Co-Op Student of the Year: Rosemary Cortelli Apr 19, 2021 Michael Mercier/UAH The Co-Op Student of the Year award is presented by the Office of Career Services and recognizes an outstanding student who has excelled in their co-op rotations, in the classroom, and across campus. Rosemary Cortelli is the winner of the 2020-2021 Co-Op Student of the year award. Rosie graduates this semester with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She is also a part of the JUMP program and is currently pursuing her MSE in Industrial and Systems Engineering. During her time at UAH, Rosie has worked as a UX Research and Design Intern at Northrop Grumman and as a Systems Engineering Co-Op at Dynetics since May 2019. In addition to her work experience, Rosie has served as an Ambassador for the College of Engineering and on the Dance Marathon Team. She is a member of the Honors College, Delta Zeta Sorority, the Society of Women Engineers and has been a part of the Student Government Association at UAH as well. Rosie has successfully balanced her double majors, work commitments, and extracurricular activities, maintaining a nearly perfect GPA in both her undergraduate and graduate coursework. At Dynetics, Rosie works on a team of three systems engineers supporting a major technical program. In particular, Rosie supports the Model-based systems engineering effort for the program, which is a major focus for the department and the company. Rosie’s supervisor described her as a leader in their department-despite her relative overall experience to her colleagues. Rosie was also ranked as outstanding in every category of her evaluation and her supervisor had no recommendations for improvement. Rosie said her favorite thing about her co-op has been the hands-on, real world experience in industry using and expanding upon the things I've learned in classes. "I loved that I contributed meaningful work to the programs I was put on, there was no 'busy' or filler-type work. I've gained a much better understanding of national defense programs and how my discipline contributes to them. I have a lot to attribute to my amazing mentors who made me feel welcomed, helped to introduce me to the world of industry, and still continue to guide me to be the best systems engineer I can be," Rosie said. Rosie has already been hired by Dynetics to begin working Full-Time after the completion of her undergraduate degree. She will be simultaneously pursuing a Masters in Systems Engineering and hopes to expand her knowledge and experience working in the human factors discipline of engineering programs. She encourages students pursuing experiential learning experiences to keep an updated resume, learn and practice on presenting themselves professionally to potential employers (elevator pitch, interviewing, etc.), and to network. "Being a great communicator will literally take you leaps and bounds beyond just having a good GPA," Rosie said. Congratulations Rosie!... STUDENT BLOG: Finishing the Semester Strong Apr 19, 2021 Photo Credit Jennifer Clifton As the end of the semester approaches, take a look back at all the progress you have made as an individual and the progress we have made as a community. Despite going through uncertain times and a pandemic, be proud of you and your community’s achievements- no matter how big or small. Now that finals are approaching, it is important to remember to take some time for yourself, relax, and reflect on your achievements. Although finals are a stressful time of the semester, self-care is vital to success, not only academically, but personally as well. Here are some tips for relaxing and reflecting during these times. Plan something you enjoy doing every day for at least 20 minutes. Having something to look forward to every day allows you to not only take a break from the stress of finals but also boost your overall happiness since you are doing something that is enjoyable. The activity you choose to do can be anything- from reading a chapter of your favorite book, going on a hike, or baking your favorite dessert. Write a realistic to-do list for each day that consists of mini-goals for personal and academic life. By breaking down your bigger tasks into smaller, more manageable goals you will be able to achieve the bigger tasks with more ease. In addition, separating your lists into personal and academic goals will help you keep organized and make your tasks seem more manageable. Write things you achieved this semester that you are proud of- no matter how small. We often forget our accomplishments because we are always moving from task to task. It is also important to remember and reflect on your recent accomplishments so that you can be proud of yourself and take this inspiration to the next chapter of your life. By scheduling time to reflect on your achievements, you will find updating your resume easier. Write a list of things to look forward to this summer. After this semester ends, there are many opportunities this summer to relax and start new goals. Whether you are taking summer