Radford University Fall Convocation
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Convocation Remarks by President Penelope W. Kyle and Provost Wil Stanton

President Kyle:

Good afternoon. To those of you who have joined the RU family over the summer – welcome!  And for those of you have been away for all or part of the summer, -- welcome back to the beginning of Radford University’s 98th year as a public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth of Virginia; a year that will bring change and progress. I trust you are as excited and energized as I am by the many challenges, possibilities and opportunities this year will bring.

We begin this new year full of optimism and excitement.  As we prepare for the University’s Centennial just two years from now, it is important to remember the many contributions this institution has made to the region, the Commonwealth of Virginia and our nation, but equally important to chart our course for the next generation of students.  I have asked three members of the RU family to lead our Centennial efforts.  I call them the tri-chairs of the Centennial. They are Dr. Claire Waldron, the “chair of the chairs.” She is joined by Dr. Gary Ellerman, representing our local community and the retired faculty and by Barbara-Lyn Morris representing our alumni.  Jenny Doud will provide staff support to the Committee.  Will these individuals please stand and be recognized.  You will be hearing a lot from these folks as we move towards our 100th anniversary in 2010.

While Radford has been the source of outstanding scholarship and creativity for nearly one hundred years, we are an institution on the move! Our university’s successes are reported regularly in the newspaper and television – and are touted in the halls of Richmond.  And last month we had the Governor visit so that we could brief him on the many developments taking place on campus. Two years in a row we have had important summer visitors to our campus.  Last year it was the Members of the House Appropriations Committee and this year the Governor.  Governor Kaine has been very supportive of our efforts and was complimentary of what he observed during his time on campus. He has visited our campus on four different occasions in the last three years! All of us can take great pride in knowing that Radford University is on its way to becoming well-regarded in Richmond!  As is our custom at these fall convocations, we will review what has been accomplished since last year’s Convocation, and share with you some plans for the coming year.

First, I would like to welcome some new additions to the RU family.  Following a national search, Cathy Greenberg has accepted our offer to serve as vice president for university advancement. Cathy will be responsible for leading the private fund raising efforts to support the University and its strategic plan, 7-17. Cathy previously served as Associate Vice President for University Advancement, and most recently, as the interim vice president.

I am also pleased to announce that we will soon have a new chief of police. Colleen Roberts, who is currently the deputy chief for the Christopher Newport University Police Department will join us this weekend. She is a graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy for Law Enforcement Administrators, the Law Enforcement Leadership and Management Institute in Hampton Roads, and the Virginia State Police Academy.

And finally, I want to mention Ms. Kathy Thompson, who became my Executive Assistant in May.  She is also serving as the Secretary to the Radford University Board of Visitors.  Please join me in welcoming these additions to our administrative team.

I would also like to thank some key people for their continued support:

• Dr. Jim Lollar, outgoing President of the Faculty Senate and Faculty Representative to the Board of Visitors
• Dr. Stephen Owen, incoming President of the Faculty Senate
• Dr. Betty Dore, your representative to the NCAA. And the person who makes certain that the word student is always before the word athlete.
• Dr. Wil Stanton, who has just finished his very successful first year as our provost.

On Monday, we will be welcoming our new freshman class, and this is a record breaking year.  This year we had more than 8,000 new freshman applications -- far more than any other year in the history of the University.  That has led to an entering class which we expect will exceed 1,900 new freshmen -- almost certainly our largest class in the past 20 years.  As I said earlier, Radford University is on the move! This year’s class is one of the best academically prepared and one of the most diverse in recent history.  We welcome 47 new international and exchange students representing 25 countries.

I also want to acknowledge our returning students who are present here this afternoon – will the officers and other representatives of the Radford University Student Government please stand and be recognized.

I am very proud of the accomplishments of our student athletes, including the individual and team conference championships.   While there are too many to mention them all, I would like to share a few.

