Education and Psychology News Briefs
Mon, 09/12/2011 - 05:18pm | By: David Tisdale
College of Education and Psychology News Briefs
This news briefs package highlights newsmakers and events from The University of Southern
Mississippi College of Education and Psychology, including publication and presentation
of research by its faculty, students and alumni. For more information on any of the
stories below or for assistance in arranging interviews, contact the Office of University
Communications at 601.266.4491.
Hill Editor for Volume on Adult Education for Health and Wellness
Dr. Lilian Hill, associate professor of adult education in The University of Southern Mississippi's Department of Educational Studies and Research, served as editor for the recently published volume of Adult Education for Health and Wellness, New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, published by Jossey-Bass.
For the volume, Hill wrote the editor's notes and chapter nine, titled Health Education as an Arena for Adult Educators' Engagement in Social Justice. Two chapters were written by graduates of the department's adult education program, including Chapter 6 by Susan Mayfield-Johnson, titled Adult Learning, Community Education and Public Health: Making the Connection Through Community Health Advisors and Chapter 7 by Melissa Wright, with her colleague Adelia Grabowsky, The Role of the Adult Educator in Helping Learners Access and Select Quality Health Information on the Internet. Hill was also assisted with the volume by former adult education graduate assistant Chung-Hsien Hsu, who graduated in May.
Dr. Hill joined the Southern Miss faculty in 2005. She is the program coordinator for higher and adult education and students affairs for her department. Her research interests include values, beliefs and philosophies that guide professional practice, community education, environmental adult education and health education, including health literacy among undereducated adults.
Madson Awarded National Institutes for Health (NIH) Grant
Dr. Michael Madson, associate professor of psychology at The University of Southern Mississippi, has qualified for a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Loan Repayment Program grant for 2011-2012 based on his work as principle investigator of the Department of Psychology's Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS) program.
The goal of this competitive NIH grant is to help new and promising researchers in the fields of biomedical, behavioral, social and clinical research focus on their work.
Established at Southern Miss in fall 2009, BASICS focuses on reducing harm for college students who choose to consume alcohol, and provides valuable training for graduate students in motivational interviewing. Madson is assisted by graduate students in the department in managing the program.
Students who think their alcohol consumption is excessive or who are referred by university student service entities such as the Department of Residence Life can participate in the program., National research also shows that more than 66 percent of college students engage in heavy alcohol consumption at least once a month. The negative behaviors that result from binge drinking effects not only affect those engaged in the behavior but others in a college setting, whether they drink or not.
For more information about the NIH Loan Repayment Program, online visit http://www.lrp.nih.gov/about_the_programs/index.aspx. For more information about BASICS, online visit www.usm.edu/counseling-psychology-clinic
Community Counseling and Assessment Clinic Offers Career Counseling Group
The University of Southern Mississippi's Community Counseling and Assessment Clinic now offers group counseling services for individuals feeling unsure about their current or future careers. Counseling sessions are held in a supportive, group environment that will explore career-related issues such as:
· How to make employment or academic decisions
· Job search skills
· The fit between various jobs and one's values, interests and skills
· How higher education might benefit one's career
· Resources available to begin the job search
The group is open to university personnel and community adults. This service is free for individuals who qualify and agree to participate in a research study evaluating the group.
The Community Counseling and Assessment Clinic provides affordable, quality psychological services to the Hattiesburg community. As the training clinic of the Counseling Psychology graduate programs at Southern Miss, it offers a full range of psychological services. Its counselors are graduate students working under the supervision of program faculty who are licensed or license-eligible psychologists.
For more information, visit the Community Counseling and Assessment Clinic on the web at www.usm.edu/counseling-psychology-clinic or call 601.266.4601for an appointment.
Morgan Article Published in Journal
Dr. Hani Morgan, an assistant professor in The University of Southern Mississippi Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Special Education (CISE) recently had an article published in The American Educational History Journal, titled: “Over One Hundred Years of Misrepresentation: American Minority Groups in Children's Books.”
The American Educational History Journal is a peer-reviewed national research journal devoted to the examination of educational topics using perspectives from a variety of disciplines.
More information about Dr. Morgan and his research can be found at: http://www.hanimorgan.com. For more information about the Southern Miss Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Special Education and its programs, online visit https://www.usm.edu/elementary-special-technology-education.
Karnes Co-Edits New Book in Practical Strategies Series in Gifted Education
Dr. Frances A. Karnes, distinguished university professor at The University of Southern Mississippi, and one of her former students, Dr. Kristin R. Stephens, assistant professor at Duke University, have co-edited another book in the Practical Strategies Series in Gifted Education published by Prufrock Press.
The book, Identifying and Nurturing Math Talent, was authored by Dr. M. Katherine Gavin. It offers practical advice on identifying mathematical talent, developing rigorous mathematics curricula, preparing highly qualified teachers, and locating specialized programs and schools in order to support the learning requirements of mathematically talented students.
Now more than ever, highly trained and skilled mathematicians are in demand to address public and private sector needs, issues and challenges in the 21st century. Identifying and Nurturing Math Talent provides information for teachers, administrators, and parents interested in identifying and supporting mathematical talent in children and adolescents.
Karnes is a faculty member in the Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Special Education (CISE) and is director of the university's Frances A. Karnes Center for Gifted Studies. Learn more about the Center by visiting https://www.usm.edu/karnes-gifted