By Amanda Mlekush
The Beaver College of Health Sciences introduced more than 20 new faculty and staff, honored 17 faculty and staff with college awards, celebrated 12 faculty achieving tenure/promotions, and christened its new outdoor meditative labyrinth at the fall opening meeting, held August 15 in Leon Levine Hall of Health Sciences.
“Celebrating the accomplishments of some of our colleagues–seeing the surprise and joy on the faces of our college’s award recipients–and the satisfaction of our faculty members who recently have achieved tenure and/or promotion is a great way to start the semester,” said Dean Marie Huff, PhD, of the Beaver College of Health Sciences. “We also got a chance to meet some of our new faculty and staff and to share the newest physical addition to Levine Hall–our outdoor meditative labyrinth which is now open for individuals, groups and classes to utilize.”
Interim Chancellor Heather Norris, PhD extended greetings from the university and shared her gratitude for the college’s mission of improving rural health and expanding its programs to serve more students.
Dean Huff also shared updates from a busy and productive summer for the Beaver College of Health Sciences, which included hosting numerous camps for young people, including four Camp MED experiences, a STEM camp in conjunction with the NC School for Science and Math, Girls on the Run camps and the second annual Camp Jean Rankin: Empowering Kids Who Stutter. Faculty and staff representing new programs in Occupational Therapy (MSOT), Master of Public Health and Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences also made final preparations for a fall launch.
Collegewide Awards Presented
During the opening meeting, collegewide awards were presented, including:
Parachute Award –
Patrick Billings, Director of Special Projects, App State
Outstanding Research and Scholarly Endeavors –
Dr. Brook Harmon, Nutrition and Health Care Management;
Dr. Martie Thompson, Public Health and Exercise Science
Interprofessional Champion –
Mary Strong, Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness
Outstanding Professional/Administrative Staff Member –
Heather Woodruff, Rehabilitation Sciences;
Kate Divoll, Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness
Inclusive Excellence Champion –
Dr. Emily Dakin, Social Work;
Jennifer “JP” Brown, Office of Advising and Student Success
Outstanding Service –
Amanda Hege, Nutrition and Health Care Management;
Dr. Rachel Wright, Social Work
Outstanding Teaching –
Kristen Morgan, Nursing;
Dr. Shannon Cline, Recreation Management and Physical Education
Outstanding Faculty –
Dr. Adam Hege, Public Health and Exercise Science;
Dr. Brooke Towner, Recreation Management and Physical Education
Making A Difference –
Kristin Harmon, Social Work;
Callie Hutchens, Office of Advising and Student Success;
Dr. Gary McCullough, Associate Dean
Faculty Promotion and Tenure
Twelve faculty members from the college achieved promotion and/or tenure.
New Clinical Associate Professor:
Dr. Holly Hanley, Rehabilitation Sciences
New Associate Professors include:
Dr. Jill Juris, Recreation Management and Physical Education;
Dr. Ashley Marshall, Rehabilitation Sciences;
Dr. Danielle Nunnery, Nutrition and Health Care Management;
Dr. Julie Sakowski, Nutrition and Health Care Management;
Dr. Jenny Tonsing, Social Work;
Dr. Daniel Theriault, Recreation Management and Physical Education;
Dr. Shenghui Wu, Public Health and Exercise Science.
New Professors include:
Dr. Dana Brackney, Nursing;
Dr. Tammy Haley, Nursing;
Dr. Susan Lane, Nursing; and
Dr. Alan Needle, Public Health and Exercise Science
New Outdoor Labyrinth Unveiled
At the conclusion of the opening meeting, a group of faculty and staff visited the new outdoor labyrinth located near the front entrance of Leon Levine Hall of Health Sciences. The labyrinth is a meditative space, which can be used for classes or groups, or for individuals who want to follow the stone pathway for some quiet time.
The labyrinth at Levine Hall is the second outdoor labyrinth created on App State’s Boone campus in 2024; the first permanent installation is located near Sanford Mall. The Levine Labyrinth was a project championed by Social Work faculty members Dr. Denise Levy and Dr. Heather Thorp in collaboration with Dean Marie Huff, PhD. |
Group of people with a labryinth in front of them and a large brick building behind them
The new outdoor labyrinth at Levine Hall was dedicated at the college opening meeting in August