I am particularly proud of our Rugby Club Team for winning its second national championship.  The team defeated Utah Valley State College 25-14 in Palo Alto, Calif. this past May, to win the Division II Men's Collegiate national championship.  And “no good deed goes unpunished” so, we have now been moved to the Division I level.

Radford graduate Goran Nava established a new Serbian national record in the 1500 meter event at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, posting a time of 3:42.92. 

After another successful season, Radford men’s tennis was recognized in the final ITA Division I Men's team rankings. The two-time defending Big South champions concluded 2008 with a ITA ranking of 69. Radford, under the direction of Coach Mike Anderson, posted a 15-2 overall record and participated in the NCAA Team Championships for the second straight season. The Highlanders entered the rankings for the first time in school history on March 4 at 59th and stayed ranked throughout the 2008 campaign.

Our Women’s Softball Team won more than 40-regular season games for the first time in school history and clinched second place in the Big South Conference.

Our athletes also excel in the classroom.  Radford University placed 141 student-athletes on the Big South Conference’s prestigious Presidential Honor Roll. Radford was one of four institutions with at least 50 percent of its student-athletes named to the honor roll, as 51.5 percent of its 274 student-athletes were recognized.

We also welcome several new academic leaders to the University.  I would like to call on Provost Stanton to introduce those individuals.  

Dr. Stanton: 

It is my pleasure to welcome four new deans to the Academic Affairs leadership team:

Dr. Brian Conniff is the founding dean of the College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences. Dean Conniff comes to RU from the University of Dayton, where he was been Professor of English and, for the past eight years, Chair of the Department of English.

Dr. Faye Gilbert, dean of the College of Business and Economics, was previously dean of the J. Whitney Bunting School of Business at Georgia College & State University where she was instrumental in achieving reaffirmation of accreditation by the AACSB in 2007.  This experience will be invaluable as she leads RU’s AACSB reaffirmation this year. 

Dr. Dennis Grady joined us in June as dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies.  Prior to joining RU, Dean Grady worked at Appalachian State University, where he served as director of ASU’s Energy Center at the Cratis D. Williams Graduate School and chair of the Department of Political Science/Criminal Justice.

Dr. Orion Rogers is the founding dean of the College of Science and Technology.  Orion comes to Radford from Radford.  Dean Rogers began his RU career in 1994 as an assistant professor.  Since then, he was promoted to associate professor, full professor, chair of the biology department and, most recently, interim associate dean of the College of Science and Technology.  In addition Orion has previously served as the Director of the Honors Academy.

Welcome to all of our new deans!!!

We have also added five new external chairs or school directors this year.

Dr. Lennie Scott-Webber has been named chair of the Department of Interior Design and Fashion;

Dr. Elise Fullmer is director of the School of Social Work;

Dr. Lynn Zoch is the founding director of the School of Communication; and

Dr. Douglas Mitchell is director of the newly-established Master of Occupational Therapy program.  Will these new academic leaders please stand.

I would also like to welcome Dr. Anne Pascucci, our new Director of Sponsored Programs and Grants Management. 

I also want to recognize Captain Rockshed to the University as the person directly responsible for our ROTC program.  Dr. Rockshed.

We are fortunate to welcome 33 new teaching and research faculty members to our family of scholars. These faculty join us from 15 states and three countries.  They have earned degrees from prestigious institutions across the country and around the world.

Will all new teaching and research faculty, professional faculty and administrative faculty who are joining us this year please stand and be recognized? I want to welcome each of you to Radford and wish you the best in all of your academic endeavors.

These new faculty are joining a wonderful returning faculty who are engaging teachers, respected scholars and campus leaders.  I would now like to ask the experienced returning faculty and administrators to stand.  I ask you to continue the good work you have done for our university, and to continue to serve as mentors, colleagues, friends, and exemplars to those who are just now joining our Highlander family.

And finally, I would like to report on the successful implementation of the Workforce Transition Option (WTO).  More than 100 faculty were eligible to participate in the WTO, 28 applied, and a total of 20 senior colleagues have elected and been approved to retire, effective at the end of the fall semester.  While the WTO will provide some flexibility, I must also recognize these 20 faculty members as individuals providing decades of experience, wisdom and leadership to our university.  They will be sorely missed.  I ask any of our senior faculty who will be retiring as a result of the WTO to please stand.

