Gaudeamus

Bob Brill, associate professor of psychology, accompanied 12 students who presented their research projects at the 20th LVAIC Undergraduate Psychology Conference, April 30 at Cedar Crest College. Bob moderated a session on gender and social cognition. Student participants were: Jessica Barkhausen ’07, Lindsay Bartlett ’07, Wesley Bush ’06, Jenna Coxe ’06, Laura DeValdenebro ’06, Pamela Fitzgerald ’07, Christina Fleck ’07, Eric Kratz ’07, Gerald McGlinn ’06, Colleen Minnich ’07, Laura Sahlender ’07, and Amber Wilson ’07.

John D. Rossi III ’97 (M.B.A.), assistant professor of accounting, attended the 2005 Southeast regional meeting of the American Accounting Association, April 21-23 in Charlotte, North Carolina. He presented a paper called “A Real-World Application of Investment Theory.” He then attended the Ohio regional meeting of the association, April 28-30 in Columbus, Ohio, to present a paper on “Revenue Recognition Under SAB-101.”

Six brave souls volunteered to be facilitators at Moravian’s first LeaderShape Institute, May 9-13 at Mount Bethel Conference Center in Tuscarora. There they assisted two LeaderShape professionals to provide support for 65 student participants. These are their names; let them never be forgot: John Black, assistant professor of English; Warren Hilton, director of the Career Center; Wayne Killian, Catholic chaplain; Kelly Krieble, assistant professor of physics; Joanne McKeown, associate professor of French; and Penni Zimmerman, Alumni House.

Gary Olson, professor of political science and chair of the department, wrote an op-ed piece for the Morning Call on the role of the liberal arts college. It ran Sunday, May 15, the day after Commencement. And Shalahudin Kafrawi, assistant professor of philosophy and religion, published an explanation of the outrage in the Islamic world over Newsweek’s report that a Q’ran had been debased in the prison at Guantánamo Bay. It ran May 20.

The Alumni Association has awarded its Medallion of Merit to Connie Stirling Hodson ’68, a hardworking supporter of the College in money, time, and dedication. Connie has been a member of the Alumni Association’s board since 1994. A resident of the Chicago area, she also is involved with the Chicago Art Institute, Children’s Hospital, and Northwestern University.

The list of promoted faculty in the May 17 issue of InCommon omitted Deborah Appler, who is now an associate professor at the Seminary.

Errare Humanum Est

Clarke Chapman, professor of religion, is in the second year of a two-year phased retirement and will retire at the end of the 2005-06 academic year.

Ronald Demkee, artist-lecturer in music, conducts the Allentown Band, not the Allentown Municipal Band. P.S. Nice picture of Ron on the May 22 local front of the Morning Call, conducting the side-by-side concert of the Allentown Symphony and local high school musicians.

The dissertation of Barbara Liebhaber, assistant professor of music and director of the music education program, received a complimentary review in the current Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education. It was described as “a substantive addition to research pertaining to the student-teaching process.”

Barbara’s piano fingers are in good shape, too. She accompanied Nora Suggs, artist lecturer in music (flute), at the April 28 Arts Ovation celebration in Allentown. The next evening, she performed on the student/faculty composers concert, playing a two-piano work by a student with Debra Torok, artist-lecturer in music (piano), and a vocal work by Larry Lipkis, professor of music, with Yvonne Robinson, artist-lecturer in music (voice).

Barbara also attended the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association conference, April 28-May 1 in Hershey. So did Hilde Binford, assistant professor of music; Paula Zerkle, associate professor of music and chair of the department; and Neil Wetzel, director of jazz studies. All the juniors in music education helped set up, take down, and person the Moravian booth. They were Keith LaBar, Nathaniel Kirby, Andy Drago, Crystal Mannara, Candy Geary, Christa Speck, the Jennifers Hoose, Davenport, and Kahl, and Jessica Smith ’04.