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SPRING 2011T H E MAGA ZINE O F GEO R GIA P ER IMET ER CO LLEGE
President’s MessageCreating New Pathwaysto Student SuccessGeorgia Perimeter College strives to meet the needs of our studentsand our communities head-on.That’s why we are pleased that the Board of Regents of the UniversitySystem of Georgia recently voted unanimously to support enhancingour mission to include selected baccalaureate degrees.As a start, the board approved two bachelor’s programs: a Bachelorof Arts in Sign Language Interpreting and a Bachelor of Science inHealth Informatics. GPC now will seek approval of the SouthernAssociation of Colleges and Schools, our accrediting organization.This is exciting news for our future students. These changes also are important to the communities we serve.GPC’s Sign Language Interpreting program is the largest in the state and was the second program in thecountry to receive national accreditation. One year ago, GPC’s program won the nation’s top honor inthat field–The Sorenson Award. The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, which certifies interpreters atthe national level, has recognized the need for interpreters to be educated at the baccalaureate level. Assuch, with our new BA degree, we soon will begin preparing our students to meet these new nationalstandards.Health Informatics educates students in the use of computer technologies to store, share, transmit andanalyze clinical knowledge and health-care data. GPC’s newly approved BS degree will fill a growingneed in Georgia’s workforce as health industries look for specialists to manage confidential data.The Georgia Perimeter faculty, staff and administrators stand ready to take our college to the next level.In this issue of The Chronicle, you will read about the professional achievements of our faculty and theimpact they have on our students. You can catch up with GPC alumni and learn about current studentswho are earning national and state accolades. You can discover the impact of GPC’s health sciencesprograms and the interesting ways faculty and staff spend their time away from campus.I hope you enjoy this glimpse into Georgia Perimeter College and the pathways to success that we areproviding for our students.Dr. Anthony S. TricoliPresident, Georgia Perimeter College2 thechronicle
ContentsCHRONICLE STAFFEDITORSusan GastASSISTANT EDITORSCarol Pennington LynnRebecca Rakoczy6Health CareYou can find them in our hospitals,clinics, doctors’ and dentists’ offices. TheyCONTRIBUTING WRITERSRoger BarnesBeverly JamesWade MarbaughJenn MasonDESIGN COORDINATORKathy Jordaneven share their expertise on othercontinents. Nearby and abroad, the skillsof GPC alumni, students and faculty are14making a difference in the health-careindustry.FACES OF GPCDESIGNERWe may know them as engagingMichelle Nelson-Schmidtprofessors or hardworking custodians.But there are other—sometimesPHOTOGRAPHY STAFFsurprising—sides to the men andBill RoaStephanie NiceCONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERSLouie FavoriteHolly MoralesDarnyl PalmerRod ReillyDIRECTOR OF MARKETINGAND PUBLIC RELATIONSBarbara Obrentzwomen who keep Georgia Perimeter22College humming along.Uncommon ExcellenceFour GPC students with four distinctstories recently garnered state andnational notice. Though their backgroundsvary, they share a strong dedicationto academic performance andVICE PRESIDENT OFINSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENTcommunity service.Jeff TarnowskiTell us what you thinkThe staff of The Chronicle would like tohear from you. We are seeking input on thetypes of information and articles you enjoyreading and how you prefer to receiveyour news. Please go to www.gpc.edu/polling station/vote and complete ourshort survey. We value your opinions.On The Cover:Three students from GPC, from left, JoanneButler, Natalee Dukes and Benson Nsunwara,were named to the 2011 Phi Theta Kappa AllGeorgia Academic Team. Dukes also received aCoca-Cola Scholars Foundation scholarship.See story on page 22. Photo by Stephanie Nice.AROUND THE PERIMETER2PERSONALITIES11, 17, 25ALUMNI12FOUNDATION18GRANTS20SCOREBOARD26LAST LOOK28
