Latest Achievements

Updates about the latest accomplishments—including latest research, publications, and awards—by students, faculty, and staff

Submit an Achievement

Dr. Armeda C. Reitzel, Communication

Dr. Armeda C. Reitzel will give a presentation on teaching English as a Foreign Language in Nicaragua at the Michigan Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages conference on Oct. 2, 2010. This presentation is based on her experiences as a Fulbright Scholar in Nicaragua spring semester 2010.

Du Cheng, Biological Sciences

The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) has selected Du Cheng from Humboldt State University as a 2010 award recipient of the ASM Undergraduate Research Fellowship. This fellowship is aimed at highly competitive students who wish to pursue graduate careers (Ph.D. or MD/Ph.D.) in microbiology. Dr. Jianmin Zhong from HSU is Du Cheng’s mentor. The research title is: Study of Prevalence and Transmission Routes of Rickettsia species in Ixodes pacificus by Real-time PCR.

Steven Dixon, Economics

HSU alum Steven Dixon (’10, economics) has been named a 2010/2011 Capital Fellow by the Center for California Studies, Sacramento. Dixon will be one of 18 Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellows in the year-long, nationally-recognized public policy program, which offers participants hands-on experience in state government. Dixon, a former McKinleyville High School student, was the first president of the California State Student Association under a new constitution adopted in 2009. He is also former Humboldt County Human Rights Commissioner and a former member of the Eureka Chamber of Commerce.

Drs. Sheila Steinberg and Steven Steinberg, Sociology / Environmental Science and Management

Dr. Sheila Steinberg (Professor, Sociology) and Dr. Steven Steinberg (Professor, Environmental Science and Management) published a book chapter, Global Women Superheroes: Place, Space and Action, in the September 2010 release: Women's Encounter with Globalization. Frontpage Publications, London, UK. ISBN: 9788190884181.

The chapter examines examples of how individuals, critically exploring their own space and place, achieved successful social and environmental change.

Kathleen Doty, English

Kathleen Doty recently published “(Un)Becoming Conduct: Cotton Mather’s Ornaments for the Daughters of Zion and the Salem Witchcraft Crisis,” in _Instructional Writing in English_, eds. Matti Peikola et al., published by John Benjamins, Amsterdam.

Her article “Formulaic Discourse and Speech Acts in the Witchcraft Trial Records of Salem, 1692,” appeared in _Journal of Pragmatics_ 41:3, 458-469.

Breanna Powers, Matt Johnson, Joseph LaManna, Adam Rich, Wildlife

A paper has been accepted for publication in the peer-reviewed journal Northwestern Naturalist. The lead author is Breanna Powers, who was part of the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at HSU. Other authors include Matt Johnson (wildlife faculty), Joseph LaManna (wildlife graduate student), and Adam Rich (biologist with the US Forest Service). Their research examined effects of cattle grazing on gophers in high elevation meadows on the Sierra Nevada.

John W. Powell, Philosophy

John Powell presented two invited plenary-session papers at conferences in April at Manchester Univ. in England, and a revision of one is forthcoming in The Philosophers' Magazine. The first paper, appearing in TPM, at a conference on informal logic, critical thinking and argumentation theory, is entitled "What Are the Criteria of a Good Argument?" The second, at a conference on methods of Wittgenstein and Frank Ebersole, was entitled "How Subversive is Ordinary Language Philosophy?"

Nicole Jean Hill, Art + Film

My images are included in the upcoming book "CAFO: The Tragedy of Industrial Factory Farms" published by Watershed Media. The book includes essays by major writers on the topics of food and agriculture, including Michael Pollen and Wendell Berry. The photographs documented purebred poultry and accompany the chapter on breed diversity.

Link to the book info: http://www.watershedmedia.org/cafo_overview.html

Steven Martin, Environmental Science & Management

Steven Martin and former graduate student Kate McCurdy published a peer-reviewed article in International Journal of Wilderness on the use and effectiveness of bear resistant food storage canisters in Yosemite National Park.

Martin, Steven and Kate McCurdy. 2010. Wilderness food storage: Are bear-resistant food storage canisters effective? International Journal of Wilderness 16(1): 13-19.

Erik Jules, Biological Sciences

Erik Jules published a paper in the journal Ecology on the effects of wolf reintroduction in Yellowstone National Park on aspen forests.

Kauffman, M. J., J.F. Brodie, E.S. Jules. 2010. Are wolves saving Yellowstone’s aspen? a landscape-level test of a behaviorally mediated trophic cascade. Ecology 91:2740-2753.

Kjirsten Wayman, Chemistry

Published an article in the journal Phytochemistry on the chemotaxonomy of plant species in the genus Pseudowintera, a New Zealand endemic genus.

