The new degree program, Master of Arts in Teaching Music, will inspire future musicians Feb 05, 2021 NEW Degree Master of Arts in Teaching Music starting Fall 2021. The University of Alabama in Huntsville is excited to announce a new graduate degree in music education. The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT P-12) Music degree allows individuals with any Bachelor’s degree in Music (BA, BM, BS) to complete a Master’s Degree and earn an Alabama Class A teaching license in Choral or Instrumental Music. We are currently recruiting the first cohort of students for this degree to begin Fall 2021. Many of the courses are online or offered in person in the late afternoon and evening to accommodate working professionals. The first music course in the program will be offered online this summer, MUSIC 611: Survey of Music History with Dr. Carolyn Sanders. Eligible students must successfully audition for the Department of Music on their primary instrument, have at least a 3.0 undergraduate cumulative GPA, and present a passing score on the Praxis II Music Exam. The required Praxis exam is test code 5113, and students must earn a qualifying score of 161 or higher. The Master of Arts in Teaching Music is offered in conjunction with the College of Education. The course of study includes graduate music courses, professional education courses in the College of Education, classes in music learning and teaching, and practicum opportunities. The academic advisor for the MAT and all teaching certifications is Ms.Chantaye Robinson-Jones of the College of Education. Please refer general inquiries about the degree program and music courses to Dr. Dave Ragsdale, Department of Chair of the Department of Music. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MAT PROGRAM AND THE SPECIFIC DEGREE REQUIREMENTS Join our Mailing List If you are interested in receiving more information about our Graduate Programs, join our mailing list here. For more information on the Praxis Exam go to ets.org. For more information about the Music audition process Questions? Please contact us at music@uah.edu... Tips for Campus Connection and Online Classes During a Pandemic Jan 28, 2021 Find a study spot in Morton Hall. Photo Credit Jennifer Clifton Navigating college can be daunting during a pandemic. Having a connection to campus, whether virtually or socially distant and engaging in your online classes, is crucial to maintaining the college experience! Here are six tips to help you stay engaged and connected this semester! Schedule dedicated time each week for asynchronous classes. Since asynchronous classes do not have set meeting times, make your own schedule for your asynchronous classes! Carving out set times each week to work on assignments for that class will help you stay on track and make it feel more like a synchronous class. Stay engaged during Zoom lectures. If you have Zoom lectures, treat them like in-person classes. By limiting distractions, taking notes, and participating in your Zoom classes, you will not only retain the information and concepts better, but you will also connect with your professor and classmates more. Find an organizational style that works best for you. Everyone’s brains learn differently, but one thing that can’t be compromised is organization. Keep track of all your class schedules, assignments, extracurriculars, events, and work schedules not to forget anything. My favorite organizational method that has helped me stay organized since my freshman year of college is to put all my school assignments in a paper planner and put all my classes, extracurriculars, events, and work schedules into my Google Calendar. I also recommend color-coding your different classes and categories of schedules if you are a visual learner! Find a focused study spot. Morton Hall has many dedicated study areas. Photo Credit Jennifer Clifton Find a focused study spot. No matter if you’re on campus or back in your hometown, finding a study spot that meets your study needs will help you stay focused on your assignments. Some of my favorite study spots on campus are the study rooms at Morton Hall, the second floor of the Salmon Library, and the Charger Union. If you are working on an assignment or exam that requires silence and absolute focus, make sure that your study spot has limited distractions. If you’re working on a group project or something that doesn’t require as much focus, you could find a study spot that optimizes socially distant group study. Go to online UAH events.There are still ways to connect to campus, even if you are fully online this semester. UAH offices such as the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and the Office of Student Life have virtual events this semester. Be sure to check the Charger Student Newsletter and your individual colleges’ newsletter in your email to stay up to date on these virtual events! UAH registered student organizations (RSOs) are also hosting