjunct Teaching Award
Each award recipient was presented with a plaque and medal at the 2019 convocation ceremony.
Auburn University at Montgomery Chancellor Carl A. Stockton presented several faculty and staff with Warhawk Spirit Awards at the recent fall Chancellor’s Convocation. The awards recognize faculty and staff who exemplify the university’s core values and consistently go “above and beyond” in serving students and transforming AUM’s mission into action.
The 2019 Warhawk Spirit Award winners included:
- Nakeisha Evans, Administrative Assistant for the Department of Chemistry
- Dr. Keren Deal, Professor in the School of Accountancy and Edward L. & Catherine K. Lowder – Adolph Weil Chair in the College of Business
- Katie Pearson, Administrative Associate for the Department of Communication & Theatre
- Dr. Paul Fox, Director of the Warhawk Academic Success Center
- Eric Newell, Head Coach of the AUM women’s softball team
Each honoree received a Warhawk statuette during the convocation ceremony.
Get ready for a spooktacular time at AUM this Halloween season. Some of AUM’s favorite Halloween traditions are returning this year, and there are a number of new spooky events happening around campus!
WSFA meteorologist Josh Johnson and experts from the U.S. National Weather Service and county, city and state Emergency Management will discuss severe weather safety from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 1 The event is free and open to students, faculty and staff.
Auburn University at Montgomery will launch the new initiative: Rolling Out the R.E.D.: Remember Everyone Deployed as part of Veterans Appreciation Week, an AUM tradition held in November. As part of the week-long celebration, students, faculty and staff are asked to wear red on Thursdays in November in support of deployed service members.
Rolling out the R.E.D. also will include a special event on Tuesday, Nov. 12, featuring comedy and live music. AUM graduate and soldier Jody Fuller, who has acquired a worldwide fan base as the “Stuttering Comic,” will perform along with local musician Ben Norris and “Voice of AUM” winner Sarah Katherine Barnes. Register for the event.
Keep a watch out for the AUM Army ROTC Mustang Battalion conducting a “super-lab” training Nov. 1 – 2 at the ROTC House and the surrounding wooded area near campus.
Cadets will complete a diagnostic Army combat fitness test and train on land navigation and platoon leading tactics. They will spend the night in the woods and finish off their training with an eight-mile ruck march. “Super-lab” training focuses on readying cadets in basic military skills and leadership.
For questions or additional information, contact Dee Long at 334-244-3528.
EVENTS
AUM’s UNIV program, Counseling and Health Promotion Services and AUM Athletics have partnered with the Family Sunshine Center to provide bystander training to AUM students, faculty and staff. The Family Sunshine Center is offering one-hour sessions on bystander training. The sessions will cover:
- Basics about sexual and relational violence
- Red flags to look for
- How to safely intervene in a potentially violent situation
AUM students also can complete a hot-spot mapping activity to indicate where they feel safe and unsafe on campus. This information will be compiled and returned to AUM to facilitate campus safety discussions.
The Family Sunshine Center is located in Montgomery and works to end family violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking, as well as foster hope and healing for victims. The center also promotes community awareness through education and training and provides advocacy, counseling and support for victims to empower them to lead safe, violence-free lives.
Tues., Oct. 29 | 8–9:15, 9:25–10:40, 12:45–2, 2:10–3:25, 3:35–4:50, 5–6:15, and 6:20–7:35 | Taylor Center 230
AUM students can get acquainted with the AUM Library and its services through Nov. 7.
Free workshops will be held to introduce students to the library and academic support and student success resources to help them throughout their academic journey at AUM. Students can register online for workshops through Thursday, Nov. 7. Reserve your spot online today!
The workshops are sponsored by the Warhawk Academic Success Center, The Learning Center, Career Development Center, Counseling and Health Promotion Services, and YOUR AUM Library.
Come out and support Theatre AUM students in “The Seagull,” a major work by Russian playwright Anton Chekhov’s. Set in the Russian countryside at the end of the 19th century, students will portray a cast of characters searching for meaning – some seek love, others success, but happiness is elusive, remaining just out of reach.
“The Seagull” opens Nov. 7 and runs through Nov. 17 with performances on Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 7-9, 14 and 15-16 at 7:30 p.m. There will also be a Sunday matinee on Nov. 17 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $10 for general admission. Student, senior citizen, and military admission is $5. AUM students, faculty, staff, and alumni are admitted free with ID.
For more information on Theatre AUM’s productions, please email Katie Pearson or call 334-244-3632.
