CASNewsletterFall2020

Graduating in Honoribus At the Spring 2020 Commencement, six College of Arts and Sciences students graduated in Honoribus : BRIANNA L. GEIGLE, BS Medical Lab Science and BA Spanish. Honors Thesis: “The Mechanism Used by Pseudomonas syringae to Cause DNA Double Strand Breaks in Arabidopsis thaliana Plants.” MADISON MARIE RUTTER, BS Biology and AS Biotechnology. Honors Thesis: “The Use of CRISPR Cas-9 Systems on Blistered Cuticles in C. elegans.” SHYANN MARIE SPRINGER, BSED English Education. Honors Thesis: “Increasing English Acquisition in Japan.” SHAYLA JO STEINLEY, BS Biology with Allied Health Certificate, Minor Psychology. Honors Thesis: “Comparing RNAi and CRISPR Treatments of Hereditary Neurological Diseases in C. elegans.” CINDY SARALY VENEGAS MATTA, BS Chemistry and BS Biotechnology. Honors Thesis: “Quantitative Comparison of GM1 Gangliosidosis Afflicted Ovine Tissue Using Thin-Layer Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry.” CARLY T. WHEETING, BA Communication Studies, Minor Geography. Honors Thesis: “Building the Pack: How NSU Could Use Tradition to Foster Student Belonging.” STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS Research Awards PARKER HEGER, who is pursuing a BS in Chemistry with Allied Health Certificate and Minors in Psychology and Philosophy, has been awarded $2,000 for his project entitled, “The Effects of Dehydroabietic Acid on Sirtuin Regulation as a Possible Novel Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease.” His research mentor for this project is Dr. Andrew Russell, Associate Professor of Biology. NOLAN MCLAUGHIN, pursuing a BS in Medical Lab Science and an AS in Biotechnology, has been awarded $2,000 for his project entitled, “Genetic Factors of Biofilm Inhibition.” His research mentor for this project is Dr. Andrew Russell, Associate Professor of Biology. LAURIE ROGERS, a double major pursuing a BS degree in both Biology and Chemistry, has been awarded $1,000 for her project entitled, “Gene Variations Linked to Sweet Tooth Trait.” Her research mentor for this project is Dr. Alyssa Kiesow, Professor of Biology. FACULTY SPOTLIGHT CAS Distinguished Faculty Award DR. GUANGWEI DING is the first recipient of the College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Faculty Award. Dr. Ding, a chemistry faculty member in the Department of Science and Mathematics, arrived at NSU in 2005 after completing post-doctoral research at South Dakota State University. He is a popular chemistry professor who is often praised for his cheerful demeanor and passion for the subject. He is also a distinguished scholar, with many publications related to environmental chemistry and other subjects. Dr. Ding also serves as the faculty mentor for Rising Scholar chemistry courses and completes annual assessment reports for the chemistry program. He is an asset to NSU in many ways – well done Dr. Ding! A PERFECT FIT: NSU’s Faculty Athletic Representative DR. COURTNEY WAID-LINDBERG, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice, began serving as NSU’s Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) in Fall 2019. Dr. Waid- Lindberg is a natural fit for this position, as she was a four-year letter winner on the women’s swim team as well as a two-time all-academic Southeastern Conference performer at the University of Kentucky. “Considering my background in academia and athletics, I feel that serving Northern’s student-athletes in the capacity of FAR has facilitated the most optimal way for me to give back to our students at NSU,” she said. “As FAR, I serve as an advocate for our student-athletes with Academic Affairs, as well as act as the voice for Academic Affairs with NSU Athletics. In my role, I am confident that all entities can work effectively together so that Northern will continue to move forward academically in the eyes of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) as well as Division II of the NCAA.” In her short time as FAR, the NSIC has recognized Dr. Waid-Lindberg’s leadership potential. In July, she was selected by the NSIC office as one of seven female athletic staff, and the only FAR at conference member institutions to participate in leadership development opportunities in the Fall of 2020. These opportunities include the Division II Governance Academy in September 2020 as well as “Women Leaders X: Stronger Together,” a two-day leadership symposium hosted by Women Leaders in College Sports in October 2020. courses like Introduction to Criminal Justice. His research interests focus on the relationship between socio-economic status and family interactions, including parent and grandparent attitudes and behaviors, and child cognitive achievement and behavior problems. Dr. Near is excited to start a new chapter of his life at Northern. MS. BROOKE C. NELSON, Instructor of English, Reading, and Communication Studies at the Huron Community Campus, is originally from Volga, South Dakota. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English and a TESOL certificate at Northern State University and a master’s degree in Applied Linguistics— TESL from the University of South Florida. Most of Ms. Nelson’s research lies in discourse analysis and sociolinguistics. Recently, she has conducted and presented work on linguistic creativity, multimodality, and impoliteness in the context of online sexual harassment. Some of her upcoming work has shifted focus to mitigation strategies used by a gender non-conforming activist in online contexts. When not at work, Ms. Nelson enjoys spoiling her three pets—Leonardo Reginald Alexander, Alan, and Ukulele—with plenty of treats and toys, watching scary movies while providing unasked-for commentary, and getting lost in foreign countries.