Messages from the Deans

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, ENGINEERING, AND COMPUTATIONAL AND MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES

Warm Greetings from the College of Business, Engineering, and Computational and Mathematical Sciences (CBECMS)! The College is now one year old, and this is a heartwarming occasion to celebrate the achievements of our outstanding faculty, staff and students. What follows is merely a small sampling of excellence:

• Justin Dunmyre, an associate professor in the Department of Mathematics, was honored with the 2024 Faculty Achievement Award in Service for the many high-impact and visible service leadership roles he fulfills at all levels of the institution. With this award, he is now the sixth FSU faculty member to have been honored in all three Faculty Achievement Award categories.
• Michael Monahan, chair and a professor in the Department of Management, was selected as the 2023 recipient of the President’s Distinguished Faculty Award. This award recognizes a faculty member who has provided exceptional service to the University and has advanced its mission, goals and strategic planning initiatives.
• Yuechen Chen, an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science and Information Technologies, published his collaborative work, “Chiplet-GAN: Chiplet-Based Accelerator Design for Scalable Generative Adversarial Network Inference,” in IEEE Circuits and Systems.
• Chenchen Huang, chair and an assistant professor in the Department of Accounting, published his co-authored works, “The Internal Control Project: Eductive and Reflective Learning” in the Journal of Accounting Education, as well as “Fostering Active Learning: The Effects of Using the Socrative App in Undergraduate Advanced Accounting Classes,” in the Business Education Innovation Journal.
• Tariq Masood, an assistant professor in the Department of Engineering, and Dr. Jamil Abdo, a professor in that department, are collaborating on a textbook, Protection of Power Distribution System: Smartgrid – Microgrid Operations and Control, John Wiley & Sons, Springer Nature. Both scholars also presented their works virtually at the 22nd International Conference on Renewable Energies and Power Quality, European Association for the Development of Renewable Energies, Environment and Power Quality, Bilbao, Spain, June 2024.
• Monahan and Dr. Amit Shah, a professor in the Department of Management, published their co-authored work, “Do You Have to Attend to Succeed: Is There a Relationship Between Class Attendance and Final Grades?” in the Journal of Business, Industry and Economics, Vol. 28, pp. 134-156, Fall 2023. They also presented their collaborative research at the Society of Business, Industry and Economics Conference, the Society for the Advancement of Management Conference and at the SEInforms Conference at various times during the year.
• Lilly Ye, a professor in the Department of Marketing, and Dr. Yiming Zhuang, an assistant professor in the Department of Management, published their works: “The Government’s Role in Logistics and Distribution Innovation in China,” in the International Journal of Economics and Globalisation, and presented their research, “The Application of GANs in Consumer Behavior,” at the Association of Collegiate Marketing Educator Annual Conference, Galveston, Texas.

The College’s strategic efforts to expand opportunities for international education for its students and faculty continued with the same fervor as follows:

• In continued fulfillment of the cooperative partnership between FSU and the Hunan University of Technology and Business (HUTB), a total of 17 courses was delivered successfully at the HUTB campus in Changsha, China, to three cohorts of students during the fall 2023 and summer 2024 terms. Dr. William Anderson, Dr. Rahim Ashkeboussi, Dr. Audrieanna Burgin, Dr. Margie Burns, Nichola DeMichele, Dr. Thuong Harvison, Dr. Chenchen Huang, Dr. Scott Kjar, Dr. Dan Mizak, Dr. Ming Shou, Dr. Xun Xu and Dr. Ren Zhang taught about 120 students per cohort in predominantly in-person modality. As in the past, faculty and student feedback continued to be reliably favorable.
• A total of 79 students from the fifth cohort of HUTB students entering in 2020 graduated in June 2024. The second graduation ceremony was held at the HUTB campus on June 15 with the assistant to the president, Dr. Alan Walker; College of Arts, Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences dean, Dr. Michael Mathias; myself; HUTB-FSU program coordinators, Dr. Wendy Xu and Dr. Lilly Ye; and Dr. Yiming Zhuang. Based on partner institution reporting, graduating students continue to enjoy successful placement within industry in China, with many otherwise pursuing graduate education in China and across globally recognized educational institutions, including many in the United Kingdom and the United States.
• In support of the ongoing partnership agreement with Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg, Bad Mergentheim campus in Germany, several members of the business faculty – Dr. Ali Ashraf, Dr. Dong Wook Huh, Dr. Ryan Kentrus, Dr. Kenneth Levitt, Dr. Jeffrey McClellan, Dr. Michael Monahan, Dr. Amit Shah and I – successfully delivered instruction over compressed class schedules in virtual and in-person modality.