Kjirsten A. Wayman, Peter J. de Lange, Lesley Larsen, Catherine E. Sansom, Nigel B. Perry, “Chemotaxonomy of Pseudowintera: Sesquiterpene dialdehyde variants are species markers”, Phytochemistry 2010, 71, 766-772.

Joshua R. Smith, Chemistry

Jun Zhu, Christian Dahlstrand, Joshua R. Smith, Sébastien Villaume, and Henrik Ottosson; Symmetry 2010, 2(3), 1653-1682

On the Importance of Clar Structures of Polybenzenoid Hydrocarbons as Revealed by the π-Contribution to the Electron Localization Function

http://www.mdpi.com/2073-8994/2/3/1653/

William Wood, Chemistry

An article titled "Candid Photographic Portraits" and 9 photographs was published in the September issue of Redwood Snapshots, a publication of the Redwood Camera Club.

Candid photography, sometimes called “street photography,” has long been an important aspect of William Wood's phtography. It involves taking photos of people acting spontaneously in their natural environment. These photographs preserve an instant in people’s lives when they are relaxed and behaving naturally.

Department of Social Work, Social Work

HSU’s Department of Social Work has received $4,000 of a $40,000 award administered by the non-profit Council on Social Work Education to finance learning and small-group collaboration between eight elders from local indigenous tribes and all of the department’s undergraduate, junior-level students. Ten programs nationwide will benefit from the funding, provided by the John A. Hartford Foundation, which promotes the health and independence of America’s older adults. Department Chair Ronnie Swartz, Coordinator Jamie Jensen and Cultural Liaison and Social Work Faculty Member Michelle Rainer are administering the program.

Mary and Stephen Cunha, Geography

Mary and Stephen Cunha published California: A Changing State. An Atlas for California Students. The effort includes over 90 original maps, diagrams, and tables completed by 14 HSU students under the direction of Mary Beth, along with Stephen's accompanying text and photographs. A grant from the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund supported the project, along with additional help from the National Geographic Society and HSU. http://www.humboldt.edu/cga/california-student-atlas/

Patty Yancey, Education

My chapter on "Learning and Teaching Dance in the Elementary Classroom" was published in the new edited volume: Artful Teaching: Integrating the Arts for Understanding Across the Curriculum, K-8 (Editors: David Donahue and Jennifer Stuart; Publisher: Teachers College Press; 2010.) Eight of us authors in the new book were partners in the Arts Education Initiative (AEI), a multi-year, regional initiative funded by the Ford Foundation.

David Scheerer, Dance, Music & Theatre

A Television Spot directed by TFD Professor David Scheerer for CoxRassussen & Co. Marketing and Advertising of Eureka has won a Telly Award. Alicia Cox and Brent Rasmussen produced. The 30 second spot, titled "Leon's 007" plays on a James Bond theme. The Tellys honor regional and cable television commercials from more than 13,000 U.S. entries annually.

William Wood, Chemistry

William F. Wood, Jeffrey P. Copeland, Richard E. Yates, Iman K. Horsey, Lynne R. McGreevy. (2009). Potential semiochemicals in urine from free ranging wolverines (Gulo gulo Pallas, 1780). Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 37: 574–578

Willliam Wood, Chemistry

William F. Wood, Aya Kubo, Tony B. Shaffer (2010). Antimicrobial activity of long-chain (E)-3-alken-2-ones. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters 20: 1819–1820.

Dr. Robert Cliver, History

Dr. Robert Cliver (Assistant Professor, History) will give a talk at the Tenth International Women in Asia Conference in Canberra, Australia, Sept. 29 to Oct. 1. His talk is titled "Red Silk Sisters": Working Class Women in the Chinese Revolution.

Dakota L. Hamilton, History

I had three book reviews published over the last academic year in The Sixteenth Century Studies Journal.

Brent Duncan, Professor, Department Chair, Psychology

Professor Brent Duncan and colleagues from Chapman and Loyola Marymount universities recently presented two 3-day workshops – Providing Mental Health Services in Schools to an audience of over 120 professors and practicing professionals in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. Vietnamese schools have experienced a recent increase in behavioral problems among youth including incidents of violence, problems with excess videogame and on-line behavior, depression and youth suicide.

James Floss, Communication

James Floss is starring as David O. Selznick in Redwood Curtain's production of Moonlight at Magnolias by Ron Hutchinson from September 9th through the 25th.

Victor Golla, Anthropology

Victor Golla recently published, at University of California Press, a comprehensive illustrated handbook on California’s indigenous languages entitled "California Indian Languages." This work, the first of its kind, stands to become an essential reference on California’s remarkable Indian languages, outlining the basic structural features of more than two dozen language types and mapping the incredible linguistic diversity of Native California.

