FALL 2020 A PUBLICATION OF MERCER UNIVERSITY BUILT

MERCERUNIVERSITY PRESSFALL & WINTER 2020MERCER UNIVERSITYPRESS BEGINSITS 41ST YEAR OFPUBLISHING with anew season filled withmusic, sports, fiction,poetry, memoir,true crime, history,philosophy andreligion.FALL/WINTER 2020 SEASON highlighted titlesinclude: The Music of The Statler Brothers: AnAnthology by lead singer Don Reid, who offers an indepth look at the 45 albums recorded by the legendaryquartet during its 40-year reign as country music’spremier group; The Forever Wish of Middy Sweet byGeorgia Writers Hall of Fame author Terry Kay, the storyof Middy Sweet Young, the former beauty queen, andLuke Mercer, the retired history teacher, who reunite 50years after high school; A Proud Athletic History: 100Years of the Southern Conference by John Iamarino,the first definitive history of the SOCON which tellsthe story of notable athletes, coaches and athleticprograms that have built a rich tradition over thedecades; Whose Woods These Are by South CarolinaLiterary Hall of Fame author John Lane, weaving fourintricately layered stories into a search for truth over acontested property boundary and the disappearance ofOld Doc on Thanksgiving Day; Repeat the SoundingJoy: Reflections on Hymns by Isaac Watts by DavidW. Music, retired Baylor University professor of churchmusic, provides an in-depth study of 25 familiar hymnswith complete original text, commentary and scripturalbackground; and Listening for God: Malamud,O’Connor, Updike, & Morrison by Dr. Peter C. Brown,retired Mercer University professor of philosophy andgreat books, offering an interdisciplinary study offour authors through the lens of philosophy, religion,cultural criticism and literature.Visit www.mupress.org to see a complete listingof titles or to download a catalog. Books are availablefrom your favorite independent bookstore, major onlineretailer, or wherever fine books are sold.Order from Mercer University Press directly andreceive a 40% Mercer Alumni discount by calling(478) 301-2880. Shipping charges and taxes will apply.

Mercer students Michelle Graham (left) and Esha Shah areamong those participating in grant-funded work to installlow-cost solar panel systems on Habitat for Humanity homes.MERCER-HABITAT PARTNERSHIPAWARDED GRANTMacon Area Habitat for Humanity and Mercer receiveda 60,000 grant from All Points North Foundation tofund the installation of low-cost solar panel systemson Habitat homes.A decades-long partnership between Macon AreaHabitat for Humanity and Mercer aims to increasehomeownership affordability through low-cost solardeployment in an area where such deployment isTOP 10 MILITARYFRIENDLY SCHOOLTREE CAMPUS USAMercer received the highest honor in the2020-21 Military Friendly Schools list,released in February.The University is listed as a Top 10 institutionamong 625 Military Friendly Schools,recognizing Mercer among the “guidon bearers” for military and veteranprograms and initiatives in the United States.MBA RECOGNIZED BYU.S. NEWS, PRINCETON REVIEWStetson-Hatcher School ofBusiness is ranked among thetop 25% of online MBA programsnationally, according to U.S.News & World Report’s Best OnlinePrograms Rankings, released inJanuary. Additionally, Mercer’s onlineMBA is ranked No. 46 among such programs for veterans.Furthermore, the School ofBusiness appeared on The PrincetonReview’s list of “Best Business Schools for 2020,” released in November,highlighting the top 248 on-campus MBA programs in the country.ThePrincetonReview6T H E M E RC E R I A N FA L L 2 0 2 0historically low. A team of Mercer engineering studentswith a passion to make change in the world is workingto optimize Habitat’s highly efficient homes and designsolar photovoltaic (PV) systems in a way that theycan be installed by local trained technicians —drastically reducing the cost of the overall PVsystem while lowering each homeowner’selectricity bill.Mercer is one of 385institutions across the U.S. toreceive 2019 Tree CampusUSA recognition by theArbor Day Foundation forcommitment to effectiveurban forest management.The University earned this recognition by meeting Tree Campus USA’sfive standards, including maintaining a tree advisory committee, a campustree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for a campus tree program,an Arbor Day observance and a student service-learning project.SEMINARIES THATCHANGE THE WORLDMcAfee School ofTheology, for the seventhconsecutive year, is listedamong the Seminaries thatChange the World, according to the Center for Faith and Service.Each year’s Seminaries that Change the World list seeks to identifyand promote seminaries and divinity schools that are demonstrating acommitment to service and justice through their curriculum, scholarships,internships and student-life experiences.Selection criteria include commitment to service and justice, collaborationwith other seminaries and divinity schools, affordability and innovation.