President Kyle: 

Thank you, Provost Stanton. I recognize that our University is only as strong as its faculty.  While students are our reason for existence, our faculty are our greatest asset.  If we are to be highly regarded, then the teaching, research, and commitment of our faculty must be encouraged and appropriately recognized.  The relationships with our faculty is one of the most frequent reasons our alumni cite as a key component of their satisfaction with their experience at RU.  We have faculty dedicated to teaching and to finding new ways to involve students in an active and productive intellectual life and our students reflect the excellence of our faculty. As your President, I thank you for all that you contribute to RU.

As one example of our faculty/student collaboration, seven of our students joined Cliff Boyd, Donna Boyd and Rhett Herman last month on a research trip to the Solomon Islands. This trip was a part of Radford University's Forensic Science Institute field school in archaeology and geophysical survey and was an attempt to locate the remains of members of a US Marine Patrol killed during the August 1942 Battle for Guadalcanal.

The students worked with archeological techniques and geophysical equipment to survey the ground where the patrol is suspected to be buried in mass graves. While the group did not locate the remains on this trip, the field has been narrowed and our students have experienced an unforgettable learning experience that will remain a part of them throughout their lives. 

The Guadalcanal project is an excellent example of RU’s commitment to student and faculty collaborative research -- a commitment that sets us apart from other colleges and universities with whom we compete for faculty and students.  Many Radford undergraduates are deeply involved in research in their areas of study. We find that the dedication of our faculty and the close scholarly relationships that develop between our students and professors bring out the best in our undergraduates.

Another good example illustrating the excellence of our undergraduate’s research was the National Conference on Undergraduate Research held earlier this year at Salisbury University in Maryland.  Twenty-four out of a total of 27 RU student submissions were accepted for presentation at the meeting. Thirty-four Radford students participated in the 24 presentations.

Of the 307 colleges and universities presenting at this year’s conference, only 4 schools had more students participating than RU.  In addition to the students who presented papers at regional and national meetings, this past year 230 students made over 150 presentations at our on-campus Student Engagement Forum.

We provide students with numerous opportunities to study and learn in many different countries and cultures. For instance, this past academic year students participated in programs in more than 15 countries. 

And we provide opportunities to learn foreign languages not often taught in high school.  We offer classes in Mandarin Chinese, and this academic year, we will be offering Arabic for the first time.

Our commitment to academic distinction is reflected in the ever-increasing number of degrees appropriately awarded by the university. Last academic year, we conferred degrees on 2260 individuals, and that includes 438 graduate degrees. More students, too, are benefitting from RU scholarships and awards. Last year, 459 students were awarded scholarships averaging $1,626 each.  This figure includes 54 presidential scholarships.

Radford has also received external recognition, including the distinction of being named one of the best colleges and universities in the Southeast United States by The Princeton Review. I want to quote from the profile on RU that can be found at The Princeton Review website – “Students come to Radford University for the small class sizes, residential community, dedicated professors, and academic excellence.” I can’t think of greater praise or a better validation of our efforts and direction.

Further, Radford University is ranked 14th among public master’s universities in the south in U.S. News and World Report’s 2009 Guide to America’s Best Colleges. RU has been named one of the top 20 public universities in this category for five consecutive years and has been ranked among the top 15 public institutions for the past two years. Among the 121 public and private universities in the south, RU is at number 36, up from 38 in 2008.

Again this year, one of our own received the State Council of Higher Education’s Outstanding Faculty Award.  Anthropology professor Cliff Boyd received the 2008 Virginia Outstanding Faculty Award, the Commonwealth’s highest honor for educators at Virginia’s colleges and universities.  Cliff, please stand so that we may recognize you.

