March 2011 Newsletter - College of Human Sciences - Florida State ...

College of Human Sciences
e– Directions
Issue 6: March, 2011
A Message from the Dean
As we swing into spring, we are pleased to bring you
more news from the College of Human Sciences. Our
faculty continue to make news with several new grants
that demonstrate the range of research conducted in the
College and the applied nature of our work. Faculty
member Elizabeth Goldsmith has brought more
recognition to FSU with her designation as a Fulbright
specialist. A new feature we are initiating with this
newsletter is the CHS Bookshelf, bringing to your
attention books authored or edited by faculty and alumni. I hope you enjoy
it and encourage you to let us know of books to highlight in the future. As
always, this edition focuses on one of our many outstanding students and
the accomplishments of an alum. We are also happy to announce a new
graduate major in Global Merchandising and Product Development that
will prepare students in this area for the jobs of today.
Best wishes to you all,
Billie J. Collier
PROFESSOR AND DEAN
Jodee Dorsey
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND
ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR ACADEMIC
AFFAIRS
Mary Ann Moore
PROFESSOR, ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR
RESEARCH AND GRADUATE STUDIES,
AND INTERIM CHAIR OF RETAIL MER-
CHANDISING AND PRODUCT DEVELOP-
MENT
Kay Pasley
PROFESSOR AND CHAIR OF FAMILY
AND CHILD SCIENCES
Bahram Arjmandi
MARGARET A. SITTON PROFESSOR AND
CHAIR OF NUTRITION, FOOD AND
EXERCISE SCIENCES
EDITORS
Ashley Ritcher, Amy Decker,
Barbara Koehler & Tara Hartman
CONTRIBUTORS
Billie J. Collier & Amy Decker
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
Ashley Ritcher & Amy Decker
In This Issue
Dean’s Message, Student Spotlight pg. 1
CHS Grants pg. 2
CHS Bookshelf pg. 3
Development pg. 4
Faculty and Alumni Spotlight pg. 5
An Update from Allisson pg. 6
Student Spotlight
Medical school and helping others are her dreams.
Julia Katz, a senior from Sarasota, has always had an interest in nutrition. Now,
majoring in Food and Nutrition Science at Florida State, she is pursuing that interest
while satisfying her passion for science. Her major courses, such as metabolism, are
augmented with classes in microbiology, organic chemistry, and physics. She hopes to
apply all this knowledge by studying medicine and becoming a physician. To help in
realizing this dream, Katz has engaged in shadowing experiences with medical
doctors and completing community service hours in local hospitals. Ultimately, she
would like to work in infectious diseases or emergency medicine, combining her love of science with her
desire to care for others.
Katz’s undergraduate program has included not only extra science courses and community service, but an
Honors research experience as well. She is working with Dr. Shridhar Sathe and his graduate students on
developing a sensitive, specific and robust assay for the detection of macadamia nut seed proteins (read
more about Sathe’s research on pg. 2). She is honored to be part of this effort to address an important
health issue, saying, “The skills and knowledge I have gained have been invaluable, and I will take them
with me on my future endeavors.”
1

CHS Grants
Researchers Study Young Love
Youthful romance has often been portrayed as fleeting in song and story, and
much research seems to bear this out. Now two faculty members in Family
and Child Sciences, Drs. Ming Cui (bottom left) and Frank Fincham (top
right), are taking a second look and delving into the formation of romantic
relationships among adolescents and young adults. With a newly awarded
grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
(NICHD), Cui and Fincham will use data from the National Longitudinal
Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health)—a nationally representative
sample of over 15,000 young people interviewed from 1994 to 2008—to
examine the formation and maintenance of romantic relationships. They will also study the impact of
family of origin on such relationships and the longer-term consequences of romantic relationships on
psychological functioning in young adulthood.
“The findings from this project will fill a critical gap in the current field,”
says Cui. “Through our research, we hope to demonstrate that the
formation and maintenance of romantic relationships are an important
developmental task for youth, and that romantic relationships have
important consequences on health and well-being in adulthood.”
More stable relationships later in life may develop.
Do nuts bother you? The kind you eat that is….
Dr. Shridhar K. Sathe in Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences has been collaborating with Dr. Kenneth
H. Roux in the Department of Biological Science since 1994
to identify the bad actors in tree nuts that trigger allergic
reactions. So far they have discovered the offending
proteins, or more appropriately the segments of proteins
known as epitopes, in two popular nuts, almonds and
cashews. A grant from the FSU Research Foundation will
now allow them to apply this knowledge by developing
easy to use kits to detect even trace amounts of nut
allergens in foods. This research-to-real-life application
will have tremendous benefit for individuals sensitive to
these nuts.
With two grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture
and one from the Almond Board of California totaling $1.13
million, Sathe and Roux are now at work characterizing
the conformational structure of the epitopes they have identified. Not just an academic exercise, these
studies also have a practical application. How the protein molecules in the nut seeds arrange
themselves apparently affects how people with sensitivities to them may respond. Linear epitopes elicit
different reactions from three-dimensional epitopes. Further, because food processing can have
significant effects on protein conformation, processing methods which alter conformation may be able
to lessen allergenic potential.
2