BEARIN GSCHRISTOPHER IAN SMITH PHOTO; TAYLOR DRAKE PHOTODAY FAMILY CENTERFOR INTERNATIONALGROUNDWATERINNOVATION ESTABLISHEDercer on June 11announced theestablishment ofthe Cecil DayFamily Centerfor InternationalGroundwaterInnovation. Thenew center, led byDr. MichaelMacCarthy, willaccelerate efforts inthe Mercer On Missionprogram and theSchool of Engineeringto provide access toclean water to theworld’s most water-poor communities.The Cecil Day Family Center for InternationalGroundwater Innovation was seeded with aseven-figure gift from Deen Day Sanders, aMercer alumna and former trustee from Atlanta.Sanders’ late husband, Cecil B. Day Sr.,founded Days Inns of America and was a notedphilanthropist. He is the namesake of theUniversity’s graduate and professional campusin Atlanta.“We look forward to building upon Mercer’ssuccesses over the past decade working withlocal actors in developing communities toimprove access to safe drinking water.The Cecil Day Family Center allows us theopportunity to contribute significantly to theUnited Nations Sustainable Development Goaltarget of providing safe water for all by the“The Day Family Center allowsus the opportunity to contributesignificantly to the United NationsSustainable Development Goaltarget of providingsafe waterfor all by theyear 2030.”Student Teryon Parker (right) assists withconstruction of a stone masonry water tankduring a Mercer On Mission trip to theDominican Republic.year 2030, which we aim to dothrough working with collaboratorsglobally to focus on some of thehardest to reach households andcommunities,” said Dr. MacCarthy,associate professor of environmentaland civil engineering and directorof the Engineering for Developmentprogram. “In addition to serviceand research, the center will useinnovative and practical ways toteach sustainable groundwatertopics to Mercer students andproject beneficiaries.”T H E M E RC E R I A N FA L L 2 0 2 07

BEARINGSSCHOLARSHIPS& FELLOWSHIPSPOSTERSON THE HILLJordan Teng, senior biomechanicalengineering major, and Michelle Kim,junior mechanical engineering major,presented one of some 60 undergraduateprojects selected nationwide to beshowcased for Members of Congress in theCouncil on Undergraduate Research Posterson the Hill event, held virtually in April.Junior Alexandra Kroken wasselected to participate in an internshipwith the Smithsonian National Museumof American History in Washington,D.C., last spring.KrokenCHRISTOPHER IAN SMITH PHOTOSchool of Engineering professors and students, including(l-r) Dr. Sinjae Hyun, Jordan Brewton, Dr. Scott Schultz,Michelle Jung, Gunhee Lee, Sarah Littleton, Olivia Kightand Jordan Teng deliver Touch3D Yearbooks to the GeorgiaAcademy for the Blind in 2019. Teng and fellow studentMichelle Kim presented research from this multiyearproject at the Council on Undergraduate Research’svirtual Posters on the Hill event in April.SMITHSONIANNATIONALMUSEUM OFAMERICANHISTORYINTERNSHIP8T H E M E RC E R I A N S P R I N G 2 0 2 0

