Michalyn Easter (History & Political Science ’13) on her internship at the National Civil Rights Museum

Posted on November 21, 2012

Michalyn EasterName: Michalyn Easter
Major: History  ’13
Internship: Collections Department, National Civil Rights Museum

What is your internship?
I am an intern with the Collections Department of the National Civil Rights Museum. I work under Marian Carpenter who is the Collections Manager of the Museum and is responsible for the intake, storage, research and upkeep of artifacts and objects. My job is to go through the objects we receive, draft condition reports, describe the use of each object, how it needs to be stored and displayed. For each object, I also do background research: how it is useful to the museum and how it relates to the rest of the collection. The Loraine Motel part of the complex is closing down for renovation this fall and the Museum extended a call for artifact donations so the Collections Department has been very busy.

Is most of your work related to paperwork?
Some of it is paperwork but a lot of it is actually hands-on working with the objects. I don’t get my hands dirty because we have to wear gloves but I don’t just do data-entry. I actually handle a lot of the objects myself.

What types of objects do you receive?
Just recently, we received two LIFE magazines. One is from 1965 that features the March for Civil Rights in Selma, Alabama. The second one is from 1969 about black models and it features a black model on the cover, which was very innovative at the time. What is also significant about that particular issue is that it switches from talking about “negro” to talking about “black” people. Both of these magazines will be added to the Museum collection.

Do all objects you work with make it into the Museum collection?
We document every single object we receive. We describe, package and store it properly. However, not all objects make it into the collection.

How did you get to intern with the National Civil Rights Museum?
The Museum reached out to History Department because they were looking for interns. Dr. Neal Palmer (Chair, History & Political Science) told all history majors about the opportunity and I applied.

Is this internship opportunity for credit?
I started my internship in May and worked through August, for Fall 2012 credit. I am technically done with it but I am still there because I liked it so much that I just kept coming back.  My academic advisor, Dr. Ben Jordan (Visiting Associate Professor of History and Director of Living Learning Communities) was also my internship supervisor. We have been meeting on a regular basis. He came to visit my internship site and I am in the process of completing my final internship report.

You graduate next spring. Do you have any plans for after graduation?
Yes. I would like to teach so I am currently in the process of applying to graduate programs in education. I am applying to the MAT here at CBU, to Vanderbilt and University of Melbourne, Australia.

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To read more Internship Spotlight pieces, take a look at our recent interviews with Brian Vinson (Sport Management, ’13), Cali Copsey (Mechanical Engineering ’14) and Riley Pace (Chemistry, ’13).

If you are interested in doing an internship, talk to your advisor or contact the Career Center today!

Posted in Academics, Internships, School of Arts, Student Life

Riley Pace (Chemistry ’13) tells us about his internship at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Posted on November 21, 2012

Riley PaceUpdate (3/1/13): Riley was just featured on St. Jude’s Undergraduate Student Profiles page. Congratulations!

Name: Riley Pace
Major: Chemistry ’13
Internship: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Did you come to CBU knowing you would be Chemistry major?
Yes. The person who made me want to be a Chemistry major is my high-school Chemistry teacher, Israel Cordero who is actually a CBU graduate. He was really great! I loved Chemistry in high school and came in wanting to major in Chemistry and go to pharmacy school. Half-way through my freshman year, I decided I wanted to go to med school. Chemistry was always a good fit for me. I am currently in the process of sending in my secondary med school applications.

Tell us about your internship!
My internship is at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. I work in research on this chemotherapy drug called pemetrexed. Pemetrexed is primarily used in the treatment of Medulloblastoma, which is a type of brain tumor. We take a molecule of the drug and send it through this complicated machine and then test the concentration of the drug in blood samples.  Once we move on to human samples, we study what happens when the drug enters your body: where it deposits, if it has any effect on the kids’ tumors.

Who do you work with?
I work with Dr. Clinton Stewart in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. He is the principle investigator on the project I’m involved in. I work in his lab and my mentor is Michael Roberts who is a senior technologist in the lab. Dr. Stewart checks our progress, makes sure we are on track.  They both have a lot of experience in the field. Dr. Stewart is on the faculty at St. Jude which is very prestigious.