classes, doing an internship, graduating, or working this summer, having at least a few things planned to look forward to will allow you to finish out the semester strong so that you can look forward to those summer plans. Good luck on your final exams and congratulations to those graduating this term. For more information and tips, join us on social media! Follow College of Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences Student blog entry created by CAHS Student Outreach Student Assistant & College Ambassador Arianna Kholanjani (Communication Arts). Photo Credit Jennifer Clifton ... Noah Ward’s BFA Photography exit show titled “Pensive State” features a body of work inspired by memories. Apr 12, 2021 "Mirror's Edge" Digital Pigment Print. Photo Credit Noah Ward Noah Ward’s BFA Photography exit show titled “Pensive State” features a body of work inspired by memories. He searches the gray areas of documentation to connect with emotions. Subjectivity is on the edge of these meaningful photographs and you notice what is no longer ordinary. Ward describes his search, Life is constantly going on all around us, leaving behind moments that are one of a kind. These moments are so fragile that when they are committed to memory alone, they tend to be corrupted and warped as time goes by. My work preserves the moments that we hold on to, utilizing framing and reflections that we tend to pass off as ordinary. These pictures put you in a pensive state, forcing you to reflect on your own memories in the corners of your mind. On view in the Salmon Library Gallery through April 9th. Virtual tour available through April 30th. VIRTUAL TOUR ... Samantha Tallichet’s “Beyond Aurora” focus on women’s beauty, strength, independence, and diversity. Mar 30, 2021 Detail from "Guiding Light". Photo Credit Samantha Tallichet The vibrant and magical drawings and paintings in Samantha Tallichet’s “Beyond Aurora” focus on women’s beauty, strength, independence, and diversity. The theme of this exhibition examines how women are portrayed in classic fairytales. Her work combines fantasy and realism elements to present a reimagined, modern twist on the way women are characterized in these stories. Tallichet uses a variety of media, including charcoal, oil, and acrylic paint. They are inspired by the illustrations and drawings that can be found in old fairytale books. The artwork in this series pushes against the old “archetype” that insists princesses need a prince. On view in the Wilson Hall Gallery through April 1st.Virtual tour available through April 30th. VIRTUAL TOUR ... Flagging coronavirus misinformation tweets changes user behaviors, new research shows Mar 29, 2021 When Twitter flags tweets containing coronavirus misinformation, that really does affect the degree of validity most people ascribe to those messages, says new research based on a novel branching survey by three professors at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of the University of Alabama System. ... NEW courses for Summer & Fall 2021 with the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Mar 26, 2021 The College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences is excited to announce some of our new courses for Summer and Fall 2021. New classes will be added daily! Check back often. If you have questions about courses, please contact our college at cahs@uah.edu or speak with your Academic Advisor. SUMMER 2021 ART, ART HISTORY & DESIGN ARS 395: Vector 3D Modeling Chris Taylor cbt0011@uah.edu Students enrolled in this class will learn Rhinoceros 3D, a software program used in Industrial Design, Architecture, Sculpture, and Transportation Design. Students will begin the class using tutorial-based lessons and progress to designing their own objects as they respond to thought-provoking prompts meant to push the concepts behind their designs. Rhinoceros 3D is a CAD software with a multitude of complex 3D modeling tools, which allow you to create unimaginable shapes with great precision and detail, whether from a drawing, a sketch, or even a 3D scan. The software is compatible with most design, drafting, CAM, prototyping, rendering, and illustration programs. ENGLISH EH 440/540: Special Topics James Joyce Dr. Eric Smith eds0001@uah.edu This course will survey the major works of James Joyce, who is widely considered the most significant writer in English during the 20th century. We will read his short story collection The Dead, his novel A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, and his opus Ulysses. HISTORY HY 498/598: American Religious History Dr. Glenda Mitchell gbm0004@uah.edu This course will expose students to the diverse religious landscape of the United States by exploring religious themes and movements from the period before European contact to the present. Students will examine the expansion of religious life in the nation and seek to understand how particular ideas underpinning American society have informed and reshaped religious expression. How has the religious landscape in the