CHS Bookshelf
Look and Feel Great Through Nutrition—A Simple Guide to a Healthier You by Pamela
Ofstein, MS, RD, LDN, published by One Hour or Less, 2011.
Pamela Ofstein (BS, 1994; MS, 1997) has indeed provided a simple guide to better
nutrition and healthier living. This book, a short read, takes you through the basics
of nutrition and how to make them work for you. She makes the point that there is
no short cut to weight loss, but there is a logic and science to it. With the prevalence
of overweight and obesity in the country today, and the strain that produces on our
health care system, getting simple science-based information into the hands of people
is so critical. Health experts agree, “…This is one book you shouldn’t be without.”
Sharing her nutrition expertise is something that Ofstein does daily. She is Director
of Nutrition Services for eDiets.com, responsible for the development, design and
implementation of the company’s nutritional components, including product
offerings, nutritional programs, media publicity and meal delivery; as well as owner of Pamela B. Ofstein &
Associates, a consulting company that provides health and nutrition information for the public. She is frequently
quoted in newspapers and magazines, appears on radio and television shows, and has created web based nutrition
and recipe videos, as well as podcasts for health related companies promoting health and well being to the public.
As Ofstein says, “Life should be fun and full of good health. It is all about understanding nutrition and ways we
can make it simple and easy to include in day-to-day living. My goal is to reach out and provide the essential
health and nutrition points that anyone can use and think, 'Aha, I understand this'."
Log on to her web site, www.pamelaofstein.com, to find her news updates and nutritional advice.
Romantic Relationships in Emerging Adulthood, edited by Frank Fincham and Ming
Cui, published by Cambridge University Press, 2011.
Emerging adulthood is a critical developmental period. It is also the focus for the
research efforts of several faculty members in Family and Child Sciences. This book is
the result of an earlier national conference on emerging adulthood sponsored by the
College and the Family Institute and coordinated by Fincham and Cui. Scholars from
the U.S. and other countries gathered to converse and inform each other about the
latest research in this area of family studies. Chapters in the book represent those
discussions and provide in one volume significant evidence-based findings for those
engaged in this field to use. As Jeffrey Jensen Arnett, who coined the term “emerging
adulthood”, says in the Foreword, “This book contains a wealth of information about
themes and variations of romantic relationships in emerging adulthood. It is an
important step forward in expanding our knowledge of development during this new,
complex, and fascinating life stage.”
The Food and Culture Around the World Handbook by Helen C. Brittin, Prentice Hall, 2011.
Helen Brittin, B.S. 1960, has packed a lot of information in this easy to use guide to
foods around the world. She takes readers on this alphabetical journey, from
Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, giving them a thumbnail sketch of each country and
introducing them to foods, dishes, drinks, and specialties distinctive to the
countries. As a taste of what is in store for readers, we learn that the national dish of
Argentina is matambre (meaning “hunger killer”), that the foods of Cyprus are
influenced by many neighboring countries, and that the Jamaican dish callaloo is
green leaves of cassava cooked with okra.
Brittin is Professor Emeritus of Food and Nutrition at Texas Tech, where she taught
cultural aspects of food for many years. She served as president of the Texas Dietetic
Association and received their Distinguished Dietitian Award in 2000. She has also
been active in the International Federation of Home Economics. Her lifetime
interest in people and their indigenous foods motivated her to write this readable and interesting book.
3

Development
Join us as we share President Barron’s
vision for FSU
Transform a new generation of students
Power a great University to new academic heights
Strengthen our life-long connections
Honor our unconquered spirit
For more information please visit the FSU Foundation at www.foundation.fsu.edu
Thank you for your tremendous support of the College of Human
Sciences. We are inspired by your passion for service
and philanthropy to your alma mater!
Contribution Info:
Support the College of Human Sciences with a financial contribution.
www.chs.fsu.edu/donations
Checks, made payable to the FSU Foundation and with a note regarding the
appropriate gift designation, can be mailed to:
Allisson Yu, Director of Development
College of Human Sciences
The Florida State University
P.O. Box 3061490 ∙ Tallahassee, FL 32306-1490
ayu@foundation.fsu.edu
4

