Purdue University Northwest faculty and staff members have distinguished themselves in recent weeks through personal and professional accomplishments.
Faculty, staff, students travel to Japanese university Brooke Hewson, of Highland, Purdue University Northwest director of International Programming; Shoji Nakayama, of Schererville, associate professor of Organizational Leadership and Supervision; B. Lee Artz, of New Buffalo, Mich., professor of Media Studies; and two PNW students, traveled to exchange partner Musashino University in Japan early this summer to take part in a variety of instructional activities.
Hewson and Nakayama participated in Musashino’s inaugural International Week celebration. Each instructed a class of some 24 students. Hewson led the course, “American Culture and Intercultural Competence,” and Nakayama taught “Integration of Safety into Business Strategy” and lectured on “The importance of Studying Abroad.” All courses were offered in English.
PNW graduate communication student Raquel Williams, from Highland, and Daivon Thompson, an undergraduate student from Crown Point, participated in International Week by observing classes, living in Musashino’s student housing complex and presenting about PNW student life to Musashino students.
Artz offered a two-week lecture series about “Disney and Popular Culture” and “Global Entertainment Media;” Williams served as teaching assistant.
In addition, Artz was a presenter at the Global Studies Association convention in Austin, Texas; the Communication and Culture Symposium at Atilim University in Ankara, Turkey; the International Association of Mass Communication Research in Leicester, United Kingdom; the Media and Governance Conference in Leeds, UK and the European Sociological Association in Lisbon. His edited book, “Pink Tide: Public Media and Political Power in Latin America” will be published in the spring.
PNW and Musashino University enjoy a relationship as exchange partners. With globalization a primary component of the Musashino strategic plan, two Musashino students also have traveled to the PNW Hammond campus for an eight-week term in the English Language Program.
CIVS head participates in national engineering panel
Chenn Qian Zhou, of Munster, director of the Purdue University Northwest Center for Innovation through Visualization and Simulation (CIVS) and professor of mechanical engineering, was a featured panelist at the 2016 convocation of the National Engineering Academy and the American Association of Engineering Societies. The panel theme, Revolution in Modeling and Simulation in Engineering, focused on new approaches to solving contemporary engineering problems.
President-elect of national alliance
Patrick Cannon, of Long Beach, Ind., academic director of the Purdue University Northwest Concurrent Enrollment Program for the College of Humanities Education and Social Science (CHESS), has become president-elect of the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) Board of Directors. He will serve a two-year term, then assume a two-year term as president of the organization, followed by another two-year term as past-president. NACEP fosters student success and achievement by supporting excellence in program and professional development, accreditation, research and advocacy in dual and concurrent enrollment programs.
‘Best of Show’ watercolor painting honor
Yueqi Zhang, of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest associate professor of Communication, is an accomplished watercolor painter whose work recently earned Best of Show in the Alaska Watercolor Society’s 42nd Juried Exhibition. Zhang’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and has garnered a growing number of awards.
Couple and Family Therapy Center director publishes book
Lorna Hecker, of Merrillville, director of the Purdue University Northwest Couple and Family Therapy Center, recently published the book, “HIPAA Demystified: HIPAA Compliance for Mental Health Professionals.” The book offers a comprehensive description of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance and important regulatory issues for mental health providers.
Influential Women
Kris Falzone, of Schererville, associate vice chancellor for Marketing & Communications and Karen Bishop Morris, of Hammond, associate professor; interim head, Department of English, were among those named as the 2016 Influential Women of Northwest Indiana.
The awards honored established leaders as well as up-and-coming professionals who are making a difference in the businesses, industries, and communities in and around Northwest Indiana.
Falzone was cited in the Marketing/Media – Influential category and Bishop Morris was recognized in Education – Up and Coming category. Lisa Hopp, of Valparaiso, dean of the College of Nursing was a finalist in the Education – Influential category.
Presidential Award for Excellence
Martin Briggs, of La Porte, who works closely with students enrolled in the Purdue University Northwest Westville Campus’ Classroom Management elementary education methods course, and provides extensive professional development for teachers has earned the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching for the state of Indiana. He earned his master’s degree in Education through the PNW Westville campus.
Purdue University Northwest Purdue University Northwest (PNW), a comprehensive regional university within the Purdue University system, has two campuses in Hammond and Westville in Northwest Indiana. The university was formed by the unification in 2016 of the former Purdue University Calumet and Purdue University North Central. With more than 15,000 students and nearly 70 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, Purdue Northwest is Indiana’s fifth largest public university. For more information about PNW, visit www.pnw.edu.
