eInside Briefs
News Briefs
- Kent State’s Michele Ewing Inducted Into Elite National Professional Fellowship
- Kent State’s Maureen McFarland Appointed to Ohio Aerospace and Aviation Technology Committee
- Kent State University Libraries Offers Faculty and Students Resources for Science Research
- Student Recreation and Wellness Center Offers Free Fridays for Faculty and Staff
- Promote Your Big Events on the Big Screen with KSCtv
- Applications Sought for Youth Services Research Fellowships
Kent State’s Michele Ewing Inducted Into Elite National Professional Fellowship
Public relations professor joins Public Relations Society of America’s College of Fellows
Kent State University Associate
Professor Michele Ewing has been
inducted into the Public Relations Society
of America's College of Fellows.
The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) inducted Kent State University’s Michele Ewing, APR, into its College of Fellows at the 2014 International Conference in Washington, D.C. Ewing is an associate professor of public relations in Kent State’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC) and a longtime resident of the Youngstown, Ohio, area.
Ewing joins an elite group of 300 professionals who have dedicated more than 20 years of excellence to the public relations industry. Less than 2 percent of PRSA members are accepted into the College of Fellows.
“I’m really honored to be joining such an elite group of PR professionals,” Ewing says. “I feel like one of the cool kids in the industry now.”
Ewing was inducted with 14 other professionals at a PRSA Fellows dinner and escorted by Rick Batyko, APR, president of the Regional Marketing Alliance (Cleveland Plus) and a Kent State alumnus.
Ewing says the application process was extensive, taking her more than four months to complete. She was asked to show the results of each of her jobs in the public relations industry, as well as document how she has worked to advance the PR profession.
“I had to track down clients I haven’t talked to in years,” Ewing says. “It was good to hear that I made a significant contribution to these organizations.”
After working as an executive at Marcus Thomas LLC, an integrated marketing communications agency in Cleveland, Ohio, Ewing decided to pursue a career in higher education.
“About 15 years ago, JMC Professor [Bill] Sledzik and a colleague encouraged me to teach an evening class at Kent State,” Ewing says. “I almost didn’t do it because I was a senior executive and my children were young. I was concerned about managing it all. Thank goodness I made time to teach that class.”
Ewing says working with her Kent State colleagues and students for the past 12 years continues to be an energizing experience. She is able to play a role in the future of public relations and contribute to it through her instruction.
“I see more growth and need for public relations compared to my early days in the field,” Ewing says. “Audiences are communicating 24/7 and expecting real-time communication today. I’m also fortunate to work with young, aspiring public relations professionals every day, and the future of the PR industry is in good hands.”
For more information about PRSA, visit www.prsa.org.
For more information about Kent State’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication and its public relations sequence, visit www.kent.edu/jmc.
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Kent State’s Maureen McFarland Appointed to Ohio Aerospace and Aviation Technology Committee
Maureen McFarland, senior academic
program director for Kent State
University’s Aeronautics Program, is one
of 15 newly appointed members of the
Ohio Aerospace and Aviation Technology
Committee (OAATC).
Maureen McFarland, senior academic program director for Kent State University’s Aeronautics Program, is one of 15 newly appointed members of the Ohio Aerospace and Aviation Technology Committee (OAATC). State Representative Rick Perales of Beavercreek, Ohio, recently announced the new public members to the committee.
The Ohio Aerospace and Aviation Technology Committee, created with the passage of House Bill 292, joins together legislators and various members of the aerospace and aviation community, including military representatives, academic experts and industry leaders with diverse geographical backgrounds, to develop focused policies for enhancing the industry in Ohio. By law, the committee is required to be composed of three legislators from the Senate, three legislators from the House, one member appointed by the governor and 14 individuals appointed by the committee’s legislative members to offer expert recommendations.
“Ohio has a rich legacy in aerospace and aviation that I believe is under-recognized and underutilized,” says McFarland, a resident of Kent, Ohio. “I am very excited to highlight Kent State’s excellent Aeronautics Program while representing the university as a participant of the OAATC. I know that, together with the chosen legislators and other selected public members, we can effect a positive change and am thankful for the opportunity to serve in making the state of Ohio more accommodating for aerospace and aviation opportunities.”
McFarland graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering. After completing The Basic School, she reported to Pensacola, Florida, for training as a naval flight officer. She graduated at the top of her class and earned her wings in 1998. From 1996 to 2004, McFarland was on active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps, serving as an electronic countermeasures officer. She completed three deployments and is mission commander qualified.
In 2002, McFarland received a Master of Business Administration from Boston University. She currently holds the rank of lieutenant commander in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and serves as a battalion commanding officer. Among McFarland’s personal decorations are the Meritorious Service Medal, three Air Medals, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals.
In her current position at Kent State, McFarland is responsible for directing all operational, administrative, instructional and financial activities of the Aeronautics Program.
For more information about the Ohio Aerospace and Aviation Technology Committee, visit http://aerospaceandaviation.ohio.gov.
For more information about Kent State’s Aeronautics Program, visit www.kent.edu/caest/aeronautics.
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Kent State University Libraries Offers Faculty and Students Resources for Science Research
Trevor Watkins is the new science librarian at University
Libraries. He will work closely with faculty and students to
assist with science research inquiries.