virtual events and meetings this semester! Check out this list of UAH RSOsand contact them to find out when they host meetings and events! Take advantage of UAH resources. UAH has many in-person and virtual resources that can help you academically and keep you connected to campus! The UAH Student Success Center (SSC) offers traditional and writing tutoring in-person at the Salmon Library and virtually. The SSC is a great opportunity for UAH students to excel academically, no matter if you’re online, hybrid, or in-person this semester! The UAH Counseling Center offers individual counseling, group therapy, and workshops to UAH students enrolled in at least 3 credit hours. All counseling sessions will be held virtually this semester. The Counseling Center is a great resource for students that may feel overwhelmed during this pandemic. Another great resource on campus is your academic advisors!The academic advisors for your college are there to help you with your college plan and assist you with any questions you may have about your class schedule! I recommend seeing your academic advisor at least once a semester to make sure you’re taking the right classes so that you can graduate on time. They are also very helpful if you are considering switching your major or minor! Blog Post by Arianna Kholanjani (Communication Arts), College Ambassador & Outreach Student Assistant Photo Credit Jennifer Clifton Questions? Contact us at cahs@uah.edu ... Psychology Alumni News Jan 21, 2021 Congratulations to our Psychology Alumni! Baylee Jenkins (‘20 M.A. Psychology) Baylee Jenkins (‘20 M.A. Psychology) Photo Credit Jennifer Clifton Jenkins’ thesis "Testing the Forensic Confirmation Bias: How Jailhouse Informants Violate Evidentiary Independence" was recently accepted for publication at the Journal of Police and Psychology. Abstract: Research has demonstrated that primary confessions corrupt perceptions of forensic evidence, such as handwriting evidence. Additionally, research on secondary confessions indicates that statements made by jailhouse informants influence juror decision making to the same degree as primary confessions. The goal of the current study was to investigate whether jailhouse informant statements bias perceptions of forensic evidence. Participants were presented with a brief case summary about a bank robbery along with confession evidence from a jailhouse informant, in which both reliability and incentive presence were manipulated. Participants were then asked to examine a pair of either matching or mismatching handwriting samples before making case-relevant judgments. Results indicated that participants exposed to the reliable jailhouse informant were more likely to believe the samples were matching as well as rate them higher in similarity. These findings suggest that participants fell prey to the forensic confirmation bias. Dr. Danielle Franks (‘13 B.A. Psychology) Dr. Danielle Franks (‘13 B.A. Psychology) Photo Credit Austin College Joined the Department of Psychology at Austin College in Fall 2020 as an Assistant Professor. After completing her degree at UAH, she pursued graduate studies at Louisiana Tech University where she earned a M.A. in Counseling and Guidance in 2018 and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology in 2020. Dr. Frankes completed her pre-doctoral internship at Ball State University’s Counseling Center where she worked with college students from various marginalized identities from a feminist relational-cultural perspective. Dr. Frank's research interests fall under the broad umbrella of Multicultural Psychology and its intersection with Counseling Psychology. More specifically, her research examines White allyship in racial justice advocacy, counselor multicultural competence, racism and classism, and the relationship between political ideology and racial attitudes. Jared Godwin (‘18 B.A. Psychology) Jared Godwin (‘18 B.A. Psychology) Photo Credit Jared Godwin After graduation, Jared Godwin started the UAB Physician Assistant Studies program. Godwin is currently in his clinical year, serving as his cohort’s class president. He says, “I will implement my Psychology background into a couple of local clinical rotations: a Psychiatry office in Huntsville and a Neurosurgery practice at Huntsville Hospital.” Please consider sharing your Alumni Story HERE. Questions? Contact the Department of Psychology at psychology@uah.edu... Professor José Betancourt’s Cuba: Memories Revisited exhibition opens at Carnegie Visual Arts Center Jan 15, 2021 The exhibition is on view January 9-February 21, 2021, at the Carnegie Visual Arts Center in Decatur, AL. Since opening in 2003, the Carnegie Visual Arts Center has focused on programs, collects, and events that encourage art all levels and ages. Cuba: Memories Revisited is an exhibition of photographs that illustrate Betancourt’s memories as a five-year-old and his visit back to Cuba after 48 years. It combines the assembled