Congratulations to Dr. Pamela Shultz-Henderson, associate director, Advising Center, who has accepted the gavel to become president of Staff Senate. Other executive officers for the new year are Kelly Sabin, deputy coordinator, Title IX, vice president; Brandi Hodges, associate director, University Communications, vice president for communications; Dr. Tiffany Mosley, director, Institutional Integrity and Title IX, secretary; Morgan Adams, office manager, Marketing and Communications, treasurer; and Ian Buchanan, administrative specialist, Advising Center, immediate past president.

Dr. Nicholas Balla, assistant professor of music and director of bands, wrote a successful grant proposal to the Kays Foundation for $13,440 in support of the Sound of the Natural State marching band. Balla provided rationale for the purchase of 15 piccolos, the instrument more preferred than the concert flutes typically used. The benefits of using piccolos include an enhanced performance quality, reduced physical challenges, and a broader music education experience.

Erin Cameron, assistant professor of music, performed at the International Clarinet Association ClarinetFest Conference in Fort Worth. She played bass clarinet as a member of the Texas-based Sonoren trio, which presented a fully improvised performance, and performed with the International Clarinet Association Professors’ Clarinet Choir. Cameron also gave a presentation for musicians and academics about how to publish, and she served as an adjudicator for the International Clarinet Association Young Artist Competition semi-final round.

Congratulations to Rhonda Curbo, academic advisor, University College, for being selected by a Staff Senate committee as the latest PROPS (Proudly Recognizing Our Pack Staff) Award recipient. Curbo has served on A-State’s staff for 22 years. More information her work at A-State and why she won the recognition is online. PROPS winners are selected from a pool of candidates created from nomination forms.

Dr. Lillie Fears, professor of journalism, is co-author of research published in Howard Journal of Communications. She and her associates, noting the lack of scholarship regarding female presidential and vice-presidential candidates with multiple intersectional identities, found the resulting fictive kinship connection is stronger within minority and marginalized communities because the success of one group member is considered uplifting to the whole group, and failure of one is seen as failure of the entire community. The article is available online.