Cedar Rapids Blue Zone Check-Up

A special community forum and appearance by Dan Buettner, author of The Blue Zones, will be held Thursday, February 2, from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at The Hotel at Kirkwood Center, 7725 Kirkwood Blvd SW, in Ballrooms D, E, and F. A community discussion will take place from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. with health leaders from St. Luke's, Mercy, PCI, and Linn County Public Health to discuss health issues facing our community. The discussion will be followed by a presentation by Dan Buettner from 8:00 - 9:00 p.m. 

It's not too late to pledge your support for Cedar Rapids to become a Blue Zone. By taking this pledge you increase Cedar Rapids' odds of being selected. Communities chosen as finalists will be announced on February 10.   

Learn more about this event and Cedar Rapids' involvement with the Blue Zones Initiative at www.getactivecr.com. 

Oatey selected for ACPA implementation team 

Vice President for Enrollment and Student Life Dr. Sue Oatey has been named to the implementation team for the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Institutional Leadership Council for Small Colleges. ACPA is an international organization for student affairs professionals.The implementation team will define and organize the first institutional leadership council for senior student affairs administrators at small colleges. Councils are established to provide and enhance collaboration, professional development, and association (ACPA) guidance.

Graham, Castle serve on Braley panel

Acting Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Melody Graham and Interim Assistant Provost/Dean of Adult Programs Tom Castle were invited to serve as guest panelists during Congressman Bruce Braley's forum on the state of higher education in America. Graham and Castle offered feedback and expertise during the forum, which was held at Coe College on January 26 and included students, faculty and higher education administrators from around the community.

Hadzic named 2011 Coach of the Year

Coordinator of International Student Services/Head Men's Soccer Coach Amir Hadzic has been named the 2011 Coach of the Year for the state of Iowa by The National Federation of State High School Associations. Hadzic serves as the boys soccer coach at Xavier High School. This is the second consecutive year Hadzic has won this award. The Saints finished with a 17-2-1 record last season and won the MVC "Valley" Division Championship. The team also won the 2010, 2011 IHSAA 2A State Championships and has a combined two-year record of 34-5-1.

Hagy has artwork featured in solo exhibit, publishes journal article 

Associate Professor of Art Kathryn Hagy has a featured solo exhibit, "Water Pilgrimage" on display at the Iowa Hall Gallery of Kirkwood Community College. Her artwork will be showcased until February 17.  

 Hagy has also recently published a journal article, "Between Yesterday and Today: Contemporary Art in Nepal," which is featured in ASIANetwork Exchange: A Journal for Asian Studies in the Liberal Arts Volume 19, issue 1 (December 2011).  

Stehnova takes students to Nebraska Conference for Undergraduate Women

Mount Mercy Assistant Professor of Mathematics Jitka Stehnova, Ph.D., accompanied four students to the 14th annual Nebraska Conference for Undergraduate Women in Mathematics January 27 - 29. Mount Mercy students in attendance included: senior Clara Camarillo, senior Sabine Kassis, junior Kayla McGrew, and senior Brittany Shanklin. Kassis and Shanklin presented a poster on their research based on "Modeling Print and Electronic Textbook Sales" at the conference, which they also presented at the fall 2011 Iowa Math Modeling Competition.

Sutherland attends Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities annual meeting

Executive Director for Mercy Mission and Identity Sr. Shari Sutherland attended the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities' annual meeting, "Catholic Higher Education and Culture: Advancing Gospel Values and Cultivating Civility." She also took part in the Conference for Mercy Higher Education's Mission Officer's meeting, January 26-30 in Washington, D.C.

Mount Mercy handbell ensemble to tape segment for Variety Club Telethon

The Mount Mercy University handbell ensemble will be taping a segment for the Variety Club Telethon on February 4 at the Transamerica Studio in Cedar Rapids. The telethon is to benefit Children's Charity. Since 1975, the Variety Club has raised over $88 million. The handbell ensemble will ring "Down to the River to Pray," arranged by Anna Laura Page. Senior Stephanie Nibaur will accompany the handbells on flute. The telethon concert will air on channel 7 (KWWL) on Saturday, March 10. The handbell choir also recently participated in the Epiphany Concert "We Come Bearing Gifts" alongside other Catholic Choirs and handbells groups on January 6 at St. Pius. In all, 11 different groups shared their Christmas music with the congregation.

Oliver invited to join Way Up Conference Planning Council MBA Program Director Deb Oliver has been asked to join the Way Up Conference Planning Council. The council plans the annual conference program that is held in Iowa for the organization, Women in Higher Education. The conferences are held annually in November. Oliver has attended the conference for the last 4 years and presented a session at the conference in 2009 and 2011. 

Chaichian begins fellowship in residence, works on third book

Professor of Sociology Mohammad Chaichian has started his fellowship in residence with The University of Iowa's Obermann Center for Advanced Studies spring 2012. He is also currently working on his third book, "Empire and the Wall," which focuses on the significance of building walls to either avert racial-ethnic or gender-based conflicts, or subjugate and control the colonized populations during various historical phases of globalization. Chaichian also published an article on "The New Phase of Globalization and Brain Drain: Migration of Educated and Skilled Iranians to the United States" in the International Journal of Social Economics in January.

Tyx poems to be published

Two poems, written by Associate Professor of English Carol Tyx during her fall sabbatical, will be published this spring. "Corpse Pose" will appear in the April issue of Pirene's Fountain; "Preparing the Beans" will be included in the April edition of RHINO.

Guthrie article published

Assistant Professor of Nursing Sharon Guthrie co-authored the article "Harnessing the Power of Student Health Data: Selecting, Using, and Implementing Electronic School Health Documentation Systems" that was published in NASN School Nurse journal in January. To view this article online, click here.