Other faculty-student accomplishments are also noted as follows:

• A student team consisting of Teresa Wolf, Mychael McKay, Shannon Casey and Eric Denham, under the mentorship of faculty leaders, Dr. Michael Monahan and Dr. Amit Shah, won Second Place in the Written Case Competition hosted as part of the Society for Advancement of Management International Business Conference 2024. Additionally, Teresa Wolf won Third Place in the Extemporaneous Speech Competition.
• FSU student Daniel Baiyeshea, a senior majoring in Marketing, under the guidance of his mentor, Dr. Lilly Ye, joined his peers from across the system as a student panelist for the highly attended University System of Maryland’s Student Success Symposium hosted by Bowie State University in March 2024. Baiyeshea serves as the president of the American Marketing Association, is a member of the President’s Leadership Circle and the Student Business Leadership Council and is a Student Alumni Ambassador.
• FSU’s Engineering team, Kick Master 3000, comprising Awah Banga, Savannah Grimm, Jackson McGahey, Kambria Rice, Kevin Smith and John Struss, under the tutelage of Dr. Jamil Abdo, won first place at this year’s University of Maryland College Park Design Day in fall 2023. A total of 17 teams competed in the event.
• The CBECMS Student Engagement Committee, under the leadership of Dr. Evan Offstein, invited seven speakers from various industries to FSU to speak to select classes. Six of the seven speakers were alumni. These speakers addressed 15 classes and one student club held by the student chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management. Speakers included Collin Smith ’22 (MATH and CSIT) of Dave Wheatley Enterprises, Ryan Bugas of Dominion Energy, Dave Pishioneri (BUAD-HR, ECON alum) of Amyx, Danielle Willets ’07 (MBA) of Little Dog Social Media, CW Etzler ’99 (ECON) of ManTech, Laura Breighner ’06 (MBA) of Mason & Breighner PA, and Chip Fristch ’08 (BUAD-MGMT) of Hotel Investor Apps. Feedback from all quarters was overwhelmingly positive.
• CBECMS and the Allegany Chamber of Commerce collaborated to hold the 2023 Allegany County Local Business Showcase on Oct. 18, 2023. Dr. Dong Wook Huh (MGMT) co-chaired the event to add several practical workshops throughout the day and helped organize a discussion forum on building and deepening the relationship between the College and the local business community. AMA FSU Chapter (Marketing Club), led by club president Baiyeshea, helped promote the event and provided crucial support in making the events successful.

Some of the salient programmatic innovations and other impactful initiatives occurred in the following areas:

• The Life-Cycle Facilities Management Program is successfully retitled and offered as the Sustainable Construction Management Program.
• The Department of Mathematics successfully introduced a set of “Achieve” courses in Fall 2023 to advance student placement and achievement in the field.
• The College’s outreach efforts to regional community colleges resulted in far-reaching, dual enrollment collaborations with those institutions.
• The business programs’ continuation of accreditation efforts by AACSB International has resulted in a site visit planned for fall 2026.

In closing, I would like to sincerely acknowledge members of the leadership team at FSU – President Nowaczyk; Acting President Delia; Provost Taylor; Acting Provost Siebenthal-Adams; Assistant to the President Walker; Vice Presidents Donoway, Short and Travis; and my decanal colleagues and friends, Mathias and Williams – for their unwavering support to me and the College toward meeting its educational mission this landmark year. And the contributions of our valued alumni and members of our Advisory Board sustain the College as it continues in its endeavor to amplify its narrative for the future. Let’s renew our abiding credo: Onward and Upward!