Around The PerimeterSouthern Academy for Literary Arts hits the ground runningPromising a future filled withdistinguished visiting authors andprograms that fully engage faculty, staff,students and the community, the newSouthern Academy for Literary Arts andScholarly Research makes its debut atGeorgia Perimeter College.“It is the mission of the SouthernAcademy to provide leadership andsupport for GPC’s many programspromoting excellence in literature,creative and scholarly writing, and servicelearning through the literary arts,” saysLiam Madden, the Southern Academy’sdistinguished chair. Programs includeGPC’s Visiting Writers Series; GPC Reads,a college-wide book club; and GPCWrites, which honors GPC authors.The academy’s staff already has hit theground running with its first event. Thecenter sponsored visits by award-winningauthor Terry Kay for GPC Reads and theTwo-Year College English Association(TYCA) conference. Kay discussed hisnovel, “The Book of Marie.”Also, the academy sponsored anappearance by former GPC PresidentMarvin Cole at the TYCA conference.Cole reprised his portrayal of author MarkTwain for the event.In the fall, Sheri Reynolds, authorof the Oprah Winfrey book selection,“The Rapture of Caanan,” will visit as theGPC Reads featured speaker. Events willinclude college-wide discussions of herlatest novel, “The Sweet In-Between,” andmaster classes with faculty and students.There is more to come. The modernSouth has become very diverse, and theSouthern Academy looks forward topromoting literary programs featuringregional, national and global writers,Madden says.“The Southern Academy will host2 thechronicleTerry Kay, right, who visited the college for its spring GPC Reads event, appears on stage withSouthern Academy chair Liam Madden.an assortment of visiting writers whowill engage students, faculty and staff,”Madden says. “It will increase the numberof fellowships offered to faculty each year,and celebrate all GPC faculty who publishor edit a book. The Southern Academywill expand the role of GPC students ascommittee members and editors. And itwill host its own conference emphasizingconnections between creative andscholarly writing.”The Southern Academy also servesas home base for GPC’s award-winningliterary journal, The ChattahoocheeReview, and other GPC publications, suchas Creative License, The Polishing Cloth,Copia and the online journal of thearts, Sinescope.Under the Southern Academy forLiterary Arts and Scholarly Research,The Chattahoochee Review returns toits former leadership structure with alleditorial positions filled by GPC facultyand students.Anna Schachner is the new senioreditor of The Chattahoochee Review,while Lydia Ship is fulfilling the role ofmanaging editor. Andy Rogers is fictioneditor, Louise McKinney is nonfictioneditor and Michael Diebert is poetry editor.Two contributing editors are Dr. RosemaryCox and Tim Tarkington, both of whomworked on The Chattahoochee Review withits founding editor, Lamar York.The second issue under Schachner’sstewardship will focus on Southernhumor. “The Chattahoochee Review willnot only embrace its Southern roots, butalso strive to feature the best work fromaround the country and world, translationincluded,” Schachner says. “We are reallyinterested in building a strong communityof readers and writers, inside and outsideof GPC, and are happy to be a part of theSouthern Academy.”According to Madden, the academy ismoving quickly to plan a diverse array ofliterary programs for 2011-2012.
q&aSEAN BRUMFIELDSean Brumfield is the new executivedirector of Georgia PerimeterCollege’s Atlanta Center for CivicPhoto by Mandi SingerEngagement & Service Learning.Here he outlines some of the center’sobjectives as it moves into its nextphase at GPC.Q.What is your main goal forSean Brumfieldthe center? A: To create meaningful service-learningopportunities for GPC students.Q:The center now has two service-learning coordinators.Who are they,GPC students soon will be able to earn a bachelor’s degree in Signand what are their roles?Language Interpreting.A: Kevin Schwemmin (from Michigan State University) and Mary ElizabethTyler (from Berry College) are both experienced in working withGeorgia Perimeter to offer twobachelor’s degree programsplacements, assisting faculty in the development of service-learningopportunities and deepening relationships with community partners.Q: Can you talk about any new community partnerships?A: One of the most exciting partnerships is with Stone Mountain Park,where our students are “mapping” the lake and shore, conducting waterquality tests, rebuilding trails and creating a flora identification guide.Photo by Louie FavoriteIn an effort to meet the evolving needs of Georgia’s workforce andeconomy, Georgia Perimeter College is preparing to offer its first twobachelor’s programs.At its May meeting, the University System of Georgia’s Boardof Regents granted approval for the college to offer a Bachelor ofArts in Sign Language Interpreting and a Bachelor of Science inHealth Informatics. The sign language interpreting degree will allowstudents to meet an upcoming baccalaureate requirement by thefield’s national professional organization and certifying body. Thehealth informatics degree will prepare graduates to answer whatthe U.S. Bureau of Statistics projects to be a growing need in themanagement of patient information systems.GPC’s president, Dr. Anthony Tricoli, emphasizes that GeorgiaPerimeter