Chris Aberson, Psychology

Dr. Aberson recently began a second three-year term as Executive Editor of The Journal of Social Psychology.

He also began new terms on the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Applied Social Psychology and Teaching of Psychology.

Chris Aberson, Psychology

Published the book: Aberson, C. L. (2010). Applied Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences. New York: Psychology Press.

and the book chapter: Aberson, C. L. (2010). Diversity experiences and intergroup attitudes. In R. J. Crisp (Ed.) The psychology of social and cultural diversity. Malden, MA: Blackwell.

Dr. Robert Cliver, History

Dr. Cliver's article "Minzhu Guanli: The Democratization of Factory Management in the Chinese Revolution," which appeared in Labor History (Vol. 50, no. 4, Nov. 2009), was awarded the prize for best article by scholar within five years of completing the Ph.D. The award from Routledge publishers included a prize of $500. The award was announced in the latest issue of Labor History.

Dr. Alexis Celeste Bunten, Anthropology

Peer Reviewed Journal Publication:
Title: More like Ourselves: Indigenous Capitalism through Tourism

The American Indian Quarterly
Volume 34, Number 3, Summer 2010

John M. Meyer, Politics

New book, The Environmental Politics of Sacrifice, released by MIT Press this month http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/item/default.asp?ttype=2&tid=12321.

Co-edited by Meyer, the book provides diverse disciplinary perspectives on the contested rhetoric of "sacrifice" in environmental controversies. Contributors include HSU alum Justin Williams ('09).

Suzanne Pasztor, History

Published "Mexico: Revolution and Post-Revolution" in Volume 64 of "Handbook of Latin American Studies." This is a premier reference work in Latin American Studies, published by the Hispanic Division of the Library of Congress and the University of Texas Press. Contributors are appointed by the Librarian of Congress. This is my 15th year as a contributing author and editor of the Handbook.

Walter Duffy and Sharon Kahara, Fisheries Biology

Drs. Duffy and Kahara recently had an article published in the journal ecological applications. The artical reports their findings of ecological services provided by wetlands restored under USDA conservation programs. The citation for their paper is: Duffy, W.G. and S. N. Kahara. 2010. Wetland ecosystem services in California's Central Valley and implications for wetland reserve program conservation practices.

Tall Chief Comet; Chris DeHart; Adam Cockrill; Desiree Perez, Plant Operations; Marketing & Communications
HSU has made the list of Sierra Magazine’s Coolest Schools of 2010. The Sierra Club’s flagship publication compiles the list to recognize the most sustainable universities nationwide. Ranking is based on a survey of several different categories including academics, energy usage and waste management.

Anthony P. Kontos, School of Applied Health

Dr. Kontos, who is currently on professional leave for 1 year at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, received a $143,000 grant from the US Army Special Operations Forces for research on mild-traumatic brain injury and PTSD. He was elected the American Psychological Association Division 47 Program Chair for 2010-2012, and published an article in the Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology titled, “Exploring Differences in Computerized Neurocognitive Concussion Testing between African A

Howard Kaufman, Music

On 7/31/10, the Explorations in Afro-Cuban Dance and Drum program completed its 14th year at HSU. It is widely recognized as the most comprehensive workshop on Afro-Cuban folkloric music and dance in the United States. Internationally known Cuban and American artists teach for one week participants from the U.S. and abroad. I founded this program in 1996 with the support and coordination of the Office of Extended Education directed by Carl Hansen with the assistance of Ward Angles.

Mohsen Modarres; Beth Wilson, Business

1) Modarres, M. 2010. Reorganization: Contingent Effects of Changes in the CEO and Structural Complexity, Academy of Strategic Management Journal, Vol 9.

2) Modarres, M. & Wilson, B. 2010. Improving Corporate Decision Making and Design in Emerging Economies: Does Information Technologies Matter? Western Economic Association International. July2-5

3) Modarres, et al,. 2010. Reorganization: A Comparative Analysis of Change in Market and Non-Market Organizations. Decision Sciences Institute. San Diego California

Michael Eldridge, English

Spent Fall 2009 as Fulbright Visiting Research Chair in Globalization and Cultural Studies at the Institute on Globalization and the Human Condition, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario.

Published "Calypso's Cosmopolitan Strategy: Race, Nation, and Global Culture in Postwar Canada" in issue 10:1 (2010) of the Institute's refereed "Working Papers" series.

Sam Sonntag, Politics

Professor Sonntag is an international collaborator in a five-year, million-dollar research project under the direction of Dr. Linda Cardinal at the University of Ottawa. The project is funded by the Canadian government’s initiative on research alliances between academic institutions and community organizations. Sonntag’s contribution to the project stems from her 2006-2009 stint on the Group of Advisors to the National Security Education Program, which initiated state language summits and language roadmaps in the US.