United States evolved over time? In particular, how have trends in politics, science, technology, gender relations, and immigration contributed to the growing diversity of religion in America? PSYCHOLOGY PY 102: Applications of Psychology Dr. Nathan Tenhundfeld nlt0006@uah.edu This course is designed to equip PY majors and minors with tools that students can apply to upper-level courses, information to allow students to interpret psychological research, and descriptions of applied areas of psychology to expand the students’ career views of the discipline. The students should be able to apply APA format, understand how to interpret theoretical models, data charts and tables, and interpret inferential statistics to compile a short research report. The students should be able to distinguish different subfields in psychology and the related degrees needed for career success in these subfields. PY 201: Lifespan Development Dr. Jodi Price jodi.price@uah.edu Is a shy child destined to be a shy adult? What makes for a good romantic partner? Does having great parents influence the likelihood of you being a good parent? At what age are people the happiest? Learn how we develop from conception through death and knock out one of your social science requirements, all in five weeks! Sample Course Syllabus. SOCIOLOGY SOC 369: Environmental Sociology Dr. Kyle Knight kyle.knight@uah.edu Examines the ways in which society and the natural environment interact and shape each other. This course engages with the major debates in the field of environmental sociology in order to better understand the challenges and options humans face as we navigate global environmental crises. Sample Course Syllabus. FALL 2021 COMMUNICATION ARTS CM 440/540: Public Relations Campaigns Dr. Candice Lanius cll0020@uah.edu Public Relations Campaigns is a research-intensive course that exposes students to real-world problems in public relations. Working as members in PR teams, students will follow the Research, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation (RPIE) process for designing strategic communication plans for various clients in different contexts included medical, military, education, and non-profit organizations. In addition to these core aspects, CM 540 students will learn the case study method of analysis, preparing a journal article, and presenting their work to the class. ENGLISH EH 422/522: Studies in the Novel: Caribbean Fiction Dr. Eric Smith eds0001@uah.edu This course will survey a broad range of Anglophone literary production from the diverse national cultures of the Caribbean archipelago. Particular attention will be given to the ways in which the creative possibilities (and limitations) of the novel form help trace the contours of the emergent postcolonial Caribbean nation-state (engaging and reformulating cultural effects like creolization, calypso, mas’, and metissage) from its anti-colonial roots to the diremptions or dislocations of contemporary globalization. EH 440/540: An Exploration in Social Justice Dr. Beth Boswell brb0035@uah.edu In this multi-genre special topics course, we’ll explore what the term “social justice” means and how its many issues are expressed in the creative texts of our time. The course is divided into thematic units of social concern (the global refugee crisis, BIPOC rights, LGBTQ+ rights, gender discrimination, sexual assault, criminal reform, education reform, political/institutional oppression, and the mechanism of activism) and features texts in poetry, film/television, short and long fiction, graphic novels/comics, music, social media, and the visual/performing arts. It should be noted that, while this course contains *mostly* fictional readings, the subject matter of those readings is based on very real social injustices done to very real human beings, animals, and eco systems. The material we read may (WILL) often be emotionally difficult in the content it depicts, and that difficulty should be carefully considered when registering for the class. EH 454/554: New Media Writing & Rhetoric Dr. Joseph W. Robertshaw jwr0015@uah.edu This course offers students the opportunity to apply rhetorical principles across a variety of media and includes an examination of communication strategies used widely in academic and industry settings. This special topic focus will look at these media vehicles through the lens of Multimodality. View a short video on the course HERE. EH 655: Telling Tales: Medieval and Modern Dr. Joseph Taylor wjt0003@uah.edu In his work, the 14th c poet Geoffrey Chaucer confronted the problems and politics of translation. How does one translate Latin classics into a low-style language like English? Can one render the authoritative word of God in the Holy Scripture into a doggerel-like peasant vernacular? This course will examine Chaucer’s works with a focus on the theoretic practice of—and political stakes for– translation in both medieval and modern contexts. The English translation of the Bible was one of the first banned books in English! But Chaucer’s