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Psychological Sciences Pairs Learning with Physical Activity for Healthy Campus Week
by Martin Hodnett, Psy.D., chair, Department of Psychological Sciences
 On September 24, the Department of Psychological Sciences gathered for an exciting Healthy Campus edition of "Last Thursday." "Last Thursday" serves as a monthly academic and professional mentoring meeting for the students with an academic major in the Department of Psychological Sciences. This month's meeting was titled "Super September," and took the form of active learning activities that reinforced the principles of Healthy Campus 2020.
Pamelea Cook, Ph.D. and Carmen Bucknor, Ph.D., (pictured, far right) led the students in combining mental and physical activity to act out brain neurochemistry. Students had to actively think, move, and run as they replicated an action potential's journey as it goes from one neuron to the next in the brain. After replicating an action potential and analyzing the remaining neurotransmitters (i.e., multicolor golf balls), Tia Spence, a senior, reflected on her experience by sharing, "I learned more about thinking like a clinician. With the neurotransmitter activity, I really had to go back and think about what I have read in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), and what I have read in Biological Psychology. This activity brought it to the application level."
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Former White House Executive Visits Oakwood
Les Francis, former Deputy Chief of Staff to President Jimmy Carter and senior Democratic National Committee executive, visited Oakwood University to film a segment of "Opportunity in America." The film is a documentary, commissioned by Educational Testing Service (ETS), the world's largest educational research company.
Featured in the film are Francis' interviews with Preston Foster, assistant professor of public policy, and several Oakwood political science students. Francis also shared details of his White House and national campaign experience with the students as guest lecturer in Foster's public policy class. "These are among the brightest, most engaged, poised and sophisticated undergraduates I've met. Oakwood is a very special place," Francis said.
"We hope that this visit is the beginning of a special relationship between Oakwood, Mr. Francis, and ETS. We want to give our students every opportunity to engage with public policy practitioners," says Professor Foster.
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Oakwood on the Road Scheduled for Atlanta
 On October 24, President Leslie Pollard and the Division of Advancement & Development are hosting a day with Oakwood University at the Berean Seventh-day Adventist Church, 291 Hamilton E. Holmes Dr. NW, Atlanta, GA 30318.
The day includes Divine Worship service; an afternoon concert with the world-renowned Aeolians; and concludes with an "Oakwood on the Road Reception for Oakwood alumni and friends on Saturday evening.
President Pollard, administrators, students, faculty, and staff will be in attendance. Hear about the latest developments at Oakwood, enjoy the lively fellowship, get a bite to eat, and come prepared to get involved and support your Oakwood University. For more details, email alumni@oakwood.edu, or call (256) 726-7039.
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Social Injustice and the Adventist Church Addressed at Oakwood University
by Naomi Coggs, student writer
 On September 23 and 24, the Office of Spiritual Life hosted guest speaker Ganoune Diop, Ph.D., director of public affairs and religious liberty at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. During the Wednesday night prayer meeting, Dr. Diop spoke about injustice on a global scale and God's response to injustice. He followed up the conversation on Thursday morning at Chapel with a Q&A session moderated by USM Vice President, Gabriel Carter, and Oakwood's NAACP Chapter President, Christopher Johnson.
Oakwood's Senior Chaplain Howard Weems, Ph.D., explained the inspiration behind the two-day program. "Because of the events that are happening, especially among African-American men and women, I wanted to give the students a perspective, a world view based and founded in advent theology. Many protests are going on in the world, we hear a lot of voices, and I'm trying to influence the world view to make sure we put in programs of action that are founded in what we believe as a Church."
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Oakwood Prepares for Campus Preview Event
Oakwood University is preparing for "Oakwood Live!" (formerly known as "College Days"), scheduled for October 11-13.
Oakwood Live! is an opportunity for high school seniors and transfer students to explore and preview the unique qualities of "the Oakwood experience." Prospective Oakwoodites and their chaperones will spend three, jam-packed days touring the campus, attending classroom presentations, concerts and sports and other fun activities, and connecting with "future roommates" from across the US and other territories.
Registered attendees who complete an application can be awarded a $500 Oakwood Live! Scholarship (to attend Oakwood) just for participating!
For more information, call (256) 726-7356, or click here to register.
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Alumni Notes
Garrett Caldwell, D.Min., '85, has joined the department of advancement at Loma Linda University Health, as executive director for public affairs at Loma Linda University Health. Previously, he served as public relations director for the General Conference. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Caldwell is a graduate of Oakwood, with undergraduate majors in communication and theology. He received a master of divinity from Andrews University, and his doctor of ministry degree from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. Besides writing photography, teaching and preaching, he enjoys running, sailing, and filmmaking.
 During an annual "Oakwood Day" at Kansas Avenue Seventh-day Adventist Church in Riverside, California, the new officers of the Oakwood University Alumni Association (OUAA) of Southern California were introduced and consecrated on September 12. The day brought together Oakwoodites from the Southern California area to celebrate Oakwood's contributions. The officers are Oakwood alumni and graduates from the 1990s and 2000s, committed to raising funds for scholarships. The overall goal is to be a financial benefit to students from Southern California currently studying at Oakwood University. To learn more about the team and the mission, please visit the website at www.ouaasocal.org. Current students from Southern California attending Oakwood University are also asked to register on the website so that they can be directly contacted concerning scholarship opportunities. Pictured (l-r) are Dr. Cynthia Powell-Hicks, Danette Batiste, Cynthia Briscoe, Dr. Anissa LaCount-Bryant, Richard Lawrence, Kia Gamble, Morgan McGhee, Brian Hardy, Tracey White, and Dr. William Wright.
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Picture of the Week
On September 24, the Department of Social Work visited the Huntsville City Council and engaged with city leaders. The purpose of the visit was to expose students to the way policy is presented, analyzed, and implemented at the local government level. In addition, students had the opportunity to observe how local policy impacts the lives of city residents. During the meeting, the students were officially recognized by Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle. Dr. Samson Chama, associate professor of Social Work accompanied the students on the activity. (Photo by Octavio Ramirez)
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About Oakwood
The mission of Oakwood University, a historically black, Seventh-day Adventist institution, is to transform students through biblically-based education for service to God and humanity.
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1-844-FRUIT OU
STORE #819
5000 Whitesburg Dr. S, #148
Huntsville, AL 35802
(256) 881-7575
STORE #759
6290 University Blvd.
Huntsville, AL 35806
(256) 721-7999
Share Love, Support Students
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Click here to see the Fall 2015 issue of Oakwood Magazine, or visit
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