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Catlin Receives Neonatal Nursing Achievement Award

Anita Catlin, associate professor of nursing, is the recipient of the National Association of Neonatal Nurses 2008 Outstanding Achievement in Neonatal Nursing Award. This annual award is given to those who show outstanding enthusiasm for the neonatal nursing field. The award was based upon publication of materials related to neonatal care, research in the field that has contributed to the advancement of nursing practice, recognition by peers in the field of neonatal care, presentation of educational sessions at neonatal meetings and conducting research to improve outcomes and/or nursing care of neonates. Her most recent publications include analysis of the nurse’s conscientious objection to providing futile care, the debate over euthanasia of newborns in the Netherlands, the status of embryos, and maintaining brain dead pregnant women on ventilators to allow for fetal growth. Catlin co-chairs the Kaiser Santa Rosa Ethics Committee, serves on the 10-member Council of Ethics and Human Rights for the American Nurses Association and is a member of the American Academy of Nursing. She also writes and edits ethics columns for Pediatric Nursing and Advances in Neonatal Care.

Jaffe Articles to be Published in Primatology Journals

Karin Jaffe, associate professor and chair of the Department of Anthropology & Linguistics, recently had two articles accepted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

The first article, "Demography and life histories of sympatric patas monkeys (Erythrocebus patas) and vervets (Cercopithecus aethiops) in Laikipia, Kenya," written by Lynne A. Isbell, Truman P. Young, Karin E. Jaffe, Ann A. Carlson, and Rebecca L. Chancellor will be published in the International Journal of Primatology. The article is based on 10 years of behavioral and demographic data from one group of patas monkeys and two groups of vervet monkeys, and documents differences in adult and juvenile mortality due to disease and predation.

The second article, "After the fire: Benefits of reduced ground cover for vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops)," written by Karin E. Jaffe and Lynne A. Isbell will appear in the American Journal of Primatology. This article documents changes to a vervet groups' ranging patterns and behavior after a wildfire reduced grass cover in a portion of their territory. The group began using the area only after it had been burned, and exhibited fewer anti-predator behaviors there, indicating that they perceived a reduced threat of predation in the area, particularly from "sit-and-wait" predators such as leopards, one of their primary predators.

Faculty Group Attends Teaching Student Success Workshop

Emiliano Ayala (Special Education), Caroline Christian (Environmental Studies and Planning), Brett Christie (Education and Center for Teaching and Professional Development), Melinda Milligan (Sociology), and Merith Weisman (Center for Community Engagement) attended the CSU Teaching Student Success Workshop at the CSU Office of the Chancellor on Nov. 7. This workshop brought together more than 100 faculty and faculty developers from the CSU, for an all-day train-the-trainer workshop. Ten, 2 ½ hour workshops were developed through input given by 18 CSU campuses. All workshop resources were given to attendees so that each campus could replicate, as they choose, with their faculty. As a result, the SSU faculty group will be working in consultation with the Professional Development Subcommittee to offer those workshops that may be most useful for our campus.

Ayala and Christie also delivered a workshop on Universal Design for Learning in Higher Education. This workshop focused on understanding and implementing UDL to make course changes that will improve the learning of students, including students with disabilities. Twenty-two participants from 15 CSU campuses attended. Christie also delivered a workshop on Teaching and Technology Horizons, with a focus on the landscape of emerging technologies and their potential for teaching, learning, scholarship, and creative expression. Seventeen participants from 13 CSU campuses attended.

Pictured above, from left to right: Brett Christie, Emiliano Ayala, Caroline Christian, Merith Weisman, Melinda Milligan. Photo courtesy of Brett Christie.

Pinkston Hosts Workshop on College Counseling with Transgender Students

Michael Pinkston, counselor faculty and coordinator of internship training at Counseling and Psychological Services, hosted a day-long workshop at SSU on Fri., Nov. 7. The title of the workshop was “College Counseling with Transgender Students” and the keynote presenter was Dr. Randall Ehrbar, a clinical psychologist currently working at New Leaf Services for Our Community, a Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender community mental health agency in San Francisco. The annual workshop was planned and sponsored by a group of counselors responsible for internship training in the student counseling centers at all the public and private universities in Northern California as an opportunity to learn new skills and share information and experiences regarding counseling with college students.  This is the second time in the past eight years that Pinkston has hosted the workshop at SSU and this year the participants included 20 counselors and 75 interns representing 16 separate universities.

Christie Speaks on Accessibility and the University Mission

Brett Christie, School of Education and the Center for Teaching and Professional Development, gave a requested pre-conference seminar in Orlando on Oct. 28 titled "Beyond Policy and Into Practice: Accessibility and the University Mission" at the Educause National Conference. The session engaged participants as to how they could help their campus move from reactive, legal-based accommodations to proactive, accessible practice and resources, requiring a significant paradigm shift by the institution and all involved. Discussion focused on the many important issues facing campuses and individuals when making the critical—and rewarding—effort toward a fully accessible learning environment that benefits all learners. Participants were given a wealth of ideas, resources, and best practice models, many of which have come from SSU efforts and leadership toward our own Accessible Technology Initiative.