August News

 

GCU Faculty Member Goes Global with Expertise on Wordless Books

Kathleen Froriep, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the GCU School of Education, has a passion for books---even those without words. The former elementary school teacher turned co-director of the GCU Reading Center will discuss the power of stories without words during the 23rd World Congress on Reading, July 12-15, in Auckland, New Zealand. Dr. Froriep, whose research dates back to the 1990s, received a Lucile Cornetet Individual Award for Professional Development. The honor, which carries a $1,800 travel grant, is awarded by the Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Foundation. Read more about the award and Dr. Froriep's work.

GCU Alumna Paints 'Abstract Realms'

Well-known local artist Pat Shepherd, a GCU alumna who studied art and computer graphics in college, is taking a detour from her usual brand of breathtaking watercolors. “My usual seascapes, lonely beaches, wildlife, boats and area landmarks have been replaced by abstract art painted in a variety of mixed media," Ms. Shepherd says of "Abstract Realms," her new exhibit that was recently featured in Georgian Court University's M. Christina Geis Gallery. "This exhibit is the culmination of several years of experimentation in which I have enjoyed the challenge of painting randomly and creating a design from the results.”

From Service Learning to Soaring Dancers, GCU Magazine Covers It All

Take time to read about GCU's dance students who now enrolled in one of the newest majors on campus. Or see how our students are learning the value of service and the importance of giving their time to others. In the latest edition of GCU Magazine, you'll see our new multimedia features (all of which can be shared on Facebook and other social media), including our interview with intriguing 92-year-old alumna, Agnes Moore Higgins '39. The latest edition is packed with examples of the many ways GCU faculty, students, staff and alumni are making a difference. 

Georgian Court University Grads Explore Power, Possibility, and Promise

 Despite the troubling national economy, problems on the warfront, and unsettling finances in New Jersey, it’s important to think positive and “keep moving forward,” Judge Honora O’Brien Kilgallen told some 370 Georgian Court University graduates as she spoke during the university’s 99^th Undergraduate Commencement Exercises at the school’s national historical landmark campus in Lakewood.

“Many of you may have difficulty finding employment. You may have to take a different path than the one you planned,” said the 1982 alumna who is now presiding judge of the Chancery Division, Family Part, of the Superior Court of New Jersey in Monmouth County.

“That unplanned path may, however, lead you to your highest good…to your dream job, or who knows, to the person who may become the love of your life,” she said. “Just know that on balance, the world is a wonderful place. Believe in yourself, and you will make your mark.” Read more 

 

 

Hurricane Earl

The primary danger the storm poses in our area is a high risk of rip currents along the coast. Students are advised to avoid swimming in the ocean over the next several days as rip currents make swimming very dangerous. To learn more on rip current safety, visit www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/overview.shtml.

For the latest information about the projected path of the hurricane, visit the Web sites of the National Hurricane Center at www.nhc.noaa.gov or the Weather Channel at www.weather.com.

Grant Awarded for Enzyme Research

Eduard Bitto, Ph.D., GCU assistant professor of biochemistry, recently received a $35,000 grant from the Research Corporation for Science Advancement. The money underwrites Dr. Bitto's ongoing research, Origins of the Substrate Specificity of Erythrocyte Pyrimidine 5'-Nucleotidase Type 1, which explores developing red blood cells and what happens when enzymes malfunction as blood cells mature. The two-year grant also carries a $10,000 match from GCU.

 

Technology in the Classroom

The "chalk and talk" approach to lecturing in front of a blackboard still has its place, but technology-driven classroom tools are now the norm, not the exception. Students this fall will benefit from upgrades in places like Farley Center, where the conference room is now a classroom outfitted with a projector and SMART Board, as are two classrooms in Raymond Hall. Also, faculty teaching in A&S 129 can use the new Epson BrightLink 450, a projector that doesn't require a ceiling mount and allows professors to turn any standard whiteboard, or even a plain white wall, into an interactive learning area. A special pen, which works like a mouse, interacts with the projector and creates the same effect as a SMART Board, explains Bob Bonardi, media services specialist.

Student Life/WILD

What's going on with students at GCU? Lots. Read more about their work on campus, student activities, and the many ways they are making a difference in the world. From SGA to our renowned Women in Leadership Development (WILD) program, GCU students are always busy! Learn more about Student Life at GCU here.

