A Publication for Alumni and Friends SPRING ISSUE 2006

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Classnotes continued OTHER Rio Grande alumni recently recognized by the Academic Excellence Foundation of the Gallia County Local Schools were: RUTH WARDEN ’92, Kyger Creek Middle School; WILLIAM WEBB ’65, South Gallia High School; and LYNN ARNOTT ’79, Bidwell-Porter Elementary School. Inducted into the Foundation’s Hall of Fame were former URG president, Barry M. Dorsey, and the late RON TWYMAN ’72. Grad Notes: Jason R. Winters, Graduate Recruiter The Office of Graduate Studies is working hard to provide the teaching professionals in our state with a simply engaging, profoundly impacting, and invitingly convenient masters program. We are currently offering to bring the Master of Education in Classroom Teaching (Fine Arts Concentration) to any school district that has 12 or more graduate students who wish to enroll. Spring Semester we began offering the program at Logan-Hocking School District (Hocking), and Western Local School District (Pike). At this time, the Fine Arts Concentration is the only portable concentration. However, we are working diligently on converting the Educational Technology, Mathematics, and Humanities concentrations to a hybrid format (face-to-face/online) that would allow these concentrations to be offered more conveniently. For more information about bringing the program to your district, contact your superintendent, curriculum coordinator, LPDC chair, or the Office of Graduate Studies at 1-800-282-7201 ext. 7166 or jwinters@rio.edu. Rio’s Professor Sofranko attends “The Evolution of Psychotherapy: The World’s Largest Psychotherapy Conference” Dr. Edward Sofranko, professor at the University of Rio Grande/Rio Grande Community College, recently took part in a psychotherapy conference in California that brought together many world leaders in the field. Sofranko serves as a professor of psychology at Rio Grande and is the chair of the School of Social Sciences. In December, Sofranko attended “The Evolution of Psychotherapy: The World’s Largest Psychotherapy Conference,” in Anaheim, Calif. The conference was sponsored by the Milton H. Erickson Foundation. More than 10,000 people from around the U.S. as well as representatives from 15 other countries attended the conference, which is recognized for the important topics that are discussed, the leaders in the field that attend and the ideas that are exchanged. “It was a golden opportunity to learn from the masters,” Sofranko said about the conference. The keynote address speakers at the conference this year were Hunter “Patch” Adams, the renowned medical doctor who was the subject of a movie starring Robin Williams; Mary Catherine Bateson, a writer and cultural anthropologist who is the daughter of the famous anthropologist Margaret Mead; and Aaron Beck, a respected psychiatrist and author who is the president of the Beck Institute of Cognitive Therapy and Research. “The keynote addresses were outstanding,” Sofranko said. The conference offered topics from all different areas of psychotherapy, such as psychology, counseling and social work. “It brought all of us together,” Sofranko said about the many different types of psychotherapy professionals who attended. The conference focused on new concepts and techniques in psychotherapy, while also discussing the current issues and concerns. “It was just phenomenal,” he said. For Sofranko, the conference was important for several reasons. First of all, he keeps himself up-to-date on all of the concepts and techniques in psychotherapy, so that he can teach his students at Rio Grande about the current state of the field. By attending the conference, he is able to pass on the knowledge and experience from the leaders in psychotherapy to his students. Sofranko also is a practicing psychotherapist, and attends educational conferences and workshops in order to keep his Ohio license current. Sofranko serves as a licensed professional counselor at the Center for Healthy Living in Gallipolis, in addition to his work at Rio Grande. Besides giving professionals from around the world a chance to hear from renowned speakers, the conference also gives the psychotherapists the opportunity to talk with each other and learn from each other in the workshops, classes and other gatherings. 6/www.rio.edu A PUBLICATION FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS SPRING ISSUE 2006
Rio Shares “Improving Teacher Quality” Grant The University has received a $121,000 grant to fund a program to help regional math and science teachers. The federal Improving Teacher Quality Program is providing funds to 26 math and science education projects across the state of Ohio. Improving Teacher Quality Program projects are designed to provide sustained, high-quality professional development opportunities for practicing elementary and secondary school teachers and administrators from high-need schools, so that they, in turn, can provide challenging learning experiences for their students. Project activities must focus on the Ohio Academic Content Standards. Dr. Barbara Hatfield, Interim Provost/ Vice President for Academic Affairs, explained that Rio Grande is working with other area colleges, such as Ohio University and Shawnee State University, to offer workshops for area teachers. These workshops will focus on methods of assessing the effectiveness of math and science projects and the meeting of class goals. The workshops will also enable teachers to meet professional development requirements. Rio Employs New Method For Teaching Algebra Many college students have problems learning basic math and algebraic concepts, but an innovative new class at Rio Grande is helping students overcome these difficulties. The pilot program, conducted by Jean Daniels, Associate Professor, is part of the Title III grant-funded project to improve programs across the campus. The class uses educational software and techniques being used at colleges and universities across the country. In the classroom, soothing music is played to reduce nervousness and improve concentration. Students also travel to the Jenkins Center for Student Success’ Smart Classroom. Here students may use the 24 computers, either individually or as a group. On-line quizzes enable the students to track their progress throughout the semester. Tribe Has Recent Publications Dr. Ivan Tribe, Professor of History, recently served as associate editor of The Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music, published by Routledge, Fall 2005. In addition, he authored, or co-authored, some fifty-eight entries in the volume. Three Rio alumni also contributed to the volume. Andrea McCulty Gannaway ’03 contributed three entries; Abby Gail Goodnite-Ehman ’01 and William Plants ’97 each had one. The volume is designed primarily as a reference book, and may be ordered through the publisher. Dr. Tribe also contributed the chapter “Albany: From Farm Community to Virtual Suburb, 1905-2005” to the book Athens County: The Second Century, 1905- 2005, which was published recently to commemorate the Athens County Bi-Centennial. Greenwood Press is scheduled to release his book Country: A Regional Exploration in late March. The 280-page monograph will be Tribe’s seventh book. Copies of Rio Grande: From Baptists and Bevo to the Bell Tower, which Tribe coauthored with Goodnite-Ehman in 2002 are available through the Alumni Relations Office. ( Proceeds from the sale of this book benefit the Alumni Association Scholarship Fund.) SPRING ISSUE 2006 LOOKING FOR LOST ARCHONS If you are a member of the Fraternal Order of Archon and are not receiving mailings from Archon, please send your information to: Merle Hoover, Archon Alumni President 5181 Chenoweth Road Waynesville, Ohio 45068 or kmcmanis@rio.edu A PUBLICATION FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS Staff Advance Jennifer Merry Dyer ’90, a 12-year veteran of the University’s Financial Aid Office, assumed the leadership of the office in the Fall of 2005. As Associate Director, Dyer credits her own experiences as a Rio Grande student in helping her assist current students through the financial aid process. Assisting Dyer in her new position are Michelle Alderman, assistant director, and Dawn Cummings ’98, financial aid advisor. Debbie Browning ’02 assumed the position of assistant registrar on July 1. Debbie has been with the Records Office since 1999, and has just been awarded her master’s degree. www.rio.edu/7
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Page 11 and 12: Roast and Relive Coach Art Lanham C

A Publication for Alumni and Friends SPRING ISSUE 2006

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