BEARIN GSCONGRESSIONALBLACK or Christy Lee was awarded the Science,Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART)Scholarship by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).She will receive full tuition, an annual stipend andadditional allowances while at Mercer for each year shecommits to working for the DoD after graduation.ZERO HUNGERINTERNSHIPSClass of 2020 graduates Alyssa Fortnerand Hinal Patel were selected for twoof 15 Congressional Hunger Center ZeroHunger Internships offered to collegestudents and recent graduates nationwide.Class of2020 graduatesMacire AribotandNassim Ashfordwere awardedCongressionalBlack CaucusFoundation(CBCF)EmergingLeadersInternships andAribotspent the springworking for Members of Congressand participating in professionaldevelopment sessions. Additionally,senior Danielle Countrymanwas awarded a CBCF summerinternship, which was conductedvirtually because of theCOVID-19 HEDLEADERClass of 2020 graduateTara Chavda was named oneof 25 recipients of this year’sMiracle Network Dance MarathonDistinguished Leadership Award,presented to exceptional leadersamong the thousands of graduatingseniors who have participatedin the Miracle Network DanceMarathon at approximately 300colleges and universities acrossthe U.S. and Canada.ChavdaFortnerPatelT H E M E RC E R I A N FA L L 2 0 2 09

BEARINGSNBCCFOUNDATIONMINORITYFELLOWSHIPSCollege of Professional Advancement graduatestudents Sidney Minor and Leslie Preveauxreceived National Board for Certified CounselorsFoundation Minority Fellowships. Minor is astudent in the Master of Science in ClinicalMental Health Counseling program, and Preveauxis a student in the Master of Science in ClinicalRehabilitation Counseling program.SOCIETY OF WOMENENGINEERSSCHOLARSHIPJunior Emily Wilbourn, a computer sciencemajor, recently received the Chevron/SWE Scholarshipfrom the Society of Women Engineers, a 5,000award annually presented to 18 high-achieving femalestudents enrolled in an ABET-accredited program inengineering, technology or computing.IEEE FRANCESB. HUGLESCHOLARSHIPCaitlyn Patton, an electrical engineering majorin Mercer’s 4 1 Integrated Master of Science inEngineering Program, is the recipient of the 2019Institute of Electric and Electronic Engineers FrancesB. Hugle Scholarship for her outstanding academicperformance and passion for engineering.WilbournPattonGSPE STUDENTOF THE YEARMinorPreveauxDreggorsClass of 2020 graduate Ariel Dornisch, anenvironmental engineering major, was named GeorgiaSociety of Professional Engineers Engineering Studentof the Year.NSF GRADUATERESEARCH FELLOWSHIPSAlumnae Liz Dreggors, Britney Hudson and Kyla Semmendinger wereselected to the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program,which recruits highpotential, earlySemmendingercareer scientistsand engineers andsupports their graduateresearch training inSTEM fields.Hudson10T H E M E RC E R I A N FA L L 2 0 2 0Dornisch

BEFACULTY&STAFFHONORS&RECOGNITIONARIN GSGOVERNOR’STEACHINGFELLOWDr. Vicki Luther, associate professorof education in Tift College of Education,was selected as a 2020 Governor’sTeaching Fellow.Dr. LutherVITALWORSHIPGRANTRathburnERIC HOFFER BOOKAWARD FOR POETRYDr. Nathan Myrick,assistant professor of churchmusic in Townsend Schoolof Music, was awarded aVital Worship Grant fromthe Calvin Institute forChristian Worship.Dr. MyrickCollege of Liberal Arts and Sciences faculty memberChelsea Rathburn was recently awarded the 2020 Eric HofferBook Award for Poetry for her collection Still Life with Motherand Knife, released by LSU Press in February 2019. Rathburn,who serves as Georgia’s poet laureate, joined Mercer’s faculty inAugust 2019 as assistant professor of English and creative writing.LEAH YETTER PHOTOINNOVATIONSIN TEACHINGAWARDDr. Clara Mengolini, assistantprofessor of Spanish literature in theCollege of Liberal Arts and Sciences,was named the recipient of this year’sInnovations in Teaching Award, cosponsored by the Vulcan MaterialsCompany and Mercer.Dr. Mengolini11