 

New academic year, new 'Student Voices'

Ever wonder what students really think about attending GCU? Hear what they have to say in our latest Student Voices videos, right here on the GCU homepage. All of the footage was shot in high definition to showcase GCU's beautiful campus, and our students share their insight on campus offerings, academic programs and student life.

Off to a WILD start

Members of Women in Leadership Development recently kicked off the new academic year with their annual Welcome Back Team Challenge. It was a fitting start for the fall semester, which is packed with WILD events, activities and special appearances by guests like U.S. Ambassador Susan Burk, who works with other countries to strengthen the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, writer Ellyn Spragins, editor of the New York Times bestseller "What I Know Now," and information technology executive Linda Orlando '07, a GCU trustee and director of global technology for the firm Keefe, Bruyette and Woods. Read more about WILD on their blog and keep up with GCU's thought-provoking WILD discussions on Facebook.

Excellence by design

Congratulations to graphic design student Lorelle Shea-Cahoreau, who designed the winning program cover for the Jersey Shore Public Relations and Advertising Association 36th annual awards event. Lorelle's winning entry was inspired by the organization's "Roaring Twenties" theme.

Blood drive scheduled

Give blood at the first GCU blood drive of the year, Monday, Sept. 20 from noon to 6 p.m. in the Casino. According to officials with the Penn-Jersey Blood Services region, there is a critical need for blood donors now, and all blood types are needed. To schedule an appointment, click here.

Stand, speak, pray

GCU students have always been champions of "Stand Up, Speak Out," the annual event that brings social justice advocates together in efforts to combat international poverty and hunger. This year, Stand Up 2010 occurs September 17-19, just a few days before the U.N.-sponsored International Day of Peace on September 21, and Georgian Court's Campus Ministry  has partnered with A Million Minutes for Peace, which is asking people of different faiths from all over the world to stop and pray for peace---for just a minute---at noon on Tuesday, Sept. 21. Make plans to be at the GCU Peace Pole and read more about the peace effort online.

Georgian Court University Presents

Check out our Fall 2010 Programs
The Fall 2010 Mosaic is here! Learn More 

Interested in Georgian Court University Events?  Learn More

NEW for September & October:
Mrs. Gould Welcomes John Barrymore
Join “Edith Kingdon Gould,” wife of George Jay Gould, for a delightful afternoon of stories with famed Shakespearean actor “John Barrymore.” This unique interactive theatrical performance and elegant tea party, which brings to life figures from the past, is produced by St. George Productions of Medford, New York, as part of Georgian Court University’s “Biographies from The Court” series. Barrymore will regale his good friend Mrs. Gould (Barrymore appeared on stage with the real Edith Kingdon Gould) with how he and his siblings Ethel and Lionel learned the family business from their grandmother and went from a life of privilege to a checkered life in show business. Learn More

The McAuley Institute for Lifelong Learning (MILL) is a new institute tailored for audiences aged 50 or older who want to take advantage of college-level courses without tests, grades, or credits. Courses for this fall include, E-Commerce: How Business is Conducted Online, Praise Her Works: The Proverbs 31 Women, Listening to Music of the Twentieth Century, Twentieth Century American Authors: "A Sense of Place", Watercolor Whirl, Health and Wellness: Health, Humor, and Healing, Zumba Fitness, American First Ladies: Not Elected but Not Without Influence, Part 2, Active Aging, and Fundamentals of Music.   Learn More 

Dinner and an Artist
Join Lisa Festa, Ph.D., assistant professor of art, for an exploration of cultural treasures. Enjoy a multicourse dinner of regional cuisine paired with traditional music and a multimedia presentation on the artist over dessert and coffee. The first dinner presentation will explore the works of Russian painter Marc Chagall. Born Moishe Segal in Vitebsk, Russia (now in Belarus), Marc Chagall (1887–1985) was the first-born of nine children in his traditional close-knit Russian-Jewish family. In 1907, he began studying art with Leon Bakst in St. Petersburg. It was at this time that his distinct style began to emerge and his paintings began to center on images from his childhood. In 1910, Chagall moved to Paris for four years, later settling there permanently in 1923. Though he garnered fame in Paris, Chagall remained true to his Russian-Jewish roots, and depicted his village with a combination of color, fantasy, nostalgia, and religion. Throughout his career, he was inspired by Judaism, the Bible, and Russian folklore as evidenced in his paintings and stained glass masterpieces. Join us on Friday, October 1, at 6:30 pm, in the North Dining room. The cost is $37 per person, which includes a multicourse Russian dinner and multimedia lecture. There is limited seating, reservations are required. Learn More