attention to the fragility of language in transmission informs the modern plight of refugees, who must also recount their own stories not for entertainment but for their very lives. This course, thus, will put the modern story collections—known as Refugee Tales (real refugee accounts put into short story form by British novelists and modeled on explicitly on Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales) in conversation with Chaucer’s linguistic theories and with modern philosophic and political readings on translation, theories of political sovereignty and political theology, and critical literature in the field of refugee and forced migration studies. Readings will include The Canterbury Tales, The Legend of Good Women, and Chaucer’s Dream Visions, readings from Refugee Tales Vol. I and II, Patience Agabi’s Canterbury Tales redux titled Telling Tales,and theoretic readings by Hannah Arendt, Giorgio Agamben, Michel Foucault, and Matthew Gibney among others. FILM & MEDIA ARTS FMA 460: Studio Broadcast Production Dr. Joey Watson jaw0087@uah.edu This course provides students with an opportunity for learning pre-production, production, and post-production of television and live event programs using field shooting and multi-camera production techniques of a TV studio. Class activities include the operation of cameras, control panels, lights, and audio in directing and producing non-dramatic programs such as sports, journalism/news, demonstrations, video gaming, commercials, and interviews. Sample Course Syllabus. FMA 340: Foley Sound for Multi-Media Johnna Doty johnna.doty@uah.edu This course offers students an exploration of Foley Sound, including digital hardware and software for studio recording. There will be a particular emphasis on Foley recording techniques, the creative use of the digital audio workstation (DAW), and an introduction to the history, theory, and methods of the art and craft of Foley. Sample Course Syllabus. POLITICAL SCIENCE PSC 334: American Political Thought Dr. John Pottenger pottenj@uah.edu In-depth study of theorists, concepts and forces that have shaped American political values from the founding of the republic to the present. Major themes include the relationship between liberty and equality, rights and democracy, and industrialization and the public good. Prerequisite: PSC 101. PSYCHOLOGY PY 420/520: Human-Machine Team Design Dr. Nathan Tenhundfeld nlt0006@uah.edu This class will be an in-depth evaluation of the elements of design necessary for safe, efficient, and satisfying human-machine interactions. We will be doing targeting readings from journals, and in-class discussions in order to better understand elements of design which impact workload, trust, SA, reliance, and more. We will be covering topics ranging from robotics to self-driving vehicles, to standard computers. By the end of the semester, students will be able to critically evaluate current designs, as well as understand best design practices and recommendations which are supported by the scientific literature. SOCIOLOGY SOC 350: Money & Power Dr. Christina Steidl crs0033@uah.edu This course examines how access to money and power shape life outcomes. The course begins by examining historical and current patterns of economic inequality in the U.S. and the factors that influence these changes, including labor markets, globalization, education systems, immigration, and changing social welfare policies. Along the way, we explore who has the power to make decisions and shape access, opportunities for social mobility, the roles of gender and race, and the implications for public policy. SOC 384: Drugs & Society Dr. Robert Thomson rat0019@uah.edu Drugs take many forms, and they are used for a wide variety of purposes. Drugs can treat, heal, or prevent disease, cause illness and death, enhance or diminish emotional well-being, make painful symptoms more bearable, altar one’s state of mind, impair judgment, cause addiction, influence relationships (for better or for worse), wake you up in the morning, help you sleep at night (or keep you up all night), and quite often, drugs can impact finances – of individuals, of corporations, and of communities. In this course, we will seek to understand drug use from sociological and criminological perspectives. We will examine the prevalence of drug use, the impact of drug use on individuals and society, and society’s response to drugs. We will analyze social control of drug use, including both the criminalization and decriminalization of certain drugs, attempts at prohibition, and medical responses to drug use. In addition, we will address social patterns of drug law enforcement, including inequalities in arrests, convictions, and sentencing along racial and social class lines. THEATRE TH 155: Survey of Musical Theatre Karen Baker kjb0016@uah.edu This class will enrich the student's experience of and knowledge of musical theatre. By understanding musicals as products of specific cultural values and historical contexts, the student will become more