BEARINGSHENDRICKSAWARD FOREXCELLENCEIN TEACHINGCollege of Liberal Arts andSciences Professor of PhilosophyDr. Charlotte Thomas was namedthis year’srecipient ofthe Joe andJean HendricksExcellence inTeaching Award,presentedannually atthe Maconcommencement.AMERICANACADEMY OFRELIGIONCollege of Professional AdvancementAssociate Professor of Religious StudiesDr. Wesley Barker transitioned fromvice president-elect to vice presidentof the American Academy of ReligionDr. BarkerDr. PhelpsSoutheast Region at the recentSoutheastern Commission for the Study of Religion Conference, andDr. Hollis Phelps, assistant professor of religion, was elected vice president-elect.NACCUDISTINGUISHEDSERVICE AWARDAssociate Vice President for Auxiliary ServicesKen Boyer was presented the National Association ofCampus Card Users 2020 Distinguished Service Award onApril 27 during the organization’s virtual awards ceremony.Dr. ThomasBoyerRATTLEPRIZEREADERS’CHOICEAWARDDr. James Davis May,Maywriter-in-residence andlecturer in the College ofLiberal Arts and Sciences,was awarded the 2019Rattle Poetry Prize Readers’Choice Award for his poem“Red in Tooth and Claw.”12T H E M E RC E R I A N FA L L 2 0 2 0

BMERCERFACULTYAUTHORNEWBOOKSDR. JENNIFER L. BARKIN, associateprofessor of community medicine andobstetrics and gynecology, co-editedPerinatal Depression (Nova SciencePublishers). It is well known thatpregnancy and the postpartum periodrepresent a specific time for womenwhen presenting a mental illness is high.The World Health Organization considersperinatal depression a global problem.A chapter in Perinatal Depressionhas been dedicated to describing theBarkin Index of Maternal Functioning,a self-report measure of postpartummaternal functioning.DR. JAMIE COCKFIELD, WillisBorders Glover Professor Emeritusof History, authored Russia’s IronGeneral: The Life of General A.A.Brusilov, 1853-1926 (LexingtonBooks). This study provides acomprehensive biography of Russiangeneral Aleksei A. Brusilov (1853–1926), commonly considered Russia’sgreatest general in World War I. Dr.Cockfield extensively examines all facetsof Brusilov’s life that led to his renownedreputation that continues decadesafter his death.DR. ANDREW GRUNZKE, associateprofessor of education, authoredEducation and the Female Superhero:Slayers, Cyborgs, Sorority Sisters,and Schoolteachers (LexingtonPress). Considering a variety of femalesuperhero narratives, including WorldWar II-era comics, 1970s televisionprograms, and recent movies, Educationand the Female Superhero argues thatsuperheroines share a vision of educationas the path to female empowerment.Taking a broad view of education, Dr.Grunzke argues that the superheroine inpopular media often sees and articulatesher role as being an educator.DAVID HRICIK, professor of law,authored Remedies: A PracticalApproach (Carolina AcademicPress). This new student-friendlyRemedies casebook is designed foruse in the standard Remedies electiveand also in “capstone” or bar prepcourses. The book addresses the policiesunderlying Remedies while teachingstudents the rules they will need toapply on bar exams.TED BLUMOFF, professor of law, co-authored Pretrial Discovery:Strategy and Tactics, 2019-20 ed. (Thomson Reuters). Readers candevelop a master plan for successful pretrial discovery with cutting-edgeguidance on such topics as: Protective orders to restrict opposing counsel’sdiscovery Neutral or hostile witnesses Strategic planning Discoverytactics in the pleading stage Informal discovery, and many more. Thispublication includes state discovery statutes, rules, and formbooks.EARIN GSDR. CHANEQUA WALKERBARNES, associate professor ofpractical theology, authored I Bringthe Voices of My People: A WomanistVision for Racial Reconciliation(Eerdmans). I Bring the Voices of MyPeople offers a compelling argumentthat the Christian racial reconciliationmovement is incapable of respondingto modern-day racism, arguing thathighlighting the voices of women ofcolor is critical to developing genuineefforts toward reconciliation. Drawing onintersectionality theory and critical racestudies, Dr. Walker-Barnes demonstrateshow living at the intersection of racismand sexism exposes women of color tounique experiences of gendered racism.DR. CLEMMIE WHATLEY, associateprofessor emerita of education,authored The Chubbs: A FreeBlack Family’s Journey from theAntebellum Era to the Mid-1900s(Oxford Southern). The Chubbsprovides an examination of the Chubbfamily from the mid-1700s through themid-1900s. Like many Black familiesliving during the Antebellum and throughthe Civil Rights eras, the Chubb familyendured many obstacles as they strovefor a respectful life. Throughout thisbook, the reader will find context to helpbetter understand the conditions thatinfluenced free people of color.DR. DAVID LANE, professor of counseling,co-authored Counseling Veterans: APractical Guide (Cognella AcademicPublishing), a textbook/guide for therapistswho work with or hope to work withveteran populations.T H E M E RC E R I A N FA L L 2 0 2 013