And Radford University alumnus Randal J. Kirk, who also served as Rector of our Board of Visitors, received one of the highest awards bestowed by the Commonwealth of Virginia upon members of the State’s business community. RJ was honored as Virginia’s Outstanding Industrialist of 2008.

Those of you who were here last year will remember that I set forth several goals for the 2007-2008 academic year.  I am pleased to report to you that we have made significant progress.  For the first time ever, RU will welcome its first Doctoral Students next week, who will be enrolled in our new Doctor of Psychology program in Counseling Psychology.  We also gained state approval this year to offer the Masters in Occupational Therapy and the Doctor of Physical Therapy Degrees beginning next year and have submitted a proposal for a new Doctor of Nursing Practice degree to begin in 2010.  Radford University is on the move!

As you know, Dr. Stanton led the effort to conduct a faculty salary equity study, and several salary adjustments were made to correct misalignments, compressions and inversions.  Similarly, we have examined the compensation of our staff.  We met with them last week, unveiled the results of the study and now we will begin addressing the issues presented by the study.

Last year around this time, the RU faculty began discussions that will lead to the implementation of a new core curriculum here at RU.  All indications are that your deliberations and debates have been detailed, spirited, and occasionally even passionate.  That has not surprised me, because we all have such an enormous vested interest in this common part of the RU academic experience: the part that really defines what it means to be a Radford University graduate.  As your President, I am proud—but again, I am not surprised—that your conversations also have been thoughtful, collegial, and professional, in the best tradition of academic discourse.

While much hard work remains to finalize the new core curriculum, I want to express my sincere appreciation to our faculty for all that has already been accomplished.  Many of you made extraordinary contributions of time and energy during the past academic year, and some of your committees have even been meeting regularly this summer.  Although virtually all of our faculty have taken this task to heart, offered their input, and kept this initiative on track even in the face of already heavy schedules, I would like to especially recognize the work of the members of the Faculty Senate, the General Education Curriculum Advisory Committee, the University Core A subcommittee, and the various content area subcommittees.  Your service to our University and our students has been truly exceptional.

I wish you well as your discussions return to the Faculty Senate floor this fall.  I have complete confidence that the final product will be a core curriculum that will be powerful and distinctive and will serve Radford University students very well.

As you will remember, last year we were able to increase budgets for academic departments, provide moving expenses and start-up funds for faculty, provide flexible spending accounts for deans, and increase funding for faculty travel.  I am pleased to announce that we are continuing to enhance funding for faculty development by again increasing funds for faculty travel from the $1,200 set last year to $1,500 this year, an additional 25% increase.  Just a few years ago, the allocation for faculty travel was only $400 per year.  And we’re not done yet, we will continue to enhance our support for faculty professional development as funds allow. 

Radford’s progress in ensuring academic excellence is being matched by our commitment to providing new and exciting facilities on our rapidly evolving campus. Over the past year, we have seen significant advancement in securing the funding we need to construct state of the art buildings and renovate our existing facilities.

Earlier this spring, the Virginia General Assembly approved a bond package that included $34.2 million for a new building for the College of Business and Economics. We will raise $10 million in private funds in support of this project for a total of $44.2 million dedicated to the new home for COBE. Radford is also the recipient of $1.5 million in general fund monies to pay for the planning component of a new $37 million building for the College of Science and Technology.

• The new College of Business building will have many amenities including a stock market trading room and breakout rooms to support the many case analyses so typical of a business education.
• The new College of Science and Technology building will also have many amenities including state-of-the art laboratory classrooms as well as other labs dedicated to faculty-student collaborations.
• Then there’s the renovation of our flagship classroom building, Young Hall, which is scheduled to reopen in fall 2009, and will feature many innovations that will make it future proofed.  It will be technology rich and will have the ability to easily adapt to students’ learning styles and faculty’s teaching styles.  In addition, major renovations are underway at the Dedmon Center, Heth Hall, and Davis Hall.
• The Covington Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, which will be open this fall, will offer an extraordinary venue for performances, rehearsals, and recitals.  As with Young Hall, the Covington Center will be rich with technology to provide the absolute highest quality performances.  What a marvelous building!!  And its lobby and art gallery will service us with another much needed location in which we will host special social events.

