Archive issue
Sept. 25, 2000

People

Rome Exchange lets researcher fit in, learn more about families
Touring Kentucky
Governor names UK's Dean Roberts to Kentucky Innovation Commission
People

Rome Exchange lets researcher fit in, learn more about families

It always happens. People meet her, but can't say her name.

It doesn't bother her though. It's a tough name for the American tongue to handle. But this summer, Joanna Badagliacco finally heard the name roll effortlessly off a tongue -one that tripped over a common American name.

Badagliacco, an associate professor of sociology and associate of the UK Appalachian Center, traveled to Rome, Italy, as part the center's Rome Exchange Program with the University of Rome. She spent six weeks in the capital city, living with students and studying patterns in the way social structures and institutions affect families. She focused on impoverished families, including the nomadic and impoverished gypsy population, as comparisons to the Appalachian peoples she has worked with.

Selena Stevens
Joanna Badagliacco, associate professor of sociology, spent six weeks in Italy studying gypsy families.

"It was very nice to fit in," said the New York native. "It's the only time people have been able to say my name!"

Badagliacco's research in the past few years has focused on families who are stereotypically thought of as being big, happy families, even in the face of dire financial distress, including homelessness. Appalachian, Italian and Mexican families all share that common stereotype. For several years, she has collected data in Appalachia. She has visited Mexico to begin collecting data there, and the Rome Exchange gave her an opportunity to begin an Italian project.

"The exchange program is very important and valuable," she said. "It poises us to examine different issues and problems in different ways."

Badagliacco said despite their nationality, families suffer from many of the same problems. Cross-cultural studies help us understand how to assist families in need by looking at common patterns and issues. A study of one culture can lead to an improvement for all.

"It helps us give a voice to families and people who don't have a voice now," she said. "We need to give them a chance to tell their stories. Ultimately, this will help us evaluate our policies and laws. For example, families do want to stay together. How do we help them to do that?"

Her experience with Italy's gypsy population, the Romani, gave a contrast and comparison to the Appalachian situation. Italy has few of the public social services that are common in the United States. It has a negative birth rate, agricultural lifestyles that are disappearing and an aging population that fears immigration, especially that of gypsies.

"It's really the same kind of thing you find all over the world," she said.

Having first immigrated in 1960s and with a life expectancy of just 47 years, the average Romani is Italian-born and speaks Italian, but shares none of the rights of the rest of the Italian population. Many marry by age 13, and women bear children by 14. Poverty, crime and violence are common parts of the culture. Her study of homeless Appalachian families revealed a similar picture despite a stereotype that denies such unhappiness within those families.

"I have encountered many young families who experience stress and violence, and young mothers who became homeless in attempts to break that cycle. My experience in Rome was very valuable to understanding the way people view families who live with persistent poverty," Badagliacco said. "I was amazed at how much energy the faculty at the University of Rome had and their encouragement and enthusiasm for my work. They helped me get information I might not have otherwise, because they knew better where to find it."

Badagliacco said she hopes to return to Italy to talk more with the Romani and venture into the rural areas where distressed families are beginning to move to cities in search of work.

In addition to the valuable research it provides, the Rome Exchange Program also helps enrich UK students' education, Badagliacco said.

"It helps me bring cross-cultural experiences to the classroom that I wouldn't be able to without it," she said. "It's important to make connections to parts of the world that students know. They think, ŒThis is Kentucky, not the rest of the world.' I show them how we fit in."

Selena Stevens

Touring Kentucky

Submitted
Members of the 2000 Faculty Tour gathered for a photo at the Kentucky History Museum in Frankfort. The summer tour allows faculty new to the state to learn about its culture, geography and heritage. For information on upcoming tours, contact Deborah L. Floyd, executive assistant to the Lexington Campus chancellor, at 257-7372 or Emma Downey at the Office of Extension at 257-8428.

Governor names UK's Dean Roberts to Kentucky Innovation Commission

Kenneth B. Roberts, dean of the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, has been appointed to the Kentucky Innovation Commission.

Gov. Paul Patton announced the commission members in Frankfort Sept. 7.

"The state legislature and the governor have taken a significant step to address Kentucky's economic future and to develop a plan where the private sector, higher education and government forge a framework for expediting the development and support for high technology industry based in Kentucky," Roberts said.

"This initiative has tremendous potential for transforming commerce to the ŒNew Economy' and for providing challenging and fulfilling opportunities for the bright young men and women who have entrepreneurial aspirations as well as those who desire careers in the high technology business sector."

