Professional Notes

Several staff members from the Division of Student Affairs participated in the Minnesota College Personnel Association annual conference Oct. 15 and 16 at Minneapolis Community and Technical College: Margaret Cahill co-facilitated “Open Forum: NASPA Collaboration and Unification Discussion”; Jane Canney, Dr. Mary Ann Ryan andMargaret Cahill presented a program, “Stories from the Past: Lessons for the Future”; Dr. Tom Carey was honored with a Legacy Plaque acknowledging his contributions to the organization when it was established; Victoria Svoboda received the Lud Spolyar Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes a current or past MCPA member for outstanding service to the association, the student affairs profession or in representing Minnesota at the national level; and Tasia Tigue served as the moderator for the “Student Organizations and Risk Management” panel and facilitated the New Professionals Commission Roundtable.

Dr. Michael Andregg, College of Arts and Sciences (Justice and Peace Studies Department), delivered invited presentations on “Weapons of Mass Destruction: From Worst-Case Scenarios to Reality” Nov. 17 and 18 at the eighth annual M-STEP conference for Minnesota first responders. Since WMDs present long-term risks to civilization in general, Andregg says is happy to speak with anyone at UST interested in those special and especially disturbing weapons.

Father James Burns, Graduate School of Professional Psychology, presented on “Leading in Catholic Institutions During Anxious Times: Effects of Stressors on Educators and Ministers" at the Murray Institute Colloquium in St. Paul. He also presented his paper “Personal Religious Practice, Risky Behavior and Implementation Intentions Among Adolescents” in November at the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion’s annual convention in Denver, with Dr. Brian McCorkle and Dr. Patrick McNamara, both from Boston University. Burns was recently awarded the Diplomate in Counseling Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology in Houston, Texas. This is the final and highest credential in the field of psychology and stands as a gold standard for practice and science. Board certification (awarding of a diploma in a specialty) assures the public that specialists designated by the ABPP have successfully completed the educational, training and experience requirements of the specialty, including an examination (written and oral) designed to assess the competencies required to provide quality services in that specialty. Psychologists board certified through ABPP have undergone review of education, training, experience, often additional written testing, and have had samples of their work peer-reviewed by board certified psychologists. In addition, Burns became a Fellow of the American Academy of Counseling Psychology (AACoP).The mission of the AACoP is to advance Counseling Psychology as a science and practice and to promote the highest quality of professional practice within the specialization of counseling psychology for the protection and well-being of the public, the profession and the academy.

Dr. Corrine Carvalho, College of Arts and Sciences (Theology Department), is the author of a chapter,“Putting the Mother Back in the Center: Metaphor and Multivalence in Ezekiel 19,” in Thus Says the Lord: Essays on the Former and Latter Prophets in Honor of Robert R. Wilson, (T & T Clark International, 2009).

Dr. Kathryn Combs and Dr. John Spry, Opus College of Business (Finance Department), presented their paper, “Taxation and Interstate Competition in Midwest Casinos,” (written with Jim Landers, Indiana Legislative Services Agency) Nov. 12-14 at the National Tax Association 103rd Annual Conference in Denver.

Dr. Mel Gray, Opus College of Business (Finance Department), attended the annual conference of the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action, where he presented a research paper titled “Lawyer Discipline and Deterrence: Are ABA Sanctions Effective?” in a poster session. He also was re-elected to the post of secretary-treasurer of ARNOVA’s Social Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Section, participated in a colloquy of journal editors on “Getting Published: What Helps, What Hurts, What Matters,” presented the Editors' Award for best article in Nonprofit Management and Leadership to former St. Thomas adjunct faculty member David Renz (who now holds the Beth K. Smith Chair in Nonprofit Leadership at the University of Missouri-Kansas City), and chaired the annual editorial board meeting for Nonprofit Management and Leadership.

Madonna McDermott, Student Health Service, presented a session, “Pulling It All Together: Implementing Third Party Billing,” in October at the North Central College Health Association conference in Minneapolis.

Dr. Mark Neuzil, College of Arts and Sciences (Communication and Journalism Department), participated in a panel discussion Nov. 4 at the 2009 International Society of Exposure Science’s annual conference in Minneapolis. ISES is the largest professional association of interdisciplinary scientists working in occupational, public and environmental health. Neuzil’s presentation was titled “Exposure Science: Why Isn’t It News?”

David Rodbourne, Opus College of Business (Center for Ethical Business Cultures), participated in an invitation-only “Think Tank of Social Responsibility” organized by the American Society for Quality, Nov. 15-17 in Milwaukee. ASQ anticipates the release of ISO 26000 on Social Responsibility in 2010 and is working to position its membership to play a constructive role in the implementation of the guideline. The meeting convened quality and social responsibility experts and practitioners from around the country and resulted in suggestions for research and next steps that could be pursued by ASQ. Rodbourne leads the CEBC’s multiyear research project that will produce a history of corporate responsibility.

Dr. John Spry, Opus College of Business (Finance Department), presented his paper “Corporate Tax Reform in the States” Nov. 12-14 in the session “State Business Taxation: Trends and Issues” at the National Tax Association’s 103rd annual conference in Denver.

Amanda Suniti Niskodé-Dossett, Division of Student Affairs, presented a research paper, “Examining the Influence of Patriarchy on a Women’s College,” in November at the Association for the Study of Higher Education conference in Vancouver, Canada.

Victoria Svoboda, Division of Student Affairs, presented a session titled “Intercultural Communication for Orientation Programs” Nov. 9 at the National Orientation Directors Association annual conference in Anaheim, Calif.  Last spring, this session had been selected as the best program in the region, and Svoboda was invited to present at the national meeting.

Dr. Marilee Votel-Kvaal, Student Health Service, presented the session “Grand Rounds: Great Cases in Student Health” in October at the North Central College Health Association conference in Minneapolis.

Dr. Kimberly Vrudny, College of Arts and Sciences (Theology Department), along with Robin M. Jensen, edited Visual Theology: Forming and Transforming the Community through the Arts, (Liturgical Press, 2009).

Dr. Tatha Wiley, College of Arts and Sciences (Theology Department), is the editor of the Engaging Theology series. Church: Living Communionby Paul Lakeland is the sixth and latest book in the series to be published (Liturgical Press, 2009).