sensitive to their meanings and how to interpret and perform them.... 25 projects win awards at 7th annual Research Horizons Virtual Poster Session Mar 23, 2021 Twenty-five projects, and the students who conducted the work, were recognized for excellence in research at the Research Horizons Virtual Poster Session held this month. ... Faculty Research Spotlight: Dr. Christina Steidl, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology Mar 23, 2021 Each March, in honor of Women’s History Month, the names of Marie Curie, Kathryn Johnson, and others are paraded about as we celebrate women’s historical contributions to science, mathematics, engineering, and technology (STEM). Yet, our esteem for these cultural icons should not blind us to women’s continued under-representation in STEM fields. Dr. Christina Steidl, an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology, has spent the last fourteen years studying academic and career trajectories related to STEM. Her Ph.D. dissertation examined variations in STEM educational patterns across different types of colleges and the implications for recruiting and retaining women and racial minorities in STEM fields. More recently, she has received a grant from the National Science Foundation to examine the possible role of military service as an alternate pathway into science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields for women, working in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and West Point. The U.S. military is perceived as providing excellent opportunities to gain valuable technical skills, as well as access to subsequent postsecondary education. According to data from the U.S. Department of Education, undergraduates who have served in the military are about 50% more likely than non-veteran undergraduates to declare a STEM major. Knowing that a substantial portion of students who declare a STEM major leave that major before graduating, Steidl and colleagues wanted to investigate how STEM outcomes at the intersection of gender and military service. Analyzing data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Steidl and colleagues find that not only are veterans more likely to earn STEM degrees, but that pattern is significantly stronger among women than among men (i.e., female veterans are earning STEM degrees at much higher rates than female civilians while male veterans are earning STEM degrees at rates only marginally higher than male civilians). Moreover, this pattern holds for subsequent STEM employment after graduation. The results of the project indicate that the military may provide unique opportunities for members of traditionally under-represented groups to gain access to STEM fields. Steidl notes that female veterans likely face challenges similar to those faced by female civilians in pursuing a STEM degree and career, but that their experiences in the military may enable them to persist in STEM at higher rates as they are better able to access resources, connect with peers, and seek out mentorship, despite the well-documented “chilly climate” for women in STEM fields. Steidl and colleagues are now examining the extent to which these patterns are consistent across racial groups. Dr. Steidl’s research is particularly relevant at UAH, where a focus on STEM education coincides with a community that has a large military population. Her findings shed light on the potential and the limits of current policies and programmatic interventions intended to broaden participation in STEM fields. This includes interventions like GI Bills and Pell Grants, which seek to facilitate the earning of college degrees in general, as well as those targeted at diversifying STEM fields (from “Hour of Code” and “Makerspace” activities in elementary schools to NSF CAREER and ADVANCE grants). Written by Dr. Christina Steidl March 2021 Newsletter by the UAH Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion... Dr. Jennifer Sims, an assistant professor of Sociology, connects her current research to the recent interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Mar 16, 2021 Australian television news in Sydney on Monday reports on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s interview with Oprah Winfrey. The interview airs in Australia on Monday evening. Photo Credit (Rick Rycroft/AP) When they sat down for an interview with Oprah Winfrey last Sunday, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle talked candidly about the racism they have experienced from the Crown. As journalists worldwide covered the story in the days that followed, Dr. Jennifer Sims, an assistant professor of Sociologyin the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at The University of Alabama in Huntsville was among those contacted by national and international media outlets for expert comment. Mixed-Race in the US and UK. Authors (Left to Right): Chinelo Njaka and Jennifer Sims Photo Credit Jennifer Sims Dr. Sims specializes in the study of race/ethnicity. Taking mixed-race people as her main focus, Dr. Sims’ research examines racial construction, perception, and identity in the US and UK. It interrogates how knowledge about race is produced and disseminated by the scientific community. Her award-winning co-authored book, Mixed-Race in the US and UK, analyzes the census, racial identity, civil society, and mixed-race people's everyday experiences at the intersection of race, gender, class, and sexuality in the two nations. The book explains them in terms of both common historical roots and ongoing contemporary US and UK interrelationships. Speaking to The Washington Post in an interview, Sims discussed the comments that were made about the couple’s then unborn son’s potential skin color, noting this kind of speculation about an unborn child’s complexion has long been observed in research about race, including her own. She also mentioned the difference between individual racism and institutional racism, a topic frequently covered in UAH Sociology classes, including her own. Speaking live on air during Tuesday night's broadcast of BBC World News, Dr. Sims further explained why an interview with British Royals hit so close to home for many, especially women of color, in the US, saying that, "The interview really revealed not just family spats or celebrity gossip but the anti-blackness that is within the British Monarchy." Drawing parallels between the lack of support that Meghan encountered from the Crown and the experiences of women of color in their own jobs, she concluded that "while we don't have the tiara, we have walked in Meghan's shoes." View the complete recording of the BBC World News segment here: On Friday, BBC News-US & Canada posted a video covering African American women's reactions to the interview in which Dr. Sims was also featured. Students with Jennifer Sims conducting research using eye-tracking software in the VUE Lab. Photo Credit Michael Mercier Dr. Sims received her Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2014. She taught as an adjunct professor at UW-River Falls before joining UAH in 2017. Sims’ research analyzes racial perception by using the eye-tracking equipment in the User Experience Lab (VUE). She frequently teaches SOC 330: Race and Ethnicity and SOC 301: Research Methods. Previous student-researchers in the lab have gone on to present at conferences and co-author papers. For more information on Sims' research or the Department of Sociology, please contact soc@uah.edu.... UAH Art Students take top honors at the 2021 Addy Awards, including Best of the Show Mar 11, 2021 Pictured (Left to Right) Marina Gibson and Claire Carver. Photo Credit Marina Gibson and Claire Carver Two students in the Department of Art, Art History and Design at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of the University of Alabama System, took home multiple awards at the 2021 American Advertising Awards Galahosted virtually on February 27, 2021. Marina Gibson (’21 BFA Graphic Design) won a Gold Addy for “Nature’s Answer Rebranding,” “White Mountain Rebranding,” and “St. Dalfour Rebranding.” Gibson also received a Silver Addy for her “Starbucks Fundraising Campaign.” Over the entire student competition, Gibson took home Best of the Show for “Nature’s Answer Rebranding.” Gibson describes creating her best of show artwork, “I created the brand identity, new logo, packaging design, brand assets, outdoor signage, landing page and promotional items for the brand Nature’s Answer. The company produces the purest and well-balanced herbal supplements for the whole family. My idea was to create a unique, clean, and authentic-looking feel that stands out from the rest of the health industry and matches the brand’s essence and future vision.” Claire Carver ('21 BFA Graphic Design) won multiple Silver Addy awards for “HVAC” and “Mattel.” Carver also received a Bronze Addy for “Sugar Rebrand.” Carver says, “Throughout my three years at UAH, I am blessed to have achieved winning 9 student Silver ADDYs and one bronze ADDY. I am grateful to have teachers that believed in my work and encouraged me to submit my work, which helped to build my confidence as a designer.” The American Advertising Federation of North Alabama hosts the annual ceremony to recognize and celebrate the outstanding work of north Alabama agencies, corporations, nonprofits, universities, and freelancers. Professionals and students submitted over 350 pieces of work in this year’s competition, which were judged in mid-February by professionals from Austin, Chicago, and New York. Categories include sales and marketing; online interactive; elements of advertising; film, video, and sound; and cross-platform campaigns, among others. Despite the circumstances of COVID-19 and the impact it has had on the artistic community, it is a celebratory moment for the department and the university to see the high recognition of our student work. View the 2021 Addy Awards See the award-winning entries in the galleries below. Marina Gibson Gallery: Claire Carver Gallery: ... 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14