But we’re not stopping there. The Governor and the General Assembly have authorized RU to undertake another $114.2 million in capital improvement projects funded through auxiliary funds and university-paid debt. We hope to use this authorization to provide the campus with up to three new residence halls, a new student fitness center, double the size of the Bonnie Hurlburt Student Center and perhaps a parking deck.

The University is making a major investment in the Information Technology area by implementing the Banner Administrative System. Many areas of the University will benefit from the work that has been done to employ the Banner System in our data utilization and record keeping. Finance, development, financial aid and student records will especially benefit from Banner and the investment we’ve made in facilitating our business processes.

In addition, the Luminis portal, now known as MyRU, is scheduled to be released as a beta version for the university community by early November.  The project team continues to make positive strides toward completion of the new portal framework and communications channels. MyRU remains on schedule for a university-wide rollout in January 2009.

We are also continuing to make improvements in the area of Dining Services.  As you will recall, last year, we added a full-service Starbucks, Wendy’s and Salsarita’s.  This year, we continue that expansion by adding an expanded Au Bon Pain, a new Ben and Jerry’s ice cream parlor, an Asian-themed eatery and a full table-service dining option in Muse Hall called the New River Grill.

Now I have just a few more announcements: 

I am pleased to announce that Radford University achieved all of its targets on SCHEV’s Institutional Performance Standards, the only institution in the Commonwealth to achieve every target.

Radford University’s Board of Visitors approved a $163.1 million annual budget for this year, which is the institution’s largest operating budget ever and includes funding to support new graduate programs, additional student financial aid, a 25 percent increase in faculty travel stipends, dining facilities upgrades, safety and security enhancements and additional resources for upgrading the administrative computing system.

We are making a commitment to enhance our University assessment processes.  Among these enhancements will be new student testing and placement assessments and more direct assessment of student learning outcomes.  To facilitate these enhancements, the Office of Academic Assessment has been aligned with the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment.

I have also created a Sustainability Advisory Committee chaired by Dr. Dennis Grady. This committee will advise the President’s cabinet and the Board of Visitors on all matters related to RU becoming a truly green campus.  Dr. Grady is perfectly suited for this role, having been the lead academic in the University of North Carolina campus system for sustainability. He also authored the report that led President Erskine Boyles to set up a system-wide Sustainability Commission to reduce the system’s carbon footprint.  He also chaired the Appalachian State University campus sustainability committee appointed by Chancellor Ken Peacock.  As you may know, sustainability is a priority of the Commonwealth and a major initiative at most colleges and universities across the nation.  This committee will examine various strategies to help RU to become a green campus and a leader in resource conservation.     Dr. Grady – please stand.    

And we are also committing to enhance the communication on campus, particularly between the administration, faculty and students.  Recently, Provost Stanton and I had a very productive discussion with the Faculty Senate Executive Council to identify ways to enhance our communication efforts.  We plan to continue these discussions on a regular basis.

I also want to announce that we will be reinstating the tradition of a fall welcome dinner for faculty.  Currently we are working on the details and timing of this event and an announcement will be forthcoming.

Opportunities such as I have outlined in the last few minutes are one part of what makes Radford the exceptional place it is. But as I noted at the beginning of my address to you, it is the faculty that makes the key difference in any institution of higher education – and at Radford, we are fortunate to have outstanding faculty members who are truly committed to excellence in teaching, research and scholarship. Each year at this convocation, we acknowledge some of our award winning faculty.   In a minute I will call again on Provost Stanton to present our most prestigious faculty awards.

But first, let me say that together, we have accomplished so much, but we still have so much more to do.  I am excited by the enthusiasm and energy in this room today, and by the opportunities awaiting us as we embark on our new adventures.  Thank you for your support during my first three years, and for the honor of continuing to serve as Radford University’s Sixth President.