Have you enjoyed your experience at St. Jude?
When you are in Memphis, St. Jude is everywhere. You always hear about the good stuff they are doing, so it is incredible to be a part of it. I don’t get to see the hospital much because I am working in research but the few times I have had an opportunity to go, it’s been crazy! You see all these sick kids walking around and you’d think it would be depressing but it is such a happy place and I think that’s awesome. For Halloween, they decorated everything. They had stations where the kids could go trick-or-treat, some of the faculty dressed up. Some of the scientists on our team dressed up as the Avengers and went and visited the kids. It was pretty sweet.

How did you apply for your internship?
I applied to the Pediatric Oncology Education Program. That’s a summer program, I did it this past summer and my current internship is a continuation of the work I did then.  I learned about the program through my advisor, Dr. Denis Merat. Every Chemistry major needs to do a research project in order to graduate and I really wanted to work at St. Jude because it would look fantastic on my resume. I am so happy that I got a chance to do it because over 600 applications come in and only about 60 get chosen. The program is very competitive.

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To read more Internship Spotlight pieces, take a look at our recent interviews with Brian Vinson (Sport Management, ’13), Cali Copsey (Mechanical Engineering ’14) and Michalyn Easter (History & Political Science, ’13).

If you are interested in doing an internship, talk to your advisor or contact the Career Center today!

Posted in Academics, Internships, School of Sciences, Student Life

Cali Copsey (Mechanical Engineering ’14) talks to us about her internship with the Target Engineering Support Branch for the Naval Air Command

Posted on November 21, 2012

Cali CopseyName: Cali Copsey
Major: Mechanical Engineering ’14
Internship: Target Engineering Support Branch for the Naval Air Command at the Patuxent River Naval Base in Maryland

Could you tell us a little bit about the internship you completed this past summer?
My internship was with the Target Engineering Support Branch for the Navy. The main purpose of the Support Branch is to design and somewhat manufacture targets for the navy to practice shooting at. There were three other interns and we each worked on a different project. I was paired with a mentor and we worked on the “Over The Horizon” project.

Tell us more about your project!
Since weapons have become so advanced, the Navy needed to develop a relay system to control their practice targets. Since the targets are so far away, they needed a mechanism that would go up to the sky and relay the message back down. We used to use airplanes for those purposes but that is very expensive so now we are trying to use aerostats, which is basically a blimp and doing different calculations to see if it would work because not a whole lot of research has been done in this area yet. That was the main project I worked on.

Did you feel prepared for your internship?
Yes. Everything I’d learned in class was very relevant to what I was doing, especially my Mechanics of Solids class that I had taken with Dr. Brown. It was amazing because you always hear how at school you mostly learn how to problem solve and learn the rest on the job, but this was a pretty direct application of what we had been studying. We were using the same equations.

You are from Leonardtown, Maryland. How did you end up at CBU?
I wanted a small school with a good engineering program, which is really hard to find. An engineering program with all the facilities is really expensive so most small schools don’t have one. I came and visited, I liked the facilities, I figured out that I could continue running cross-country so I was hooked. I really enjoy being in such a small school. My teachers know me well and I feel comfortable going to them when I have questions.

You are graduating next year, we know it’s still early, but have you had a chance to think about what you would like to do after you graduate?
I am still thinking about it. I really enjoyed my work at the Target Engineering Support Branch but I am also curious about the biomedical field and there are plenty of professional opportunities in that area here in Memphis.

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To read more Internship Spotlight pieces, take a look at our recent interviews with Brian Vinson (Sport Management, ’13), Michalyn Easter (History & Political Science ’13) and Riley Pace (Chemistry, ’13).

If you are interested in doing an internship, talk to your advisor or contact the Career Center today!

 

Posted in Academics, Internships, School of Engineering, Student Life

12,000 Meals Packed and Ready to go to Haiti Thanks to CBU Community

Posted on November 2, 2012

Lauren Hutchison, center in red hoodie, helps Christian Brothers University community pack up more than 12,000 meal packets of dried food to support the efforts of the CBU Nursing Program’s mission trip to St. Vincent’s School and Orphanage in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Christian Brothers University (CBU) exceeded its goal of 10,000 by assembling more than 12,000 meal packets of dried food to support the efforts of the CBU Nursing Program’s mission trip to St. Vincent’s School and Orphanage in Haiti. On a chilly Saturday morning, October 27, volunteers from the CBU community donated time and/or treasure to help in this humanitarian outreach.