Kenneth Roberts

The 15-member commission was created under the Innovation Act passed during the last legislative session to advise lawmakers on developing a technology-based economy and reduce the state's dependence on coal, tobacco and textiles. The act is part of the New Economy Initiative to further develop a knowledge-based economy in Kentucky.

The commission, which will meet quarterly, is comprised of seven political leaders and eight business people and scientists.

Besides forming the commission, the Innovation Act has designated $12 million for three investment funds that will help pay for research at state universities to aid Kentucky businesses. It also set aside $53 million for initiatives such as creating a commissioner for the New Economy office and two $20 million funds to provide low-interest loans and grants to high-tech companies.

Kristi Lopez

People

Activities
- Mid-South Regional Resource Center Technical Assistance Service Coordinator Paula Burdette facilitated a core team meeting with the District of Columbia Public Schools in addressing alternate assessment issues.
- Douglas Boyd, Communications and Information Studies, spent five days in the United Arab Emirates in February at the request of the Ministry of Higher Education doing communication and journalism program reviews of three universities. In April, he participated in a conference at the University of Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom on the impact of regional universities in North America and Europe. Lexington Campus Chancellor Elisabeth Zinser, Allied Health Dean Tom Robinson and Medical Center Vice Chancellor Phyllis Nash also participated.
- Ethel Bright, a Mid-South Regional Resource Center technical assistance service coordinator, is assisting the North Carolina Division for Exceptional Children Services in developing a long-range recruitment and retention plan to providers of education to exceptional children and youth.
- Mid-South Regional Resource Center Director Ken Olsen recently provided training to Virginia Technical Assistance providers on understanding contexts, negotiating agreements and evaluating technical assistance services.
- Priscilla Robinson joined the Mid-South Regional Resource Center as staff support associate in August. Robinson previously worked for the University of Kentucky Children's Hospital.

Awards
- James Applegate, Communications and Information Studies, was honored recently as the distinguished alumnus of the University of Illinois communication program.
- Tom Barnes, forestry, has been listed in the first edition of "Leaders in Science, Technology and Engineering."
- Dwayne Edwards, biosystems and agricultural engineering, was presented with the Outstanding Young Researcher Award by the American Society of Agricultural Engineers.
- Walter J. Ferrier, management, won the Best Paper Award for a research paper published by the 10,000 member-strong Academy of Management's flagship research journal, The Academy of Management Journal, in 1999. The paper is titled, "The Role of Competitive Action in Market Share Erosion and Industry Dethronement: A Study of Industry Leaders and Challengers."
- Ryan Gugeler and Deborah Witham, agricultural communications services, received a silver award from Agricultural Communicators in Education for a display at the national Future Farmers of America convention.
- Tom Guskey, Education, has been awarded Book of the Year by the National Staff Development Council for his "Evaluating Professional Development." This marks the first time in the history of the council that anyone has won this award twice. His book, "Professional Development in Education: New Paradigms and Practices," was named Book of the Year by the National Staff Development Council in 1996. He will be presented the award in December at the annual conference in Atlanta.
- Sue Nokes, agricultural economics, was presented with the Outstanding Young Educator Award by the American Society of Agricultural Engineers.
- Bart Peters, agricultural economics, received first-place honors in the National Association of Farm Business Analysis Specialists' competition in the association's newsletter category. Craig Gibson, agricultural economics, won first-place honors in the organization's professional paper competition.
- Kim Ragland, agricultural communications services, received a gold award from Agricultural Communicators in Education at its international meeting in Washington, D.C., for her work on "Agripedia," an Internet site.
- Tim Stombaugh, biosystems and agricultural engineering, received the American Society of Agricultural Engineers' paper award for his paper "Guidance Control of Agricultural Vehicles at High Field Speeds."
- Linus Walton, Agriculture, was honored as a fellow of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers.

Publications
- Paula Burdette, technical assistance service coordinator for the Mid-South Regional Resource Center produced a report titled "Alternate Assessment - A Medley of Alternate Assessments." The paper highlights alternate assessment practices in seven states and is available online at www.ihdi.uky.edu/msrrc/large_scale_assessment.htm.
- Peter Little, anthropology, co-edited the book, "Commodities and Globalization: Anthropological Perspectives," published in August by Rowman and Littlefield.
- Susan E. Morgan, Communications and Information Studies, "The Message Is in the Metaphor: Assessing the Comprehension of Metaphors and Analogies in Advertisements," Journal of Advertising; "From Numbers to Words: Reporting Statistics for the Social Sciences," New York: Addison-Wesley-Longman Publishers; "Gendered Bodies Still Thrive in (Post) Modern Magazine-land," "Sexual Rhetoric Media Perspectives on Sexuality, Gender and Identity."
- Lewis Donohew and Rick Zimmerman, Communications and Information Studies, "Sensation Seeking Impulsive Decision-Making and Risky Sex: Implications for Risk-Taking and Design of Intervention," Journal of Personality and Individual Differences.
- Kluwer International Publishers has just issued "The Abbe Gregoire and His World," a volume of scholarly essays on the leading human-rights advocate of the French Revolution, Henri Gregoire. Jeremy Popkin, history, edited the volume together with his father, Richard Popkin, professor emeritus of history and philosophy at UCLA. Prentice Hall also has issued the second edition of Popkin's textbook, "History of Modern France."