Sam Sonntag, Joseph Dieme, Politics

Professor Sam Sonntag, Department of Politics, had an article entitled “La Diversité Linguistique et la Mondialisation: Les Limites des Théories Libérales” (Linguistic Diversity and Globalization: Limits of Liberal Theory) published in May in Politique et Sociétés, the journal of the Quebec political science association. She was assisted in the translation of the article into French by Professor Joseph Diémé, Department of World Languages and Cultures.

Prof. Marcy Burstiner, Journalism & Mass Communication

The Lumberjack received two Society of Professional Journalism awards for general excellence for a college newspaper. Journalism Prof. Marcy Burstiner is the newspaper's faculty adviser.

Prof. Marcy Burstiner, Journalism & Mass Communication

The California Journalism Educational Coalition named Assistant Prof. Marcy Burstiner "Journalism Educator of the Year." The Coalition is a prestigious umbrella group of several state journalism organizations including the California Newspaper Publishers Association. Prof. Burstiner is the faculty adviser for the Lumberjack newspaper.

Teresa Stanley, Art + Film

My work will be featured in the upcoming book "Acrylic Innovations: Styles and Techniques of 64 Visionary Artists" by Nancy Reyner, published by Northlight Books. The book will be available on Amazon in October and is a follow-up to Ms. Reyner's bestselling "Acrylic Revolution".

Alison Purcell O'Dowd, Environmental Science & Management

Dr. Purcell O'Dowd received a Sea Grant to explore how an invasive cord grass, Spartina densiflora, influences the overall primary productivity of salt marshes surrounding Humboldt Bay.

Nikola Hobbel, English

Nikola Hobbel's new text, "Social Justice Pedagogy across the Curriculum: The Practice of Freedom" (co-edited with Thandeka K. Chapman, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee) was published in the United States and Europe in April, 2010 by Routledge. Reviewers of the book have noted that it is "A must-have in any teacher education program," and "A brave, smart work [that] comprises hopeful opposition to injustice in school and society."

Rachel M. Turner (student); Pamela Brown (faculty sponsor), Social Work

Rachel M. Turner has been selected from among 205 student applicants to be one of 70 Sally Casanova California Pre-Doctoral Scholars for 2010-11. The award includes funding to support a plan developed by the student and the faculty sponsor to explore opportunities for doctoral study, travel to doctoral granting institutions, and prepare application materials. Rachel will also have the opportunity to apply for a summer research internship at a doctoral institution.

Andrew P. Stubblefield, Forestry, Fire & Rangeland Management

Participated in Early Career Scientist Assembly at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder Colorado.
The purpose of the forum was to discuss means of closing the gap between climate change scientists and water resource managers. The goal was to help improve the adaptation of human societies to climate change impacts. Participants cowrote a position paper which will be submitted to the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.

Beth Wilson, Economics

Presented "Assessing the Economic Impact of a Theatre Renovation" at the Western Economic Association Meetings in Portland, Ore., on July 3rd, 2010.

Laura K. Hahn, Communication

The paper, "Teaching Public Speaking: Cultural Expressions through Food" will be presented at the annual meeting of the National Communication Association (NCA) in San Francisco.

Laura K. Hahn, Communication

The chapter, “I’m Too Sexy for Your Movement: An Analysis of the Failure of the Animal Rights Movement to Promote Vegetarianism” was published in "Arguments About Animal Ethics," Eds. Greg Goodale and Jason E. Black. Lexington Books, 2010.

Tasha Souza, Communication

Souza, T.J., Carey, T., McMartin, F., Ambrosino, R., & Grimes, J. (in press). Using multimedia case stories of exemplary teaching for faculty development. In L.B. Nilson & J.E. Miller (Eds.), To Improve the Academy: Resources for Faculty, Instructional, and Organizational Development, 29. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Souza, T.J., Dallimore, E, Pilling, B. Aoki, E. (2010). Communication climate, comfort, and cold-calling: An analysis of discussion-based courses at multiple universities. In L.B. Nilson & J.E. Miller (Eds.), To Improve the Academy: Resources for Faculty, Instructional, and Organizational Development, 28, (pp. 227-249). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Laura K. Hahn & Michael Bruner, Communication

We have had two competitive papers accepted for presentation: “Would You Like Some E Coli with That? Anti-'Organic' Rhetoric“ has been selected for presentation at "Chew on This: Food Studies in Communication," at the National Communication Association (NCA) Scholars Seminar. The second, "Politics on Your Plate: Building and Burning Bridges across Organic, Vegetarian and Vegan Discourse" will be presented at NCA's Annual Meeting in San Francisco.