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Faculty-Staff News Update
October 06, 2009

Forty-one students from the Applied Christian Leadership Class, together with four faculty and six staff members will attend the October 7-9 Catalyst Conference in Atlanta. The Conference provides a wide cover for addressing a variety of topics specific to Next Generation Leaders, including organizational leadership, personal leadership, integrity, character, relationships, and teamwork. Some examples from the wide array of Catalyst speakers are Andy Stanley, Francis Chan, Chuck Swindoll, Louie Giglio, Malcolm Gladwell, and Tony Dungy. More information...

Dr. Jeff Boyce will attend the Christian Business Faculty Association Conference hosted by John Brown University in Rogers, Arkansas, October 15-17.

Dr. Steve Bradshaw, Dr. Liz Moseley, and Dr. Clark Rose attended the American Association of Christian Counselors 2009 World Conference called “Grace and Truth” in Nashville, TN, at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel from September 16-19. Attending this conference with them were 25 of Bryan’s psychology students.  Read more...

Dr. Gary Fitsimmons attended the CCCU Snezek Library Leadership Institute for library directors July 15-17 and co-presented a session on Scholarly Communication, his part being, “The Institutional Repository as a Platform for a Digital Commons.” He has also been reappointed as chair of the Risk and Insurance Management Committee of the Library Leadership and Management Association’s Library Operations and Management Section.

Mrs. Kim Keck attended the MENC (National Association for Music Education) Symposia on Music Teacher Education at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. Mrs. Keck and Dr. Sigrid Luther will be doing a joint recital on October 2nd for the McDowell Music Club in Chattanooga. Mrs. Keck also started the new Bryan Community Children's Choir (BCCC) this fall. 

Dr. Bill Ketchersid was interviewed by a New Hampshire school group that produced an award-winning video on the Scopes Trial. He spoke about the Haitian culture at the Lions Club in Dayton, TN, in May. Dr. Ketchersid wrote a book review on Sherman’s March to the Sea that will appear in the November 2009 Journal of Southern History.

Dr. Ray Legg recently completed a two-week run of the play “Twelve Angry Men” at the Tennessee Valley Theatre. Dr. Legg played Juror #8 (the role played by Henry Fonda in the film version of the play).

Dr. Phil Lestmann developed an online precalculus course which he delivered last spring. He developed the lecture notes and problem sets. The course was designed to be independent of any textbook and independent of any particular calculator or computer software.

In the process of doing this online course, he also field-tested Bryan’s DimDim software, which sets up a virtual chat-room. This past summer Dr. Lestmann adapted the course to Bryan’s own Course Management System (CMS) for use as a regular on-campus course. Students do not have to purchase a textbook, and homework assignments are automated via the online testing system.

In May Dr. Lestmann delivered an adaptation of his talk "Are Mathematical Entities Real?" at the biennial meeting of the Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences held at Wheaton College.

Dr. Sigrid Luther, as national vice president, attended the Board of Directors meeting of the Music Teachers National Association on September 11-12 in Cincinnati.

Dr. Jeff Myers will have the following schedule:

  • September 22-26 – Keynote speaker for Quisqueya Christian School, Port-au-Prince, Haiti Passing the Baton Faculty Retreat
  • October 1-3 – Participant in the Council for National Policy, Austin, TX
  • October 12-14 – Keynote speaker for ACSI Supervision and Leadership Course, Surabaya, Indonesia
  • October 16-17 – Keynote speaker for ACSI Supervision and Leadership Course, Jakarta, Indonesia
  • October 21-23 – Speaker for Alpha National Convention, Orlando, Florida

Mr. Dave Perron is in the process of beginning his Doctorate of Education in Sport Management from the United States Sports Academy. The program will take 3-4 years to complete, and he will begin online classes this month.

On a lighter and much more fun note, Dave has been competing in the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League, Choo Choo Division; and after five tournaments he is in 3rd place out of 215 anglers in his division. The top 40 from four divisions will compete in the Regional tournament on Oct. 16-17 on Clarks Hill Lake near Augusta, GA.
 
Dr. John Wells (Adjunct Professor of Physics) served as a Grand Awards Judge in Physics and Astronomy at the INTEL International Science and Engineering Fair held in Reno, NV, on May 12-13, 2009. The fair, which is the largest of its kind in the world, had project entries by 1563 high-school students from all 50 states and approximately 55 other countries. These were divided into 16 categories of science and engineering. Out of over 1000 judges participating, Dr. Wells was one of 30 judging 104 projects in Physics and Astronomy. He commented, “Some of these high-school students’ research projects are absolutely amazing. Many could easily qualify as Master’s Degree theses.” Most were from public and private high schools, but a significant number were home schooled.

Dr. Wells and his wife Marilee participated in a short-term mission project to Antonio Prado, a small town of around 1400 population, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, from July 23 to August 4. The project was sponsored by the Stone Association of Southern Baptists in Tennessee. The team of five Americans, assisted by numerous Brazilians, constructed a masonry church building for a new Baptist Church, built furniture for the building, conducted a three-day Vacation Bible School for school-age children, and held several evangelistic services. John was primarily responsible for constructing fourteen benches (pews) for the new building, and presented two concerts of sacred music on a portable keyboard, which was then donated to the new church. Marilee assisted with the woodworking, and, with an interpreter, told Bible stories while trying to hold the attention of well over 60 children packed into a small room. A special dedication service for the new building was held on Saturday evening, with about 200 people coming from many nearby churches to help the members of the new church celebrate.

Dr. Wells presented an organ recital last spring for the Department of Music and Art at Tennessee Tech University. In addition to playing major works by Alain, Bach, and Widor, he performed with several other instrumentals, including pieces for classical guitar, viola, trumpet, horn, and an organ duet with another organist.