Deaths
- Hilda A. Blanck, retired Photographic Service photo clerk, died Aug. 16.
- Robert Lewis, retired maintenance and operations department custodial worker, died Aug. 11.
- Richard Morrison Doughty, retired employee of the pharmacy department, died Aug. 31.
-Thomas G. Roberts, retired associate professor of geology, died June 22.
- Charles Leland Smith, retired associate professor of social science education, died Aug. 20.
- Jerry Stevens, long-term disability, academic adviser in the Central Advising Service, who helped establish the UK Office of Minority Affairs, died Aug. 27. A memorial fund account for Jerry Stevens has been established at the UK Credit Union. The fund will be used to purchase a bench in Stevens' name to be placed on campus.
- Kathryn G. Stevens, retired civil service employee who worked in Home Extension Services, died Aug. 28.

Housing
- Available for rent in spring semester: beautiful four bedroom home in historic Ashland Park (near Chevy Chase). Period furnishings; Walk to UK and Chevy Chase shops. No pets; usual deposits. $1,300 per month. Call Alan DeYoung at 257-3846 or 268-4967.
- Furnished house for rent, 6 mos.(Jan-July Œ01), three bedroom, south end, cul-de-sac; $800/mo.; 257-6939 or moker@pop.uky.edu.

Research and funding
- Yousef Abukwaik, microbiology and immunology, $278,750, "Receptor-Mediateex Endocytosis of Legionella Pneumophila."
- Richard Clayton, Center for Prevention Research, $1,626,735, "Tobacco Etiology Research Network."
- Gerry Gairola, allied health, $122,688, "Appalachian Geriatric Clinical Clerkship."
- Bryan Hall, pediatrics, $262,000, "Genetic Services."
- Patricia Jennings and Herb Ridings, physician assistant studies, $400,000, "AIDS Education."
- Linda Kuder, Council on Aging, $160,365, "Ohio Valley Appalachia Regional Geriatric Education Center."
- Paul Legg, agronomy, $250,000, "Dark Tobacco Breeding and Chemistry."
- Carl Leukefeld, psychiatry, Center for Drug and Alcohol Abuse, $2,600,519, "Welfare to Work Special Project Funds;" $402,900, "Follow-up;" $939,091, "Targeted Assessment Project;" $400,000, "Topps II;" $155,244, "State Demand Needs Assessment;" $253,861, "Women's Institute." - Peter Little, anthropology, $1,050,000, "Pastoral Risk Management on the East African Rangleands."
- Don Lynam, psychology, $307,858, "Adult Antisocial Outcomes of Psychopathic Children."
- Lottie Naugle, Center for Business Development, $314,900, "Center for Business Development: Kentucky Business Environment Assistance Program."
- Hatim Omar, pediatrics, $290,700, "Young Parents Program."
- Elizabeth Rompf, Social Work, $173,261, "Public Child Welfare Certification Program."
- Eugenia Toma, Martin School of Public Policy, $120,000, "Managed Care Rate Setting."
- Patricia Trotter, Martin School of Public Policy, $194,732, "Hazard Mitigation Program and Grant Management."
- Robert Walker, Center for Drug and Alcohol Abuse, $105,105, "Kentucky River Appalachian Project."
- Jun Zhang, computer science, $253,970, "Nonstandard High Order Multigrid Techniques with Applications to Laminar Diffusion Flame Simulations."

