FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

REGENTS GRANT TENURE TO 10 FACULTY MEMBERS

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., Feb. 25, 2002 - The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents granted tenure to 10 faculty members during a closed session meeting of the Board today.

The tenure designation will take effect with the 2002-2003 academic year. Faculty members receiving tenure in their respective departments were considered for the designation by their department chairperson, departmental tenure advisory committee, college tenure advisory committee, college dean, and Provost Jane Stephens.

Those granted tenure are:

Jeremy Barnes, Department of Health and Leisure

Dr. Jeremy Barnes came to Southeast in the fall of 1996 as an assistant professor in the Department of Health and Leisure. He received his bachelor of arts degree from Leeds University, England, and his master of science and doctor of philosophy degrees from the University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo. Barnes was previously employed as an exercise physiology consultant at Boone Hospital in Columbia, Mo.

Barnes consistently receives extremely high student ratings on his teaching effectiveness. His commitment to experiential learning is superb. He received the College of Health and Human Services Award for Outstanding Teacher in 1998 and has been nominated several other times. He has demonstrated scholarly accomplishments with journal articles and professional presentations, often involving his students in the spirit of the teacher-scholar model. His range of service is extensive within the University and to the community and profession. The community is a better place for his efforts in serving our region.

Robert Buchanan, Department of Educational Administration and Counseling

Dr. Robert Buchanan came to Southeast in the fall of 1997 as an instructor in the Department of Educational Administration and Counseling and was promoted to assistant professor in the fall of 2000. He received his bachelor of science in education degree from Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, Ark.; his master of science degree from Southeast; and his doctor of philosophy degree from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Ill. Buchanan was previously employed as superintendent of the Sikeston Public Schools.

Buchanan has provided leadership and expertise in the revision of the curriculum in the educational administration program within the Department of Educational Administration and Counseling. He recently co-authored a book on the supervision and evaluation of certified and non-certified staff in K-12 school districts. He is coordinator of the master’s program in educational administration and serves as advisor to over 125 students. Buchanan served on the national committee that prepared the licensure examination for building level administrators that is used in more than 30 states. He is also a member of the National Conference of State Legislatures Committee to develop state and national policies to attract and retain school leaders.

A. Zaidy MohdZain, Department of Educational Administration and Counseling

Dr. A. Zaidy MohdZain came to Southeast in the fall of 1997 as an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Administration and Counseling and was promoted to associate professor in the fall of 2001. He received his bachelor of business administration degree from Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Mich.; his master of public administration and master of arts degrees from the University of Illinois, Springfield, Ill.; and his doctor of philosophy degree from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. MohdZain was previously employed as an associate professor and coordinator of the community counseling program at Delta State University, Cleveland, Miss.

MohdZain is currently serving for the second year as coordinator of the counseling programs within the Department of Educational Administration and Counseling. He is highly respected as a teacher and advisor. In addition, his research interests include counselor education and supervision, multicultural counseling, marriage and family counseling, and professionalization issues. He is on the editorial board of ­The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families. MohdZain is the co-faculty advisor to both the Malaysian Student Association and student chapter of the World Council of Curriculum and Instruction.

Mary Virginia Moore, Department of Accounting, Finance, and Business Law

Dr. Mary Virginia Moore came to Southeast in the fall of 1996 as an assistant professor in the Department of Accounting, Finance, and Business Law and was promoted to associate professor in the fall of 2001. She received her bachelor of arts degree from California State University, San Diego, Calif.; her master of business administration degree from Southwest Missouri State University; and her juris doctor degree from Washburn University School of Law, Topeka, Kan. Moore was previously employed as technical editor of the Washburn Law Journal at the Washburn University School of Law.

Moore is deserving of tenure because of exemplary accomplishments in: teaching effectiveness, based on such factors as student evaluations, peer evaluations, chair/dean evaluations, currency in the instructional field, and accessibility to students; professional growth intellectual contributions, based on such factors as publication in national refereed journals, proceedings and presentations at academic and professional meetings, and significant involvement in professional development activities; and professional service, based on such activities as service to departmental, college, and University committees; service to academic and professional organizations; and public service to the campus and region. Moore also recently was appointed director of women's studies at Southeast.

Verl Pope, Department of Educational Administration and Counseling

Dr. Verl Pope came to Southeast in the fall of 1996 as an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Administration and Counseling. He received his bachelor of science, master of counseling, and doctor of education degrees from Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho. Pope was previously employed as a counselor at the Crystal Summit Clinical Association in Pocatello.

Pope served as interim associate dean for the College of Education from 1999 to 2000. Currently, he is the assistant to the dean for accreditation. Pope is a member of the counseling faculty within the Department of Educational Administration and Counseling. His research interests include the use of standardized assessment in counseling, treatment and counseling of offenders, and sexual harassment in schools. Pope is the faculty advisor to the Sigma Epsilon Sigma chapter of Chi Sigma Iota, National Counselor Honors Society.

Thomas Joseph Pujol, Department of Health and Leisure

Dr. Thomas Joseph Pujol came to Southeast in the fall of 1996 as an assistant professor in the Department of Health and Leisure and was promoted to associate professor in the fall of 2001. He received his bachelor of science and his master of education degrees from Northeast Louisiana University, Monroe, La., and his doctor of education degree from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Ala. Pujol was previously employed as an assistant professor at Louisiana Tech University.

Pujol consistently receives high ratings on his teaching effectiveness, and colleagues note that he draws excellence from his students. He has been a leader in developing the department’s master’s degree programs. His scholarly accomplishments are extensive, high quality, and diverse. Exemplifying the teacher-scholar model, he involves both undergraduate and graduate students in much of his research. Students have made presentations at national meetings and have been co-authored on scholarly articles. He has provided valuable service to the University, college, and department. A key accomplishment of service to the community includes his establishing a health topics column in the Southeast Missourian.

