The Academic Minute for 2021.03.29-2021.04.02

The Academic Minute from 03.29 – 04.02

Monday, March 29th
Sarah Jones – University of West Georgia
Foster Care Youth and Higher Education Aspirations
Sarah Jones is an Assistant Professor of Professional Counseling and College Student Affairs. She teaches in the College Student Affairs and Higher Education Administration programs. Before graduating from the University of Georgia with a degree in Counseling and Student Personnel Services, Sarah worked as a classroom teacher for 10 years in North Carolina Public Schools then as an administrator in higher education where she worked with students transitioning from high school to college. Her research emphasizes the educational experiences of students emerging from foster care, particularly the matriculation, retention, progression, and graduation of this group of students.

Tuesday, March 30th
Anthony Fleming – University of West Georgia
Gun Policy Debate as Individualism vs Communitarian Values
I graduated with my PhD in Political Science in 2010 from West Virginia University. My primary area of study has been gun control policy in the United States and Canada. In particular, I focus on the reaction by policy makers, interest groups, the media and the public to major gun violence events. At the University of West Georgia I teach both undergraduate and graduate level courses. At the undergraduate level, I teach Introduction to American Government, State and Local Government, Principles of Public Administration, and Gun Control Policy. At the graduate level, I teach Policy Analysis and Evaluation, State and Local Administration. I also serve as the advisor the Political Science Club and as the advisor to the Georgia Legislative Internship Program. If anyone is interested in obtaining an internship with this program I encourage them to come and talk to me. On a personal level, I love animals. I have one dog, two cats, a parrot, pythons (more than a few), and chickens (which are considered my pets and not for consumption). I am a huge sports fan, and am a diehard supporter of my alma mater, the West Virginia University Mountaineers. Lastly, I love the game of chess, and encourage students to stop by the lounge or my office to play a game anytime.

Wednesday, March 31st
Stephanie Chalifoux – University of West Georgia
Commercial Sex Market in the U.S. South During the 1940s and 1950s
Fields of Study: US Women’s History, the American South, Labor History, History of Sexuality, and Modern America.  Dr. Chalifoux examines sex work in the US South.  She is currently revising her dissertation for publication.  Her research interests include American women and the sexual marketplace, labor, and poverty.

Thursday, April 1st
Nick Sterling – University of West Georgia
Chemical Evolution of the Universe
Dr. Sterling grew up in St. Paul, MN and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned a double B.S. in physics-astronomy and mathematics. He received a Ph. D. in astronomy from the University of Texas at Austin, and has had postdoctoral fellowships at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Michigan State University. He taught physics at Valparaiso University (Indiana) before joining the University of West Georgia in August 2013.

Friday, April 2nd
Chelsea Morris – University of West Georgia
Pyramid Model
Dr. Chelsea T. Morris is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Literacy and Special Education. Prior to pursuing her Ph.D., Dr. Morris was a teacher in a children’s hospital and later, a public school early childhood special education teacher. She is committed to thinking differently, and deeply, about what is good for children, utilizing culturally responsive practices, an ethic of care, and a willingness to take risks. Dr. Morris’ current teaching and research projects focus on bias in the perceptions of children’s behavior in early childhood. This teaching and research is bolstered by expertise in practice-based coaching and trauma informed care through the nationally recognized Pyramid Model framework. Applying Pyramid Model strategies to all her endeavors, Dr. Morris builds environments conducive to positive behavior and relationships and focuses on the engagement of communities and families for school improvement. Most recently, Dr. Morris helped to open the Early Learning Center, powered by the College of Education, at UWG. In partnership with supportive colleagues and a community focused on early learning, Dr. Morris hopes her role as faculty director provides a spotlight on the importance of quality childcare and early learning opportunities in the West Georgia region.