Faculty Spotlight: Fulbright Specialist
Dr. Elizabeth Goldsmith in Retail Merchandising and
Product Development has the distinct honor of being
involved in several ways with the U.S. Dept. of State’s
Fulbright Program. She serves on the FSU Fulbright
Committee, helping our outstanding students, and was
a discipline reviewer in Economics for the national
Fulbright competition. In February, she was a Fulbright
Specialist in Education in Malta for three weeks where
she gave class lectures, university-wide talks, and
conducted program reviews. One of her most
memorable moments related to the program was
meeting Bill and Melinda Gates at the Fulbright Laureate ceremony in
Washington, D.C., where she was able to learn about their interest in cultural
outreach and education policy.
Goldsmith’s area of research and teaching expertise, that she shared with
colleagues in Malta, is family financial management. She is completing a project
on household wealth and keeping financially fit, funded by the Financial
Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). A podcast detailing the results of the
research, Six Simple Strategies for Financial Fitness, can be found on FINRA’s
web site at www.finra.org/Investors/Subscriptions/Podcasts.
Home & Family Inspire Outstanding Alum…
Loretta J. Willis, Allied ASID, owner and creator of Loretta’s
Interior Design, LLC, received her degree from Florida State in
Merchandising with an emphasis in Interior Design. Her
company, based in Atlanta, Georgia, focuses on helping clients
create stunning and useful settings within their homes which
in turn enhance family and individual lifestyles. She creates
each space with the client’s needs in mind and how they use
each room. In a recent profile in Southern Lady magazine,
Willis says, “Beauty and comfort are important, but function is
critical. Relationships thrive when a family can function in an
atmosphere that best suits them.”
Brought up in a military family with seven siblings, Willis
moved frequently. She gives credit for her development during these crucial years to
her mother, whose influence and teaching on the importance of the home continue to
drive her passion for interior design today. She taught her how to select colors,
appreciate fabrics and sew. As an interior designer, entrepreneur, author and speaker,
she aspires to motivate others toward pursuing a life that compliments their passion for
home, family and career.
Now she is the mother of three, with her youngest daughter, Karina, carrying on the
family tradition by attending Florida State in the fall. Karina follows in the footsteps of
her sister Khelia and brother Kris, both graduates of FSU. It all began with a chance
meeting in the Union in the late 70’s when Loretta met her future husband Ken, a
College of Business graduate.
As if managing and working for her own company and taking care of her family were
not enough, Willis also offers a custom furniture collection online as well as shares her
design tips online in a column called Decorating Dilemmas. To find out more about this
outstanding alum and her unique design methods, please contact Loretta’s Interior
Design, LLC, or visit her website at www.classic-chairs.com.
New RMPD
Graduate Major:
Retail Merchandising and
Product Development is
proud to announce its new
graduate major, Global
Merchandising and Product
Development, with the first
students being admitted for
Fall 2011. The non-thesis
major at the master’s level
will integrate the foundations
of merchandising,
design and textiles, with
strong technology components
and a focus on global
merchandising within a
product development
framework from concept to
consumer.
Multinational brands have
experienced tremendous
growth that requires
professionals to be globally
oriented. Graduates of our
program will have an
understanding of the
international supply chain,
different target markets, and
industry standards for
technology. They will be well
prepared to serve in
management positions in the
production, distribution and
consumption areas.
5

A Letter from our new Development Officer, Allisson Yu:
It’s hard to believe March is here! Thanks to the generosity of our alumni
and friends, the University is well on track for making 2011 our most
successful fundraising year ever. We have our work cut out for us, since 2010
saw total fundraising at FSU exceed $100 million -- one of the very few
times in its history that this milestone has been achieved. We are proud to
report that the College of Human Sciences is at 71% of our $1,000,000
campaign goal for the fiscal year – thank you all of your continued
generosity and support.
We continue to make progress in planning for the campaign. President
Barron and our University Deans are working with our alumni and donors
to help shape the vision and goals for the campaign. The vision and goals
have been named the “Big Ideas” and we are taking these on the road. Plans are currently
underway to stage eight “Big Ideas” programs, beginning this spring, where we have large
concentrations of alumni. The plan involves two deans (on a rotating basis) presenting two of
the big ideas to an audience of FSU alumni and friends during a three-to four-hour program,
which will include a meal or reception. The College of Human Sciences plays a key role in the
University’s “Big Ideas” and we look forward to sharing more with you as these ideas are
refined. A brief description of each is listed on page four of this newsletter.
It is certainly an exciting time to be part of the College of Human Sciences! We sincerely
appreciate the philanthropic spirit of our alumni. If you are interested in making a gift to the
College, please contact Allisson Yu at 850-645-7577 or at ayu@foundation.fsu.edu.
Future Events:
*Honors & Awards Night (April 7th)
Upcoming Events :
*FSU Spring Graduation Ceremony (April 29th)
*CHS Graduation Reception (April 29th)
*FSU Spring Graduation Ceremony
(April 30th)
College of Human Sciences
Honoring our Tradition, Affirming our Future
College of Human Sciences The Florida State University
PO Box 3061490 ∙ Tallahassee, FL 32306-1490
www.chs.fsu.edu
(850) 644.1281