Working in two hour time slots, volunteers packed food in an assembly line in an attempt to prepare as many meals as possible. Competition for finishing a box of meals quickly was part of the fun. The meals will be delivered by the students and faculty of the CBU Nursing Program during their upcoming fall mission trip to Haiti. This will be the second clinical mission trip to St. Vincent’s in Port-au-Prince, Haiti which has supported “Humble Hearts and Healing Hands.” These trips are designed as student clinical experiences to provide healthcare to Haitians in need.

When asked about the impact the drive had on her personally, Assistant Director of the CBU Nursing Program, Dr. Sue Trzynka reflected, “Never in my adult life have I had the opportunity to work for and with an organization such as Christian Brothers University. Many organizations address “service” and the expectations of service for faculty and students.” She continued, “The leadership at CBU takes the pivot position at the front of the line and demonstrates along with faculty and students their commitment to not only service to the community but the global community- in this case Haiti. I am blessed to be a part of the CBU family.”

This group will leave November 3 transporting as many of the meals in containers and in their allotted suitcases as possible. The drive and upcoming trip is especially important since the post-hurricane children’s food allowance has been stopped and Hurricane Sandy has brought even more devastation to the impoverished country. Wynn Tedford, Admissions Recruiter in the Graduate & Professional Studies, noted, “Hurricane Sandy has brought more damage to an already suffering island. The meals we packaged Saturday will ensure, even in this state of disaster, food will be available for the children still suffering from the 2010 earthquake.”

For more information on how to become involved with “Humble Hearts and Healing Hands”, contact Dr. Sue Trzynka at etrzynka@cbu.edu. To learn about the RN to BSN Nursing program at CBU, visit www.cbu.edu/nursing or call (901) 321-3339.

Posted in Events, Lasallian, Press Releases, School of Sciences, Student Life

CBU Challenges Middle School Students with KickStick

Posted on October 30, 2012

Dr. Divya Choudhary, Assistant Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering assists 7th Grader Amber Sanders and 6th Grader Kennedy Stricklen (with hood) both from Havenview, MS (38116) during the Christian Brothers University KickStick Workshop specifically designed to teach middle school students the basics of electric circuits through KickSticks.

Christian Brothers University (CBU) School of Engineering hosted 38 middle school students from around Memphis and challenged them to learn the basics of electric circuits through KickStick during its workshop on Tuesday, October 23.

This workshop, specifically designed for these students, provides an opportunity for them built their own KickStick, a battery-powered spinning arm used to “kick” a Ping-Pong ball across the floor. After brainstorming, the students used a bag of parts, wire, wooden rulers, and duct tape to create the KickStick. They also transformed a corrugated cardboard box into a target with buzzer that sounded when struck by the ball.

During the process, students were introduced to basic electrical engineering concepts such as current paths through a circuit, series circuits, open and closed circuits and the role of switches in making or breaking circuit paths. Students were evaluated on the basis of their ability to identify problems and brainstorm solutions, work as a team member, process the science and engineering concepts, and use the design process to build a tool.

The workshop is part of an ongoing effort by the CBU School of Engineering to introduce middle and high school students to the engineering field and encourage them to pursue the math and science courses that are essential preparation for engineering school. For additional information on CBU Engineering Pre-College Programs, please email engineering@cbu.edu or call (901) 321-3405.

Posted in Academics, Faculty & Staff, Press Releases, School of Engineering

Service at Top of Agenda for CBU Alpha Chi

Posted on October 23, 2012

The Alpha Chi chapter at Christian Brothers University donates books to Ms. Onie Johns, Founder & Manager of Caritas Village (center) pictured with Dr. Randel Price, Chair of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering and Dr. Malinda Fitzgerald, Professor of Biology, who serve as advisors for the Chapter.

The Christian Brothers University (CBU) Tennessee Theta chapter of Alpha Chi is dedicated to serving the Memphis community! A national honor society that is open to all majors, Alpha Chi collected over 400 lbs. of food for the Mid-South Food Bank, along with other schools and organizations, at the end of the spring semester in May.

In addition over the past year, Alpha Chi collected and donated several hundred new and used books for Reading is Fundamental. The books were distributed in the Memphis area to: Headstart, Snowden Clue Program, and Caritas Village. It was rewarding for the members of Alpha Chi to see that when the books were delivered to these organizations, people started going through them.