Presentations
- James Applegate, Communications and Information Studies, presented the keynote address at the Northwest Communication Association meeting in Couer D'Lance, Idaho.
- Douglas Boyd, Communications and Information Studies, presented "Censorship of TV News in Saudi Arabia" and chaired a panel on international use of the Internet to the Broadcast Education Association in April.
- Donald Case, Communications and Information Studies, presented "What Information Seeking Research Can Learn from Studies of Consumers" Aug. 16-18 at the third International Conference on Information Seeking in Context at the University of Boras, Sweden.
- Nelson Fields, theater, traveled to Chicago in June and presented two costume design projects to members of the United Scenic Artists Local 829. His presentation of his design portfolio and costume designs for "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" by August Wilson and Pirandello's "The Mountain Giants" secured his membership in the national theatrical design union. He will be initiated into the organization this fall.
- Nancy Grant Harrington, Communications and Information Studies, presented "Persuasive Strategies for Effective Anti-Drug Campaigns" April 24-25 at the National Institute on Drug Abuse and was an invited panelist at the Washington Council of Governments Conference May 1, speaking on "Communication of Drug Abuse Science with Prevention Practitioners."
- Peter Little, anthropology, presented a paper titled "Pastoralism and Cross-border Trade in A Risky Environment: The Case of the Somalia Borderlands" at the Max Planck Institute of Social Anthropology in Halle, Germany, June 21.
- Susan Morgan, Communications and Information Studies, presented "The Message is in the Metaphor: Hemisphericity and the Comprehension of Metaphors and Analogies in Advertisements" at the National Communication Association meeting in Chicago; presented "Community Partnerships and the Mass Communication of Tractor Safety Information to Farmers" at the National Conference on Workplace Safety and Health Training in St. Louis; presented "Seductive Branding: Sexualizing Women to Sell Brands in Advertising" to the International Academy of Business Disciplines in Las Vegas; presented "Old MacDonald Never Had a ROPS; A Theory-based Evaluation of Messages Targeting Farmers in an Agricultural Safety Campaign" and "Terror Management and Noncognitive Precursors to Communication Behaviors" to the National Communication Association in Seattle.
- Philip Palmgreen, Communications and Information Studies, presented "Effective Media Strategies for Drug Abuse Prevention" April 24-25 at the National Institute on Drug Abuse meeting.
- Gabriella Pessah, Counseling and Testing Center, presented "The CARES Approach: Counseling Awareness, Resources, Education and Service Coordination for Campus and Community" June 9-10 at Penn State's sixth annual Eating Disorders on Campus: The Institutional Response conference.
- Jeremy Popkin, history, presented a paper at an international conference on "Autobiography and Changing Identities" at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.
- Vernon Wiehe, Social Work, presented "Building Child Abuse Treatment Around Empathy" July 13 at the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children in Chicago; presented the pre-conference institute "Treatments: What Works? How Do We Know It Works?" Aug. 6 at the Foster-Family-Based Treatment Association meeting in Cincinnati; presented the workshop "Empathy: An Important Variable in the Treatment of Aggressive Foster Children" Aug. 8 at the Foster-Family-Based Treatment Association meeting in Cincinnati.

Appointments
- James Applegate, Communications and Information Studies, has been named a member of the Consulting Corps for the American Association for Higher Education and Campus Compact.
- Don Colliver, biosystems and agricultural engineering, was elected national treasurer of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers.
- Joseph Fink III, Pharmacy, has been appointed a faculty associate of the UK Multidisciplinary Research Center on Drug and Alcohol Abuse. He is collaborating with the center on an NIDA-funded research project.
- Robert Houtz, horticulture, was named to the Scientific Advisory Committee for the international conference on Methylation and Demethylation Processes in Biological Systems. The conference will be held in Hungary next fall.
- Ali S. Meigooni, radiation medicine, has been elected a fellow of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine.
- Lee Meyer, agricultural economics, was elected chair of the Livestock Marketing Information Center, a consortium of 23 universities and the industry interests that support livestock outlook data collection, market education material and livestock and meat industry research.
- John Piecoro, Pharmacy, has been appointed by President Wethington to serve as director of the University's self study. Piecoro, the college's pre-pharmacy adviser, was assigned to the president's office in 1996-97, where he served on the University's Athletic Board.
- Jeremy Popkin, history, has been named to direct a National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Seminar for College Teachers in 2001. The seminar, on "Revolution and Identity in France, 1787-1799," will be held at the Newberry Library in Chicago.
- Claire Schmelzer, nutrition and food science, has been elected vice president of the Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education, an international hospitality and tourism educators group. The term is three years, in which she will serve as vice president, president then chairperson of the board.
- Kathy Sheppard-Jones, Human Development Institute Belonging Project director, has been elected as secretary of Kentucky AHEAD, a state group concerned with higher education and disability issues.
- H. Spencer Turner, University Health Service, has been appointed associate editor for clinical and preventive medicine for the Journal of American College Health.