College will continue its traditional mission as an accessinstitution. “We shall remain the state’s largest access institution,providing an open door to educational opportunity for students whocan benefit from a GPC experience,” Tricoli says.The start dates for the new programs have not been set yet, asthey depend on review and approval from the relevant accreditingorganizations.GPC’s Sign Language Interpreting program is the largest in thestate. The new degree offering will give students more time to furtherenhance their skills, says Damita Boyd, program coordinator. Thenew bachelor’s degree program at GPC also will ensure that programgraduates will be eligible for certification, which will require abachelor’s degree beginning in July 2012.Health Informatics is the use of computer technologies in healthcare to store, share, transmit and analyze clinical knowledge and data.community engagement.They are helping students find service-learningMaking connections:Students from throughout the state came toGeorgia Perimeter College Feb. 5 to explore STEM (Science, Technology,Engineering and Math) interests and career opportunities. Pictured areGPC students Ashton Cuttino, left, and Jonathan Young, participating in ascience experiment with electrical circuits.thechronicle 3
Around The PerimeterThree professors cited nationally for teaching excellenceThroughout her career, GeorgiaPerimeter College nursing professorDeborah Huntley has always beenwilling to learn new things—fromher students, colleagues and peers atprofessional conferences. The payoff issuccessful students.Huntley says effective teaching meanslooking at students as individuals. “Everyflower does not bloom in the garden atthe same time,” she says. “But in the endthey all blossom.”Huntley is one of three GPC professorswho have been named winners of the2011 NISOD Teaching Excellence Awardfrom the National Institute for Staffand Organizational Development. Theothers are humanities instructors KariMiller, who teaches online, and ElizabethThornton, who teaches atClarkston Campus.Miller is a testamentthat online classeseducate students just aseffectively as traditionalface-to-face classes.“There’s a greatDeborah Huntleymisconception that onlineclasses are less personal,” she says. “ButI think they are far more individualizedand interactive. It’s also my experiencethat online students are far more likelyto be open and frank through writing.I truly believe that I know my onlinestudents better than I ever knew my faceto-face students.”Thornton says the most interestingclassroom experiences for her are theKari MillerElizabeth Thorntonones in which she is almost superfluousto the lesson, activity or discussion.“By posing the question or framing theactivity, I function merely as the catalystand facilitator,” she says.“To be recognized for my part in thisprocess is a great honor,” she adds. “I wantto be in the classroom. I am interested inwhat my students have to say and enjoybeing a part of their process of discovery.”GPC president chosen for national leadership roleDr. Anthony Tricoli, Georgia PerimeterCollege’s president, has been tapped formembership in the Presidents’ Trust.4 thechronicleThe goal: to make student learning moremeaningful and relevant in today’s society.To achieve that goal, Georgia PerimeterCollege President Dr. Anthony Tricolihas long championed varied learningopportunities for GPC students. Nowhe will have the opportunity to play anational role in this arena as a memberof the Presidents’ Trust, a select groupof college presidents advocating thatapproach nationwide.The Presidents’ Trust is a leadershipgroup of the national Liberal Educationand America’s Promise initiative, alsoknown as LEAP. The Association ofAmerican Colleges & Universitieslaunched LEAP in 2005 and formed thePresidents’ Trust in 2008 to communicatethe value of an education that helpsstudents develop skills needed in work,life and citizenship.“Business and civic leaders tell us thatcollege graduates need more than a deepknowledge in a specific field,” Tricoli says.“They need problem-solving and criticalthinking skills. They need communicationskills and a strong sense of ethics. Theyneed to know how classroom learningapplies to real-world settings. GeorgiaPerimeter College’s goals share theseobjectives.”LEAP defines a liberal education asan approach to learning that preparesstudents to deal with complexity, diversityand change. It provides students withbroad knowledge of the world (science,culture and society), as well as in-depthstudy in a specific area of interest. It helpsstudents develop social responsibility plusintellectual and practical skills. The phrase“liberal education” differs from “liberalarts,” which refers to specific disciplines,such as the humanities, social sciencesand sciences.