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, HEALTH AND NATURAL SCIENCES

The College of Education and Health and Natural Sciences (CEHNS) completed their first year together as a new college. The year was filled with exciting opportunities to re-image the structure of the combined new departments. The faculty worked collaboratively to establish several committees, which provided input and guidance. The CEHNS Chairs Council navigated the challenges and shared recommendations from their departments. Together they established the draft of CEHNS’ mission, vision, values and goals aligned to the University’s strategic plan. The faculty and staff across the college then provided input during their August 2023 retreat for the College’s strategic plan, which served to guide the work of CEHNS throughout the year. The Dean’s Advisory Council developed rubrics and guidelines for PELEF grants and the commencement speaker. Over the year, the College Assessment Committee determined program assessments, which were added into a program template, and will serve the new college in collecting data in AY 25 to meet the University Student Learning Goals. The Curriculum Committee carefully analyzed and approved new curricular proposals in Kuali. Overall, faculty in collaboration with the Dean’s Office built a solid foundation in this inaugural year.

Grants secured by faculty members promote the programs and student experiential learning beyond the support provided by the institution and state. Many of the grants also aid community needs. This past year the Nursing Department received three NSP II-MHEC grants totaling $3,765,578 to build pre-licensure capacity, increase the number of LPN to BSN students and provide faculty professional development. Biology’s Dr. Cody Kent received funding to expand his research on evolutionary biology and ecology. Educational Professions’ Dr. Jennifer Rankin implemented a $50,000 MCCE grant on Integration of Emerging Technologies in Pre-service Programs at Frostburg State University. The REACH multiyear 3.4-million-dollar federal grant entered the second year of a five-year project to support the newly approved Elementary/Special Education dual certification program and provide a pathway for not only traditional students but non-traditional instructional assistants to gain teacher licensure. Dr. Nancy Giunta, in her first year as Social Work chair, secured a $934,750 U.S. Department of Agriculture grant for Generational Health – Healthy Food Bags. Several faculty members supported outreach activities through grants, which include Dr. Sarah O’Neal for the Children’s Literature Centre, Dr. Kris McGee for the PALs reading program at USMH, and Dr. Jamey Tobery-Nystrom’s HUB project for the Hagerstown community. The Geography Department secured a $250,000 ARC grant. Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Social Work all secured outside grants to assist with meaningful experiential learning for the students in their departments. Several faculty members took advantage of the PELEF grant funds to promote programs and enrich student experiences. Dr. David Puthoff, Dr. Thomas Lambert, Dr. Phillip Allen and Dr. Kumudini Munasinghe secured funding for several biology projects. Dr. Matthew Crawford, chair of the Chemistry and Physics Department, secured funding to provide demonstrations for PreK-12 students and support student projects in advanced chemistry and physics research. Dr. Janet Mattern, in Educational Professions, used the PELEF grant for students to experience a clinical round in a Baltimore City school.

The Achievement Publication only served as representation of all the work that has been happening throughout the year. Each department had many more faculty members who were recognized for their expertise at the state and national levels through conference presentations. Research projects in Biology, Chemistry, Education, Geography, Kinesiology and Physics highlighted innovation in their fields. Health professionals in Nursing, Kinesiology and Physician Assistants departments maintained and built on their certifications to be current in practice. Social Work and Education faculty members also maintain certifications in their fields to extend their knowledge and skills in the professions. The Dean’s Office is proud to be partners with the highly talented faculty members who are members of the College of Education and Health and Natural Sciences.

COLLEGE OF ARTS, HUMANITIES, AND SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

The College of Arts, Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences (CAHSBS) is a hub for intellectual and creative activities at FSU and in the region. This is evident from the noteworthy professional achievements of the college’s faculty and staff over the past year.

Two CAHSBS faculty members were recipients of Faculty Achievement Awards in 2024. Dr. Michael Murtagh (a professor in the Department of Psychology) was recognized for teaching, and Gerry LaFemina (a professor in the Department of English) was recognized for academic achievement.