For this year, Alpha Chi along with Sigma Tau Delta, and the Black Student Association at CBU are spearheading the Toys for Tots through November 2. After Thanksgiving the Chapter will again begin collecting books for Reading is Fundamental.

Alpha Chi is a general honor society, admitting students from all academic disciplines that are among the top 10% of that institution’s juniors, seniors and graduate students. There are 300 chapters nationwide and more than 11, 000 members are inducted annually.

For further information about Alpha Chi’s philanthropic efforts, contact Dr. Malinda Fitzgerald, Professor of Biology at malinda@cbu.edu; for information on CBU, visit www.cbu.edu; and to learn more about Alpha Chi, visit www.alphachihonor.org

Posted in Academics, Press Releases, Student Life

Murti’s “From Science to Art” Opening at CBU Gallery

Posted on October 18, 2012

The Beverly & Sam Ross Gallery at Christian Brothers University (CBU) is proud to feature “From Science to Art” by Dr. Gopal Murti from November 9 – December 13. The exhibit will open with a reception on Friday, November 9 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the gallery on the lower level of Plough Memorial Library.

When asked about the inspiration for both this exhibit and his work in general, Murti remarked, “For almost 40 years of my life, I studied the biological world – ranging from molecules to tissues – using confocal, multi-photon, and electron microscopes. During this journey, I was mesmerized by the intricacy, symmetry, complexity and sheer beauty of the living world.” He continued, “After retirement in 2008, I tried to move away from science but use the vision I acquired in a creative manner. I chose to become a watercolor painter and received training from the renowned artist, Fred Rawlinson. What you see in this exhibit is my transition from a scientist to an artist through my images.”

Murti’s scientific images have garnered many national and international awards, including the prestigious Nikon International Small World competition. They have also adorned the covers of 30 scientific journals, Time magazine, and routinely appear in college and high school text books.

Prior to his retirement, Murti served as the Director of the Scientific Imaging Center at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and as an adjunct Professor of Pathology at the UT Health Science Center. Since then, he became a watercolor painter and has exhibited his work in many local juried shows. He currently serves as the President of the Memphis-Germantown Art League and is a member of the Tennessee Watercolor Society.

In addition, the foyer of the gallery will be displaying an exhibition of portraits, “Spotlights & Shadows” by CBU alumnus Daniel Thompson.

Hours at the Beverly & Sam Ross Gallery are as follows: Monday-Thursday, 7:45 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.; Friday, 7:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, CLOSED; and Sunday, 1:00-11:00 p.m. For additional information call (901) 321-3243 to verify, or visit http://www.cbu.edu/gallery/about.html

Posted in Events, Exhibits, Press Releases

CBU Expanding to Collierville

Posted on October 11, 2012

Christian Brothers University (CBU) is coming to Collierville to serve the needs of adult learners out east. Starting January 2013, students will be able to take classes at a satellite location – the Collierville Chamber of Commerce at 485 Halle Park Drive in Collierville. This new location will cut down travel time and increase the time that can be dedicated to learning for those who live and/or work in the Collierville area.

In announcing this new location, Dr. John Smarrelli, President of the University stated, “As an active partner in the Mid-South community, CBU is dedicated to quality education for everyone. With the Collierville site, CBU is responding to the educational needs of our adult learners who wish to advance their careers without having to commute to our Midtown campus.”

Being offered at this new location is the Bachelor of Arts in Business which is taught in cohort, where students stay with the same classmates for all their coursework and thus become part of a learning community. In addition, the Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology with concentrations in Criminal Justice, Organizational Psychology and Consumer Behavior is being offered.  Other course options include Business Communications, Project Management and Leadership.

Classes are specifically designed to meet the needs of adult learners, and CBU offers the possibility of receiving academic credit for prior learning experience. CBU’s dedicated academic advisers are available to help put together a convenient schedule that meets individual learning goals while accommodating the busy schedules of working adults. In addition, CBU provides a personal approach to education with small class sizes, dedicated faculty and academic advisors, and a practical curriculum with built-in opportunities for personal and professional development.

For more information about this exciting new opportunity, visit cbu.edu/collierville or call (901) 321-3291.