get to knowALAN JACKSONJob: Vice President for AcademicAffairsEducational and work background:Three degrees in English: bachelor’sfrom University of Southern Indiana,master’s from University of Dayton anddoctorate from University of Tennessee.I have been at Georgia Perimeter for 19Dr. Alan Jacksonyears, working as an English professor,dean and now vice president.Favorite thing about working at GPC: The people—students, staff andGeorgia Perimeter College President Dr. Anthony Tricoli and SyracuseUniversity Vice President Donald Saleh celebrate the new transferagreement between the two institutions.GPC signs transfer agreementswith Syracuse, Walden, GainesvilleGeorgia Perimeter College’s number of Transfer AdmissionGuarantees now tops 40.The TAG agreements allow Georgia Perimeter students to transferseamlessly to select four-year colleges and universities, in-state andout-of-state, public and private. While requirements differ fromprogram to program, all students complete their core courses at GPC.The latest signed agreements are TAGs with Syracuse University inNew York and Walden University, headquartered in Minnesota, andan articulation agreement with Gainesville State College specificallyfor Sign Language Interpreting majors.“The partnership that Syracuse and Georgia Perimeter haveestablished offers a tremendous opportunity to students looking for adiverse institution of higher education,” says Syracuse Chancellor Dr.Nancy Cantor. “Through partnerships such as this one, our studentsreap the benefits of a world-class education.”Walden University is a private, accredited online university serving42,500 students.Students participating in the Gainesville program would earnan associate degree from Georgia Perimeter in Sign LanguageInterpreting and then transfer to Gainesville to study for a bachelor’sdegree in Human Services. That major at Gainesville focuseson improving or maintaining the physical and mental healthof individuals and groups and prepares students for careers ingovernment, business and non-profit organizations.Other popular TAG choices for GPC students includeGeorgia State, Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia. Visitwww.gpc.edu/tag for more information on GPC’s transfer andarticulation agreements.faculty—who I have met along the way.Favorite childhood memory: Spending time with my grandfather on hisfarm—fishing, picking pawpaws and finding sassafras roots to make tea.Leisure activities: I like to watch sports. And I will watch any zombiemovie, even though most are terrible, which is part of the appeal.Who is your hero? I cannot say I have a hero. If one studies classicalliterature—and everyone should—one learns that a hero is a flawedhuman who does something remarkable and brave. It is the act, not theperson, that is admirable.Learning proper business etiquette:Why do I have so many forks?Where does my napkin go after I’ve finished my meal? These and otherquestions were answered during a business dinner etiquette class taughtby GPC business professor Debi Moon. More than 50 students, dressed inbusiness attire, participated in the full-course dinner sponsored by the SGALyceum Committee.thechronicle 5
Making a differencein health careGPC and DeKalb Tech form dynamic duo in ‘green’ technologyBY ROGER BARNESGPC alumni, students and faculty sharetheir care and expertise with thecommunity and the world.by Rebecca Rakoczy and Roger BarnesPhotos by Bill RoaDr. Diane White, dean of GPC’s healthsciences, oversees the college’s programs.6 thechronicle
Photo by Bill RoaThe young mom was distraught.Her toddler was vomiting and seriously ill. As DietriceKing and her husband raced to the Children’s Healthcare ofAtlanta emergency department with their son, they didn’t know whatto expect. But King’s encounter with two nurses at the hospital not onlycalmed her fears; it inspired her to seek a new career.The nurses who comforted King and her child were graduates ofGeorgia Perimeter College’s nursing program. Their compassion andclinical knowledge so impressed King that she decided to changecareers. The nuclear analyst became a nurse.“After they calmed me down, I asked them where they went toschool, and they said they were graduates of the nursing program atGPC. I thought, ‘if I could do anything to help others the way theyhelped us, I would go to nursing school,’” recalls King.King graduated from GPC’s nursing program in December 2010, justa few years after that episode. She knows, on a uniquely personal level,the impact that the skill and professionalism of GPC health sciencegraduates wields.She is not alone in her impressions.Since the nursing program began in 1967, more than 3,400 studentshave graduated and moved on to work in the health-care community,in Georgia and around the world. In May, more than 120 new GPCnursing graduates were poised to enter the workforce.Nursing is not the only way GPC answers the public’s health-careneeds. The college has built an impressive dental hygiene program anda radiologic technology program.The college also offers four health sciences associate degreeswith concentrations in health information administration, medicaltechnology, radiological sciences and respiratory therapy. Theseprograms of study fulfill the first two years of requirements for a fouryear Allied Health degree that can be completed at Georgia HealthSciences University, formerly the Medical College of Georgia.Recently, the Board of Regents voted to support GPC in establishinga bachelor’s degree in health informatics to meet community needs.GPC’s emphasis on a rigorous curriculum, clinical training andcommunity service provi
GPC’s Sign Language Interpreting program is the largest in the state and was the second program in the country to receive national accreditation. One year ago, GPC’s program won the nation’s top honor in . that online classes educate students just as effectively as traditional face-to-face