MercerStudents- and beatcompete withsome of theBest in the NationR“We’re nowcompeting withthe top universitiesin the countryfor the mostprestigiousawards,” saidising senior McPherson Newell ispossibly the most-decorated student ina single year at Mercer University.This year alone they werenamed a Goldwater Scholar, aBYNewman Civic Fellow and aTruman Scholarship finalist. JENNIFERBORAGEEven more impressiveis the fact that the BarryM. Goldwater Scholarshipand Truman Scholarship are wildlydifferent awards. The Goldwaterrecognizes excellence in science,mathematics and engineering whilethe Truman supports public service.“To even be considered for both at the same time takes areally exceptional person,” said Dr. Cameron Kunzelman,coordinator of fellowships and scholarships.For Newell, a biomedical engineering major, it all startedwith their decision to apply for the Research Experiences forUndergraduates (REU) program. They were accepted into therehabilitation engineering program at Cleveland State University.These accomplishments were“That was a really transformative experience,” saidmade possible with the help ofNewell, who plans to pursue an M.A. in disability studies,Mercer’s expert faculty and staff,a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering and a professorship inwho provide an unparalleledlevel of guidance and mentorshiprehabilitation engineering.to students.“It taught me a lot academically but also just really increasedmy confidence in the foundation and skill sets that I alreadyCommitted tolearned at Mercer and in my ability to do what I wanted tostudent successwith my life.”Mercer has a dedicated teamThat’s how it goes for manyhigh-achieving students at Mercer.One success leadsto another success.14T H E M E RC E R I A N FA L L 2 0 2 0Dr. David A. Davis,associate professorof English anddirector offellowships andscholarships.committed to students’ success inachieving scholarships, fellowshipsand other opportunities in the Officeof Fellowships and Scholarships,which advises students interestedin competing for externallyfunded awards.“We want to maximize thevalue of a student’s

illiams Jr.Mercer leads the nation in number of engineeringstudents selected for Goldwater lbrightU.S. StudentAwards3616 12Maison Clouatre, Michelle Graham, McPherson udentsinductedintoPhiBetaKappaGilmanScholarsAriel DanielsWill DarraghMeg HicksJessica LewisJohna Wrightwith 1 alternateUNIVERSITYRECORDUNIVERSITYRECORD24in a singleselection cycleStudents selected forNationalScienceFoundationResearchExperiences forUndergraduatesPeaceCorpsoffers in a single yea

d. scott davis, ph.d. executive vice president for administration and finance james s. netherton, ph.d. senior vice president for strategic initiatives kellie raiford appel, j.d. senior vice president for marketing communications and chief of staff larry d. brumley senior vice president for enro