Dr. Wil Stanton: 

Each year, the Radford University Foundation bestows awards upon teaching and administrative faculty whose performance has been exceptional.  Through the generosity of the Foundation, each award recipient receives a plaque, a monetary prize, and has the privilege of selecting an outstanding student who receives a scholarship in the award recipient’s name.  Some of those students are here with us today and I ask that they please stand when their name is announced.  It is now my pleasure to recognize the recipients of the 2008 Foundation Faculty Awards.

The Distinguished Professional Advising Award recognizes outstanding advising among those for whom advising is their primary work responsibility.  The recipient of the 2008 Distinguished Professional Advising Award is Ms. Loretta Estes, Advising Coordinator and Assistant to the Dean of the Waldron College of Health and Human Services.

Ms. Estes began her service to the Waldron College in 1997.  Since then, she has developed a reputation as a strong student advocate and an extraordinarily knowledgeable resource for college faculty.  Students, colleagues, and faculty in the Waldron College and across campus admire Ms. Estes for her unflappable demeanor, her unfailingly positive attitude, her strong work ethic, and her wonderful sense of humor.  Of course, not all of Ms. Estes’ job responsibilities are pleasant ones; virtually all of the majors in the Waldron College require admission to upper-level courses, and students who do not meet the qualifications are often devastated to receive this news.  With compassion, Ms. Estes does whatever it takes to restore these students’ confidence and help them explore alternative career paths.

Ladies and gentlemen, the recipient of the 2008 Radford University Foundation Distinguished Professional Advising Award, Ms. Loretta Estes.

The Distinguished Faculty Advising Award recognizes teaching faculty who demonstrate excellence in tending to their important responsibility of academic advising. The recipient of the 2008 Distinguished Faculty Advising Award is Dr. Jeffrey Willner, Associate Professor of Psychology.

A fourteen-year veteran at Radford University, Dr. Willner’s advisees appreciate his talents as a good listener and as a person who is interested in their total personal and professional development, not just in the courses they need to take to stay on track to graduate.  Dr. Willner has such an excellent reputation as an advisor among psychology majors that many of them who are not assigned to him as advisees gravitate to him for guidance, encouragement, and reassurance.  Dr. Willner has also earned respect from students and colleagues through his dedicated service as faculty advisor for the Psychology Club for the past seven years.

Ladies and gentlemen, the recipient of the 2008 Radford University Foundation Distinguished Faculty Advising Award, Dr. Jeffrey Willner.

The Distinguished Service Award was established to recognize faculty who have contributed substantial service to the University over a sustained period of time.  The recipient of the 2008 Distinguished Service Award is Dr. James Lollar, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Marketing.

Dr. Lollar has invested a tremendous amount of time and energy in serving his department, college, the University, and the Commonwealth since his arrival at RU in 1992.  During his four terms as President of the Faculty Senate, Dr. Lollar represented faculty interests and promoted open discussions of University issues.  He participated in efforts to improve RU’s faculty salary peer group and the University’s efforts to address issues of faculty salary compression and inversion.  Dr. Lollar is only the second RU faculty member to have earned two different Foundation awards, having received the Dedmon Award to recognize his exceptional skills in the classroom in 2005.

Ladies and gentlemen, the recipient of the 2008 Radford University Foundation Distinguished Service Award, Dr. James Lollar.

The Distinguished Creative Scholar Award recognizes significant original contributions to the body of knowledge in academe.  It also rewards contributions that have had a significant impact on effective classroom teaching.  The recipient of the 2008 Distinguished Creative Scholar Award is Dr. Mark Cline, Assistant Professor of Biology.

Dr. Cline joined the university on a full-time basis in 2005.  Since 2007, he has published eleven peer-reviewed articles in endocrinology and neuroscience journals, and he received an invitation to speak at an international conference on avian endocrinology this summer.  Significantly, all of his publications were co-authored by the undergraduate students he has mentored in the classroom and laboratory.  Under his guidance, Dr. Cline’s students have made over 50 presentations at local, regional, and national professional conferences.