Tamela Randolph, Department of Mathematics

Dr. Tamela Randolph came to Southeast in the fall of 1997 as an assistant professor in the Department of Mathematics and was promoted to associate professor in the fall of 2001. She received her bachelor of science in education degree from Northeast Missouri State University; her master of natural science degree from Southeast; and her doctor of philosophy degree from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Ill. Randolph was previously employed as a computer lab supervisor at Southern Illinois University.

Most of the students in her classes are pre-service elementary teachers who may come to her classes with a great deal of apprehension about mathematics. Randolph has the personality and presence inside and outside the classroom that converts their fear of mathematics to an enthusiasm for mathematics and fosters personal friendships. This conversion and friendship empowers these new elementary teachers to share their joy of mathematics, rather than their former fear, with their young, impressionable students and thereby improves the mathematical ability of elementary, middle, secondary, and post-secondary students as they progress through the grades.

Randolph published six mathematics education articles in national referred journals, received four grants totaling $77,000, and currently has one under review for $700,000. She has organized conferences locally, assisted with state meetings, and held numerous offices in these organizations, including webmaster for the Missouri Council of Teachers of Mathematics, site coordinator for the Great Plains Math League Contest, president of the Missouri Mathematical Association for the Advancement of Teacher Training, and president-elect of the Missouri Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Her leadership produced the two volumes, Middle School Mathematics and Secondary School Mathematics, for the successful Joint NCATE accreditation and MoSTEP Program.

Randolph organized a student affiliate of NCTM for students interested in mathematics education. She has contributed to the following endeavors: the Graduate Council, Godwin Associates, research involving human subjects, University commencement, and Center for Scholarship in Teaching and Learning Technology Associates.

Susan Swartwout, Department of English

Dr. Susan Swartwout came to Southeast in the fall of 1996 as an assistant professor in the Department of English and was promoted to associate professor in the fall of 2001. She received her bachelor of arts degree from Knox College, Galesburg, Ill., and her master of arts and doctor of arts degrees from Illinois State University, Normal, Ill. Swartwout previously was employed as a graduate assistant at Illinois State University.

Swartwout's contributions to the department and the University are numerous, and her valuable work has been awarded the highest ratings by the tenure committee in each of the areas of teaching effectiveness, professional growth, and service. Swartwout has made notable contributions to curriculum development, most significantly in designing and implementing the small-press publishing minor. She is an excellent teacher who motivates creative writing students both in the classroom and in the public arena by encouraging experiential learning opportunities through student participation in public readings, community programs, and area school consultations. Swartwout is a member of the Department of English graduate and honors faculty and receives consistently high ratings on both the IDEA and departmentally directed student evaluations.

Dr. Swartwout's ability to maintain professional control of the classroom while at the same time creating a relaxed atmosphere conducive to free and stimulating discussion of topics relevant to creative writers is to be commended. Swartwout's record of professional development and scholarly activities is both varied and impressive. She has authored or co-authored books, poems, and critical articles; she is a founding editor of the proposed Southeast Missouri State University Press and Big Muddy: A Journal of the Mississippi River Valley. She serves as an associate editor of The Cape Rock, the department's prize-winning poetry journal; and she is an active participant in a number of professional organizations. Swartwout has a remarkable spirit of cooperation, she is forward thinking, and her perceptive input is relied upon as the department works together to build a fully developed creative writing program.

Larry Underberg, Department of Communication
(formerly in Speech Communication and Theatre)

Dr. Larry Underberg came to Southeast in the fall of 1998 as an assistant professor in the Department of Speech Communication and Theatre. He received his bachelor of arts degree from Northern Illinois University, De Kalb, Ill.; his master of arts degree from Auburn University, Auburn, Ala.; and his doctor of philosophy degree from Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa. Underberg previously was employed as an assistant/associate professor of speech communication and director of forensics at the University of South Dakota, Vermillion, S.D.

Underberg, a member of the Department of Communication faculty, has distinguished himself as a teacher/scholar as demonstrated by the sustained favorable evaluations of his students and a wide variety of professionals in the field. His students’ success at regional and national debate tournaments attests to his teaching preparation and effectiveness. He has taken an active role in the National Educational Debate Association that he co-founded. He has had numerous articles published in respected journals and has a sustained record of presentations at national conferences. He has been supportive of area schools in the speech area, has been an active committee member at the department, college, and University levels, and has actively participated in the River Heritage Series and the City of Roses Festival.

Cathy Young, Department of Nursing

Cathy Young came to Southeast in the fall of 1996 as an assistant professor in the Department of Nursing. She received her bachelor of science in nursing degree from Webster University, and her master of science in nursing degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Young previously was employed as a family nurse practitioner at the Nursing Center, Moberly, Missouri, and as an instructor of clinical nursing at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Young’s teaching and scholarly work have been excellent and she has provided to the Department of Nursing, the University, and the University's service region with extraordinary service. Young developed all the courses in the family nurse practitioner track within the University's master of science in nursing program. Since the establishment of the program, 44 family nurse practitioners have been prepared to provide primary care within our service region. In addition, Young established the nurse practitioner care model within the University's Center for Health and Counseling, which now provides primary care to thousands of students each year.

Young has publications in respected nursing journals, which include her research, and she has presented at regional, national, and international meetings. Young has written chapters for nursing assessment books and is currently writing her doctoral dissertation entitled, "Barriers to Reporting Sexual Assault as Identified by Sexual Assault Service Providers." Young was a founding member of the Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence (SEMO/NASV). She has been instrumental in the establishment of the SEMO/NASV office, which now provides children's examinations and evidence for the prosecution of offenders. While actively engaged in professional development activities, she has continued to receive excellent reviews from her students and peers.