Faculty/Staff Accomplishments and News Briefs July 2025

In this issue, we celebrate the accomplishments of faculty and staff in facilities services, the library, the learning center, and music. We also share an opportunity to vote for Meredith and the Meredith Autism Program in the Raleigh’s Best competition.

Patty Blackwell, Facilities Services, was invited to be a guest speaker at Durham County’s inaugural Women Veterans Recognition Day Celebration on June 12. Isaac Johnson, Military Board Director for Congresswoman Valerie P. Foushee (NC-04), presented certificates of Special Congressional Recognition to Blackwell and two other guest speaker veterans, Jasmine Lubbad, USMC, and Chrisma Brock, US Army. The first proclamation issued by the Durham County Board of Commissioners declaring the day as Women Veterans Recognition Day in Durham County was read by Chrystal Thomas, Deputy Director, General Services. Other dignitaries in attendance included Durham County Manager Claudia Hager and Durham County Commissioner Stephen J. Valentine.

Several states, including North Carolina, have recognized June 12 as Women Veterans Recognition Day. On that date in 1948, women were finally allowed to be permanent, regular members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, under the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. The first Women Veterans Day was held on June 12, 2018, on the 70th anniversary. 

Research & Instruction Librarians Addison Stinson and Amanda Sullivan, and Associate Director of the Learning Center and Transfer Student Support Specialist Morgan Johnson attended the annual The Innovative Library Classroom (TILC) conference in Williamsburg, Va., on June 5-6. Stinson and Johnson gave a presentation, “Feminist Fuel For Your Fire: Reigniting Passion, Combating Burnout, and Creating Sustainable Careers through Feminist Pedagogy,” which explored the feminization of and emotional labor required in library professions, and how feminist pedagogical techniques can be used in instruction to combat resulting burnout.

Student Success Administrative Assistant and Testing Coordinator Lilly Wood, Associate Director of the Learning Center and Transfer Student Support Specialist Morgan Johnson, and former Learning Center tutors Alysia Rosenzweig and Jakelin Santos Reyes attended the annual Southeastern College Learning Center Association (SECLCA) conference in Columbia, S.C., on June 12-13. Rosenzweig and Santos Reyes gave a presentation titled “Tutee Success: Exploring Tutor-Tutee Relationships and Effective Strategies,” which used survey data from tutees to identify tutoring techniques and behaviors that students perceive as most effective and helpful. They found that in-person, afternoon, and hour-long sessions were most popular, and that physical notes on paper, rather than on whiteboards or laptops, were preferred by tutees. Other important techniques included constructive criticism and giving tutees agency over a session’s agenda.  

Director of Instrumental Activities Jim Waddelow conducted the 13th annual Oklahoma Haydn Festival Symphony concert in Oklahoma City on June 27, 2025. Drawing musicians from five states, the ensemble played two symphonies and a Nocturne for solo flute. 

News Briefs

Support Meredith & MAP in Raleigh’s Best competition

The Meredith Autism Program (MAP) has been nominated for the 2025 Raleigh’s Best competition in the Educational Services/Tutoring category. Voting continues through July 25. Daily online voting is encouraged! 

Meredith College is also nominated in the College/University category. 

Raleigh’s Best invites, engages, and allows its audience to recognize the best businesses, organizations, and people in our area. The competition’s focus is on businesses and professionals who support, serve, and do business in the Raleigh area.

The link to vote is http://voteraleighsbest.com/