photographs and stories collected before his visit with the documentary-style photographs from his trip in March 2019. “For my visit, I decided to tell the story of how things are now. Re-discovering family and place were the most important things for me. The family that stayed were mostly on my father’s side; my grandmother and my great aunts and uncles from this large family of eleven children. My documentary-style photographs attempt to describe the place as it is now and possibly reflecting on the life I may have lived there.” The most exciting part of this exhibit is that my images will be projected on to the Carnegie Library building, built in 1904. I am interested in finding historic architecture to juxtapose with the images from Cuba so that the viewer is transported to a different place and culture. January 22, 6:00-8:00 pm-Join us for a Special Projection Event. It will be featuring the digital art mapping of José Betancourt’s photos of Cuban architecture onto the exterior of the Carnegie Visual Arts Center. During the projection, the gallery will be open for viewing of the exhibit. Maintaining the governor’s recommendations, a maximum of 50 people, masked and socially distanced, will be admitted in the gallery at one time. The projection will be visible from Oak and Church streets and can be viewed from the grounds or by car. Digital mapping presented by Nathan Adamek and LED Orange. February 26, 6:00-8:00 pm Member's Artist Reception. Registration is required. Limited space is available. Contact Carnegie, 256-341-0562 for more details. Questions? Contact our Department of Art, Art History & Design at art@uah.edu. ... She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms Jan 14, 2021 She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms Directed by: Amy Guerin Agnes is just a typical high school girl, living that typical high school life--cheerleading, school, boyfriend, nerdy younger sister--until her sister dies in a car crash. Now with her sister's friends and their favorite D&D quest at her side, Agnes undertakes her own quest to recover her sister's lost soul, kill some monsters, and make it to the other side of grief. Written especially for presentation online, She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms is a funny, dance battle-filled, exploration of family, loss, and the bonds of friendship. Presented by the UAH Theatre Program SHE KILLS MONSTERS PROGRAM ... Passing of Val Roberts, Instructor of Art Studio Jan 08, 2021 Val Roberts, Part-time Instructor Studio Art. Photo Credit UAH Art, Art History & Design It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of our colleague and dear friend Val Roberts. Val was taken from us by the Corona Virus on January 3rd after a brief hospital stay. Although Val taught her first class at UAH in 1998, she began teaching regularly in 2012 and took on more classes after she retired from the Huntsville City Schools. Val was a gifted teacher who cared deeply for her students—and they all loved her too. Her dedication to our foundations students helped them with their transition into art students and college life overall. Under her tutelage, students learned technical and creative skills that served them throughout their time at UAH and throughout their careers in the arts. She was also instrumental in the development of our Art Education BA track. She believed so strongly in the importance of art education that she was willing to contribute many hours (unpaid) to make sure we could offer the degree to our students. She was glad to share her extensive experience working in the public schools with our budding educators, ensuring that her legacy will encompass future students and the many whose lives she touched. As a colleague, she served as a mentor to new faculty members. Part-time drawing and painting instructor Daniel Reidy said this of her:"Val was so kind to me the minute I walked in the door. In the first week, maybe the first day, she offered me her prepared drawing exercises and any help she could give me adjusting to a new school. I happened to be playing the Clash, and Joe Strummer was among her musical mandatories. Boom- fast friends. The warmth she showed me that first term with UAH solidified the notion that I had landed in the right spot. She cared so thoroughly for the advancement of the kids during her time with them. At home, when my wife and I would share stories of how the day went, I would refer to Val as my "punk rock girlfriend." I will miss her dearly." Vinny Argentina described her as a "genuine, lovely person with a lot of grit and a great sense of humor. I always found it particularly remarkable that she was able to find the humor in even the most difficult of her circumstance." Foundations and Painting instructor Aynslee Moon said, "So many times I would just pop into Val's office, and we would follow any conversational rabbit hole, and laugh, how we would laugh. I remember how she loved music, I