Ladies and gentlemen, the recipient of the 2008 Radford University Foundation Distinguished Creative Scholar Award, Dr. Mark Cline.

The Donald N. Dedmon Distinguished Teaching Professor Award recognizes outstanding teaching at Radford University.  The recipient of the 2008 Donald N. Dedmon Distinguished Teaching Professor Award is Dr. Richard J. Bay, Associate Professor of Art. 

Dr. Bay joined RU in 2002 as Director of the Art Education program.  His colleagues, friends, and students describe him with words like “energetic,” “tireless,” “caring,” and “compassionate.”  Affectionately known to his students as “Dr. ArtGuy,” Dr. Bay’s outreach to local K-12 schools, his efforts to share the importance of art as therapy with students in helping professions like nursing and special education, and his work with young people and adults with special needs have been truly inspirational.  As one colleague wrote, “[Dr. Bay] is surely a consummate educator who values high standards, knows how to do that which he teaches, and cares about his students as human beings.”

Ladies and gentlemen, the recipient of the 2008 Donald N. Dedmon Distinguished Teaching Professor Award, Dr. Richard J. Bay.

Now I would like to express my appreciation to members of the Radford University community who seek and obtain outside funding through grants and contracts. I recognize that they do so in order to add depth to university programs, to expand knowledge in an academic discipline, or to provide a service to the region, the nation or the world. These people are go-getters who respond to needs with great ideas and are willing to do the extra work required to secure funding from government and private sources.  

Each year, proposals are funded in every college and every division of the university. They sometimes bring in hundreds of dollars, sometimes thousands. Today we honor those who have brought in millions of dollars.

The Million Dollar Circle was formed to publicly acknowledge and thank those who have secured or directed Radford University projects funded by external agencies with a total of at least one million dollars.  

Please allow me to introduce today’s honorees.

Dr. Joseph Chase is a professor in the Department of Information Technology and recently served as interim dean of the College and Science and Technology. Dr. Chase has secured more than a million dollars in funding, supporting students for success in math and science and for scholarships enrolling in classes at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center.

Dr. Leslie Daniel serves as co-director of the Technical and Training Assistance Center (known as T-TAC), and is an assistant professor in the Department of Special Education. Dr. Daniel recently secured a grant for more than $1.3 million dollars for T/TAC, the largest grant ever made to Radford University. We commend Dr. Daniel’s leadership and commitment.

Dr. Kathryn Hoover has secured $1.3 million in grants for the School of Teacher Education and Leadership. Over the past three years, she has been co-Project Director for the Infant and Toddler Connection of the New River Valley. Dr. Hoover has directed the Early Childhood Special Education Teacher Training program, providing support for teachers seeking special education endorsement. We offer Dr. Hoover our thanks and appreciation for her dedication and leadership on these projects which have had a major impact on the children and teachers in our state.

Ms. Veronica Lewis joins the One Million Dollar Circle for her work as co-Project Director on the Student Support Services TRIO program. She has secured more than one million dollars in grants for the office since 2004. We offer our thanks to Ms. Lewis for her contributions to these projects.

Congratulations to Dr. Chase, Dr. Daniel, Ms. Lewis, and Dr. Hoover.  Each of you will receive the $1,000 research awards presented to our One Million Dollar Circle awardees.

Today I would also like to take the opportunity to recognize a Radford University faculty member who achieved Three Million Dollar Circle status during this past year.

Dr. Kenna Colley is an assistant professor in the Department of Special Education, and serves as co-director of the Training and Technical Assistance Center. She assists school divisions in working towards building inclusive environments by the implementation of successful positive behavior supports, teacher collaboration and adapted curriculum. Dr. Colley has secured more than $3 million in grants for the School of Teacher Education. Our sincere appreciation to Dr. Colley.

Please join me in applauding all these faculty members for their wonderful accomplishments. 

Dr. Stanton:

As we close, I would invite everyone to join us for some refreshments in Flossie Martin Gallery.  I would also ask that award recipients stay behind for photographs.