Posted in Academics, Admissions, Adult Professional Studies, Press Releases

CBU Announces Inaugural Bell Tower Gala

Posted on October 10, 2012

In celebration of its rich history, Christian Brothers University (CBU) is proud to present its inaugural Bell Tower Gala on November 17 beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the Memphis Hilton Hotel, Tennessee Grand Ballroom.

This exclusive event, honoring all of the University’s past presidents, will spotlight six including: Brother Terence McLaughlin, FSC; Brother Malcolm O’Sullivan, FSC; Brother Bernard LoCoco, FSC; Brother Michael McGinniss, FSC; Brother Stanislaus Sobczyk, FSC and H. Lance Forsdick Sr., AFSC. The Gala will provide guests an opportunity to celebrate over 140 years of Lasallian tradition while enjoying fine dining, cocktails and the chance to mingle with CBU luminaries past and present.

“The success of the University is due to the dedication and leadership of these past presidents,” notes Dr. John Smarrelli, CBU President. “I am humbled to follow in their footsteps as we build upon their accomplishments fostering the University’s mission of faith, service, and community.”

This unforgettable evening will be a festive, charitable event with all proceeds benefiting the exceptional academic programs and scholarships at CBU. The Gala serves as a tribute to the history of Lasallian education in Memphis.

Presenting Sponsors for this inaugural gala are FedEx Corporation, Gadomski Family Foundation and Robert G. & Paula P. McEniry with Platinum Sponsor being Donna & Dave Nelson Family Foundation as of this publication date.

For more information about becoming a sponsor, reserving a table at the gala, or purchasing a ticket, contact Karen Viotti at (901) 321-3270 or kviotti@cbu.edu. ###

Posted in Advancement, Events, Press Releases

Andy Andrews to Speak at CBU’s M.L. Seidman Lecture

Posted on October 3, 2012

Andy Andrews, author of New York Times bestsellers The Traveler’s Gift and The Noticer, and now How Do You Kill 11 Million People?, will be the keynote speaker at the Fall 2012 M.L. Seidman Town Hall Lecture at Christian Brothers University (CBU) on Tuesday, October 30 at 7:00 p.m. in the University Theater.

Andrews will address the topic “How Do You Kill 11 Million People? Why the Truth Matters More Than You Think.” Andrews believes that the only way to keep the United States of America the greatest country in the world is to demand the truth from our elected officials. By illuminating the startling history of how great countries have gone bad, Andrews will demonstrate in his lecture how we, as American citizens, can avoid the same mistakes by refocusing our standards of leadership.

Andrews has impacted millions with his creative writing and speaking. An international sensation, Andrews’ challenging personal message contains truths for those in all walks of life. The New York Times hailed him as a “modern day Will Rogers who has quietly become one of the most influential people in America.”

Andrews’ life was a typical American story until the age of 19. The loss of both parents — his mother to cancer and his father to an automobile accident — forever altered Andrews’ path. He recalls, “I took a bad situation and made it much worse.” Within a short span, he found himself homeless and without direction. The dramatic change in circumstances forced Andrews to ask himself a simple question: “Is life just a lottery ticket or are there choices one can make to direct his future?” This very question fueled a search that led him to the local library.

After reading biographies of over 200 great men and women, Andrews was challenged to consider, “Were they simply born this way? Or were there decisions made at critical junctures in their lives that led to success?” He resolved to determine the common denominators between each historical figure. The Seven Decisions were born, and the rest is history.

Andrews is shaped by his life path, but his message also carries the weight of hundreds of lives. Each of these past successes adds credence to the simple yet profound wisdom entertainingly presented by Andrews. With the wit of an entertainer and the gravitas of a powerful communicator, he is unique in today’s media driven world. He communicates to audiences from the heart.

The M.L Seidman Memorial Town Hall Series was established by Mr. and Mrs. P.K. Seidman in memory of Mr. M.L. Seidman, founder of an international accounting firm who maintained an active interest in public issues. This series of lectures is scheduled every year in light of current public issues. The town hall forum format encourages the active participation of students, faculty and members of the Memphis community.

This lecture is FREE and open to the public.

For more information or to RSVP for the Lecture, contact Mike Ryan at (901) 321-3272, or email seidman@cbu.edu.

Posted in Events, Press Releases, Student Life