Dr. Alemseged Abbay (a professor in the Department of History) and Dr. James Saku (a professor in the Department of Geography and coordinator of the African American Studies program) were appointed to Gov. Wes Moore’s Commission on African Affairs for their professional and personal ties to Africa and Maryland’s diverse African population.

Music faculty members Dr. Brent Weber and Dr. Joseph Yungen were selected to participate in the 19th World Saxophone Congress (WSC) in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Spain. WSC is the most prestigious conference for saxophonists, drawing more than one thousand people from five continents.

Dr. Amy Branam Armiento (a professor in the Department of English) was named a laureate of the Hesperus Cultural Foundation in recognition of her research on the connections between Edgar Allan Poe and Mihai Eminesu, Romania’s national poet. She was also appointed to the Board of Directors of Poe Baltimore, the organization that operates The Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum in Baltimore.

This past spring saw the premiere of the documentary film Sweet Appalachia: The Story of DelFest, which was produced and directed by Annie Danzi (an associate professor in the Department of Communication). The film chronicles the story of how DelFest, a music festival named after bluegrass legend Del McCoury, came to have its home in Cumberland.

Dr. John Lombardi (a professor of Emerging Media in the Department of Communication) was awarded a $125,000 grant by the Appalachian Regional Commission to create a regional community media center. The center, located on FSU’s main campus, will be a creative space for community members to come to learn digital content creation techniques, rent equipment and utilize facilities for audio and video production and for meeting space among local and regional partners.

Throughout the year, CAHSBS faculty and staff hosted many outreach events serving the regional community.

FSU’s Appalachian Festival, organized by Dr. Kara Rogers Thomas (a professor in the Department of Sociology), returned to campus for its 18th year. The annual event brings together artists, craftspeople and academics to celebrate the region’s history and culture through performances, workshops, displays, discussions and other activities. The theme of this past year’s event was “Experiencing the Feminine in Appalachia: Women, Gender and Place.”

As part of the Roundabout Children’s Theatre tour, the Department of Theatre and Dance produced the musical Nate the Great during the fall 2023 semester, reaching 3,655 children over 14 performances. This K-5 regional outreach project, directed by Nicole Mattis (a professor in the Department of Theatre), included collaborations with FSU’s Cultural Events Series, the Children’s Adaptive Sports League and 10 K-5 tour performances in the Allegany County Public Schools. The Department of Theatre and Dance also hosted the fifth annual Mountain Maryland Theatre Festival, providing valuable development and networking opportunities for young artists and their teachers.

In the fall, Dr. Scott Rieker (a lecturer in the Department of Music) hosted the sixth annual Tenor-Bass Sing Invitational Choral Festival, and in the spring, Peter Lewis (a lecturer in Music) conducted the Maryland Honor Band in a concert culminating the High School Honor Band Festival held on campus. Dr. Brent Weber ( a professor of Music) hosted the eighth annual Jazz Fest, featuring clinics for high school students and a showcase performance by the U.S. Army Blues, the premier jazz ensemble of the U.S. Army.

FSU’s Center for Literary Arts, directed by Jennifer Browne (a lecturer in the Department of English), held its annual Western Maryland Independent Literature Festival (Indie Lit!) and its One-Act Play Festival, and the Department of English and Foreign Languages and Literature sponsored a performance of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet by The Cambridge University American State Tour.

The Stephanie Ann Roper Gallery featured exhibitions by regionally and nationally acclaimed visual artists, organized by gallery director April Wright (a lecturer in the Department of Visual Arts). A winter exhibition featured works by FSU Visual Arts faculty.

This past summer, 20 high school students from counties in Maryland and Pennsylvania participated in the 2024 FSU STEM Summit, co-directed by Dr. Keith Terry (assistant dean and a professor in the Department of Communication) and Dr. Linda Steele (college program manager). During this four-day, three-night event, students were engaged in STEM instruction and problem-solving as they reinforced and expanded their knowledge in these fields and stimulated their interest in a STEM career by networking with science professionals.

This is just a sample of the many individual and collective achievements of faculty and staff in the college. I encourage you to take some time to peruse the complete record of professional activities. I am sure you, too, will take pride in the many accomplishments of our colleagues.