Kent State University Libraries is offering faculty and students resources to assist them in science research. A new science librarian Trevor Watkins, who has an innovative and cross-disciplinary background in science and technology and experiences in a variety of settings, including the military, academia, government and private industry, will serve faculty and student research needs.
Watkins will work closely with faculty and students to assist with research inquiries relative to the departments of Chemistry, Computer Science, Liquid Crystals, Mathematical Sciences, Physics and Technology.
“I worked in public libraries for eight years and have been doing research for my entire adult life,” Watkins says. “The idea of working in an academic library has always interested me. Engaging in faculty and student research is what I love to do best.”
As science librarian, Watkins also will be involved in expanding Kent State’s collection of materials for the sciences. He will work with each department representative to identify books, journals and databases that are needed to support research and curriculum at Kent State.
“We are talking about the possibility of holding science librarian office hours outside the library and in the buildings where the students and faculty are taking classes,” Watkins says. “If we make it more convenient for people to ask questions and learn about our services and resources in the sciences, then they’ll come to the library.”
Watkins, who has an M.S. in Computing and Information Sytems from Youngstown State University, an M.L.I.S. from Kent State and several IT and security certifications, is passionate about robotics. He has met and is looking forward to working with the Kent State Robotics Team. He has been a robot hobbyist for more than 20 years. Last year, he co-authored Build Your Own Teams of Robots with Lego Mindsotrms NXT and Bluetooth, (McGraw-Hill/TAB). He is the current chair of the Northeast Ohio Professional ACM Chapter, an organization dedicated to advancing the art, science, engineering and application of information technology. The current focus of the organization is robotics and the National Robotics Initiative.
To contact Watkins for assistance or an appointment, email him at twatkin6@kent.edu or call 330-672-7693.
For more information about University Libraries, visit www.library.kent.edu.
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Student Recreation and Wellness Center Offers Free Fridays for Faculty and Staff
Kent State University's Department of Recreational
Services is offering Free Fridays at the Student
Recreation and Wellness Center to faculty and staff
every Friday from Jan. 16 through Feb. 27.
Faculty and staff simply need to present their FLASHcard to gain admittance to the Student Recreation and Wellness Center. Free access to Group X classes also is included in Free Fridays, although space may be limited. All faculty and staff are invited to take advantage of free Group X classes during the promotional dates, including those with an existing membership.
The Group X schedule for Free Fridays includes:
- 7 a.m.: Yoga Basics
- 7:30 a.m.: Spinning
- 8 a.m.: Power Pump
- 9 a.m.: Mat Pilates
- 12:15 p.m.: Tabata Toning
- 12:30 p.m.: Zumba
- 5:40 p.m.: Zumba
- 5:30 p.m.: Rasayana Yoga
Free Fridays are a great way to accumulate moves for those participating in the FlashFit MOVChallenge. To learn more about the Student Recreation and Wellness Center, Group X classes or membership information, visit www.kent.edu/recservices.
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Promote Your Big Events on the Big Screen with KSCtv
The Kent Student Center has debuted 12 interior digital
screens and one outdoor, large-scale LED screen for
university messaging.
The Kent Student Center has debuted 12 interior digital screens and one outdoor, large-scale LED screen that will be used for university messaging. The interior screens are located in the Hub, Undergraduate Student Government office and various points throughout the second floor of the Kent Student Center. The large LED screen occupies the Kent Student Center Kiva breezeway, facing students walking from the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center toward Risman Plaza. The addition of the screens comes as a response to find more efficient and effective ways to communicate with students.
“There are several immediate benefits to both student organizations and university departments,” says Sydney Jordan, student activity coordinator for Kent State’s Center for Student Involvement. “It will supply a cost-effective way to promote events and services across campus, and is a clean and versatile way to advertise.”
Both student organizations and university departments have access to advertise on the screens free of charge. Please note space is limited. Content must be scheduled and artwork approved at least 14 days prior to the desired advertising week. Content is displayed on a weekly basis, Monday through Sunday. The digital system can accommodate still images, as well as animated videos. Contact Jordan at sjordan3@kent.edu to check availability and a complete list of submission specifications.
For more information about Kent State’s Center for Student Involvement, visit www.kent.edu/csi.
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Applications Sought for Youth Services Research Fellowships
Kent State University’s School of Library and Information Science is now accepting applications for two $1,500 research fellowships.
The Jacqueline M. Albers Guest Scholar in Children’s Literature Fellowship is supported by School of Library and Information Science alumna Jacqueline M. Albers to establish an endowment for a guest scholar to study children’s literature using the collections in the Reinberger Children’s Library Center.
The Kenneth and Sylvia Marantz Fellowship for Picturebook Research is supported by Dr. Kenneth and Sylvia Marantz. The purpose of the Marantz Fellowship is to encourage scholars from the United States and around the world to use the resources of the Marantz Picturebook Collection in their research on the study of picturebooks.
Each fellowship provides a stipend of up to $1,500 for outstanding scholars to spend approximately one week on site, researching picture books, posters or ephemera related to picturebooks in the Reinberger Children's Library Center and Marantz Picturebook Collection for the Study of Picturebook Art at Kent State’s School of Library and Information Science. Stipends may be used toward travel, lodging, food and research-related supplies.
For more information about the fellowships, including eligibility, application process and more, visit https://www.kent.edu/CCI/slis/news/newsdetail.cfm?newsitem=BB763D87-BEF0-B334-67CB386F98C2587C.
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