| -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
March 1, 2007
|
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.- Commencement Speaker Named
Dean C. Leslie Carpenter announced that USC Sumter's 2007 Commencement Speaker will be The Honorable Cameron McGowan Currie, United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina. A native of Florence, South Carolina, Judge Currie earned her bachelor's degree from the University of South Carolina and her Juris Doctorate from the George Washington University Law School. Following a clerkship with The Honorable Arthur L. Burnett, U.S. Magistrate for the District of Columbia, Judge Currie's professional career includes private practice in Washington, D.C., and Columbia, South Carolina, serving as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia and the District of South Carolina, three years as Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of South Carolina School of Law, and serving as the Chief Deputy Attorney General for the State of South Carolina. Her Presidential appointment to the Federal Bench occurred in 1994. Nerbun Makes Science Fun
USC Sumter Physics Professor Bob Nerbun shared his passion for science with other budding scientists at an on campus event in January. Nerbun hosted the Science Connections Magnet School Students based out of Willow Drive Elementary, providing a series of hands-on demonstrations for the children in electrostatics and electromagnetism. The Magnet School is open to students in the third through fifth grades and strives to create life-long learners as students design questions and seek answers. Children are able to explore the world around them, develop scientific concepts, and construct meaning through hands-on activities. Nerbun worked closely with local teachers to make sure the demonstrations were challenging yet on target with the students level of knowledge on the subject. At USC Sumter, Nerbun focuses on incorporating active learning techniques into his classroom as well as adding humor to his physics classes. He is an asset to scientists of all ages. Math Professor Among Chosen Few
USC Sumter Math Professors Rebecca Hillman and Rigoberto Florez are among a select few from across the country to be named Fellows in a professional development program for new or recent Ph.D’s in the mathematical sciences. Hillman will participate in Project NExT (New Experiences in Teaching), a program of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA). The program addresses all aspects of an academic career, including improving the teaching and learning of mathematics, engaging in research and scholarship and participating in professional activities. It also provides the participants with a network of peers and mentors as they assume these responsibilities. Florez was named a Project ACCCESS (Advancing Community College Careers: Education, Scholarship and Service) fellow for 2006-2007. Project ACCCESS is a mentoring and professional development initiative for two-year college mathematics faculty funded through a three-year grant from the ExxonMobil Foundation. Jointly developed by the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC) and the MAA, the goal of Project ACCCESS is to facilitate current and continued professional growth for a cadre of two-year college mathematics faculty who will become the leaders of their profession. Participating Fellows will gain knowledge of the culture and mission of the two-year college and its students, acquire familiarity with the scholarship of teaching, commit to continued growth in mathematics, and participate actively in professional communities. Hillman and Florez will attend national workshops throughout the year to discuss issues that are of special relevance to beginning faculty. Hillman was one of approximately 70 new faculty members and Florez was one of 30 chosen from across the country to participate in the program. Getty's Accomplishments Recognized
February was a busy month for Professor Cara-lin Getty. Her contributions to the arts were recognized at the Sumter Gallery of Art February 8 in an exhibit entitled, Exhibitions. The exhibit included paintings, monotypes, digital imagery, drawings and collage. The following day, Getty was honored at A Scholars' Tea, where she discussed her retrospective art, focusing on appropriation as used in art. Getty has been at the University of South Carolina Sumter since 1978. Scottish Country Fair and Celtic Festival
The Sumter County Museum will hold the 7th annual Scottish Country Fair and Celtic Festival March 23 - 25, 2007 to celebrate these early settlers and their descendants. The Fair features Highland Games, music and dance and USC Sumter will be the site for the Friday and Saturday night events. Visitors will come from across the state to participate in this year’s festivities. Friday, March 23 Saturday, March 24 Sunday, March 25 For more information on ticket prices, directions, games, etc, please visit the Sumter County Museum’s website at http://www.freewebs.com/sumterscottishfair/ Walking Trail
For more information, please call Catherine Blumberg at 803-774-3860 or Misty Hatfield at 803-938-3728.
Employee NewsAppointments Farewells Congratulations! USC Sumter Associate Professor of Physics/Math, Michael S. Becker, submitted an original problem to Mathematics Monthly that was published in the February 2007 edition. Dr. David Decker was featured for his expertise on Southern Kordofan on a video clip created by the Sudan Studies Association for distribution to researchers, teachers and students. Find out more, visit the website at www.understandingsudan.org.
|
 |