The editors of Dappled Things, a quarterly journal dedicated to ideas, art and faith, selected Abigail Favale’s (English/William Penn Honors Program) story, Obedience Lessons, as winner of the 2017 J.F. Powers Prize for Short Fiction. Obedience Lessons tells the story of a man caught unawares by the consequences of half-forgotten transgressions, and who must choose whether to let this revelation upset his comfortable, quiet life. Named for Powers, one of the most notable authors in the 20th-century Catholic literary renaissance, the contest aims to honor his legacy by awarding stories that, like the priests he wrote about in his fiction, have “one foot in this world and one in the next.†Abigail was awarded $500 for her winning submission, and Obedience Lessons was published in the Easter 2017 issue of Dappled Things.
Corban Harwood (Mathematics) published an article, “Logistics of Mathematical Modeling-Focused Projects,†in the PRIMUS journal on March 30. The article analyzed the classroom implementation of research-based projects to improve student learning while minimizing logistical overhead. One such project was based upon Corban’s article, “Simulating the Spread of the Common Cold,†which was published online in SIMIODE on Dec. 2, 2016. Any correlation with the major cold/flu outbreak this past winter is merely coincidental.
On March 29-31, Paul Otto (History) co-directed the interdisciplinary conference “Migrations and Borders in the United States: Discourses, Representations, Imaginary Contexts,†at the University Grenoble Alpes in France. He has also been chosen to participate in a week-long summer workshop, Writing Beyond the Academy, at the Collegeville Institute in Minnesota.
Ken Badley and Patrick Allen (Education) have collaborated on a second book, Echoes of Insight: Past Perspectives and the Future of Christian Higher Education, published by Abilene Christian University Press. The book, along with their first book, Faith and Learning, are being used as primary texts for a Faith and Learning Academic Symposium this spring in Boston, and at the Christian Business Faculty Association’s annual conference next fall in San Diego, where Patrick will give the keynote. He will be offering a pre-conference spiritual formation workshop using his book, Morning Resolve: To Live a Simple, Sincere, and Serene Life.
Terry Huffman’s (Education) paper, “Native American Educators and their Leadership Roles on Reservations in the Northern Great Plains,†is the winner of the 2017 Leslie Hewes Award for the best paper in social sciences published in Great Plains Research during the volume year 2016. Besides recognition, the annual award includes a certificate and cash prize.
Kristina Kays (Psychology) joined with fourth-year PsyD students David Kays and Adrian Egger to present “Bridging the Gap: Pop Media as a Narrative Tool for Working with Millennials†at the Christian Association of Psychological Studies Conference in Chicago March 30 through April 1. The seminar identified current pop media resources as a means to explore emotional issues resulting from trauma and abuse. The movie Inside Out was used as a practical example for integrating narrative therapy interventions with challenging clients resistant to exploring emotional concerns in therapy.
Paul Anderson (Christian Studies) published a review of CNN’s Finding Jesus 2 episode about Peter, “A Few Bones to Pick: Peter and His Significance,†in both The Huffington Post and the The Bible and Interpretation websites.