mean really loved it, deep in her soul. She was such a great teacher; she treated her students with patience, dignity, and compassion. I know this because I heard it said of her anytime her name came up amongst students. She was not just a fellow teacher; she was a fellow artist. I remember the last time we all gathered for figure drawing in my garage studio, right before this horrible, evil virus began making its appearance. We all talked, laughed, vented about politics and society, drank wine, and drew Iris. She was so talented, especially at drawing people and their beautiful form and soulful essence. If I had known that figure drawing session was the last time I would see her and her warm, gentle, happy smile, I would have hugged for a long, long time. But it still wouldn't have been long enough."All of her friends and colleague her at UAH will miss her every day. We were so lucky to have her as part of our department.... UAH MLK commemoration to feature Emmy award-winner Laverne Cox Jan 05, 2021 – The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of The University of Alabama System, will celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Thursday, Jan. 14 from 2-4 p.m. ... UAH alumna Violet Edwards is elected to Madison County Commission Jan 04, 2021 Violet Edwards, an alumna of The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of The University of Alabama System, has been elected to the Madison County Commission as the Commissioner for District 6. ... UAH History Alum John O’Brien publishes new book on the early history of Madison Dec 18, 2020 John O’Brien (‘14, History) and his book. Photo Credit Michael Mercier John O’Brien’s (‘14 History) new book Notorious Antebellum North Alabama (True Crime)describes the lawlessness of North Alabama before the Civil War. The book consists of several short stories and when compared to most history books, the publication tells the story of the often unexamined communities during this historical period. O’Brien spent 5 years researching these often untold stories through court cases. The era saw courts filled with defendants who spanned the socioeconomic gamut--farmers, merchants and politicians. “In the book you will hear stories about liquor, kidnapping, prostitution, and divorces,” says O’Brien. One of the more interesting and complex chapters of the book tells the story of the divorce between a young woman and her lawyer husband. The young woman had a torrid affair with a traveling actor that led the court case documentation to be filled with love letters and dream sequences. The topic of divorces during this time period became an interesting focus on O’Brien’s research at UAH and a significant portion of the book. “When I was at UAH, I was doing a bunch of research on the history of divorce for an independent study with Professor Christine Sears. I examined 73 divorce cases from North Alabama prior to the civil war and I kept stumbling on all these interesting and random cases.” One of the cases became an inspiration for a chapter in his book. It tells the story of a man who tore apart another man’s log cabin with his bare hands. The interesting stories within the court cases led to research papers and a personal blog. The publishing company Arcadia, after reviewing his blog and research, reached out to O’Brien about creating the book. It was after 3 years of continued research and writing that the book was published. O’Brien completed his research at the Madison County Courthouse. “In Madison county we've never had a courthouse fire or an archive fire. We are also the second oldest county in the state after Washington county, and so we have an unbroken line of court and county records that stretch all the way back to like 1810.” The enthusiasm from local volunteers and historians contributes to a vast county archive and special collections. Notorious Antebellum North Alabama (True Crime) is on sale now. The book also contains illustrations from UAH Aluma Sha-Meika Smith (‘16 Art). O’Brien hopes to continue publishing historical narratives and credits his faculty in the UAH History Department for helping guide his research and interest in public history. “Pretty much everyone that I encountered in the History Department at UAH is amazing. They really believe in their students.” He shared his appreciation for the late Dr. James Isbell and his work with Dr. Andrew Dunar and Dr. Christine Sears. For more information on our Department of History, please contact history@uah.edu... Transparency about autonomous military systems is critical to acceptance, research says Dec 17, 2020 When it comes to military use of autonomous systems, transparency about them, perceived usefulness and perception of ease of use all contribute to acceptance and adoption by personnel, according to new research at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of the University of Alabama System. ... 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16