Dr. Tom Rotnem named SPSU Teacher of the Year
Dr. Tom Rotnem, a professor in the Department of Social and International Studies, has been named SPSU’s Teacher of the Year.

Each year, the Cobb Chamber of Commerce honors Cobb County teachers and recognizes their good work in educating the county’s students.

Dr. Rotnem earned dual degrees in Political Science and International Studies and a master’s degree in Political Science from Ohio University. He also holds an MBA in Finance from Georgia State University and a Ph.D. in Political Science from Ohio State University, where he also received a graduate certificate in Russian Area Studies.

Dr. Rotnem spent much of the last academic year teaching and doing research in Latvia as the recipient of a Fulbright Scholar grant award. This is his 11th year at SPSU. As is customary for SPSU’s Teacher of the Year honorees, he will deliver a campus presentation in spring 2012.

SPSU police officer awarded Medal of Valor
Lt. Cliff Yeager, a three-year veteran of the SPSU Police Department, received the Medal of Valor during the Cobb Chamber of Commerce Public Safety Recognition Awards Breakfast on Monday.

The chamber awards this medal to public safety officers who have performed “an act of bravery that has clearly placed the individual in a life-threatening situation above and beyond the call of duty.”

“Lt. Yeager does not stray from intimidating situations,” the nomination from his department read. “Last year, after he was called to an incident at the Recreation and Wellness Center pool, he kept a seven-year-old boy breathing until paramedics arrived. Earlier this year, in response to a fire alarm, Lt. Yeager acted on instinct when he thought he heard a child crying in an apartment. He obtained emergency access to the smoke-filled apartment and found an unattended toddler standing in the kitchen area in a panicked state and coughing from minor smoke inhalation. He was able to get the child to a nearby ambulance.”

According to his nominators, Lt. Yeager also spent many hours this year developing an improved dispatch training program that has been implemented by the department.

Lt. Yeager was selected from a pool of Medal of Valor nominees made up of police, fire and other public safety departments across the county.

2011-12 Executive Leadership Institute scholars announced
The Board of Regents’ Office of Human Resources recently announced the 69 scholars selected to participate in the University System of Georgia’s 2011-12 Executive Leadership Institute (ELI). David Stone, director of the Office of Faculty Support and Development, and Dr. Mark Nunes, chair of the English, Technical Communication and Media Arts Department, will represent SPSU in the third year of this 100-hour professional development program.

The ELI targets the most talented individuals in faculty and staff leadership positions (executive directors, chairs, deans, etc.) who are interested in progressing into senior leadership roles.

Skills identified as critical to the success of leaders transitioning into more complex managerial roles – execution, strategy, collaboration and engagement – are emphasized during the program, along with the importance of integrity and ethics. The ELI promotes mentoring relationships and exposes participants to a variety of leadership models in order to prepare them for high-level advancement within the University System of Georgia.

School guide labels SPSU military friendly
SPSU has been included in the Military-Friendly Schools Guide for 2012 put out by G.I. Jobs, a magazine for military personnel transitioning into civilian life. This annual listing honors only the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members and veterans as students.

The Military-Friendly Schools list is determined through extensive research and a data-driven survey of schools nationwide. The criteria developed by an academic advisory board includes factors such as tuition benefits, flexible learning programs, the number of military and veteran students enrolled, Veterans Administration approval to accept the GI Bill, membership in Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges, academic credit for CLEP and ACE exams, Yellow Ribbon program membership, and academic accreditations.

To see SPSU and the other schools on the list, visit http://www.militaryfriendlyschools.com/2012list.

Banned Books Week observed at SPSU
Each year during the last week of September, libraries, publishers, schools  and other organizations emphasize the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment through the observance of Banned Books Week.

Last week, Sept. 24 – Oct. 1, the staff of the L.V. Johnson Library drew attention to the topic of censorship with displays that spotlighted actual or attempted bannings of books across the United States. The displays featured frequently disputed books such as “To Kill a Mockingbird” (Harper Lee), “The Color Purple” (Alice Walker), “The Catcher in the Rye”(J.D. Salinger), “My Sister’s Keeper (Jodi Picoult) and “Go Ask Alice” (Anonymous). The Banned Book Week enhancements were designed, fabricated and installed by Reference Librarian Amy Coughenour.

For more information on recent challenges to intellectual freedom, visit the library’s Banned Books Week website.

Former SPSU soccer player picked up by Atlanta Silverbacks
Eric Ati, a former SPSU soccer player, has signed with the North American Soccer League’s Atlanta Silverbacks as a goalkeeper.

As a member of the Silverbacks’ reserve team, Ati started a total of 10 games this year and was named National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) Southeast Division All-Star.

From 2007-10, Ati was the Hornets’ starting goalkeeper. In 2010, he was named NAIA All-American and helped the Hornets earn an undefeated conference record during his senior season. He also served as a team captain.

In 2009, he was named the Southern States Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week for helping to preserve two shutouts. He went on to chalk up his third and fourth shutouts that season.

The Atlanta Silverbacks are currently between seasons – look for them to return to the soccer field in April 2012.

Have news to share?
If your department has an upcoming event or other news to share with the campus community, please send an e-mail with all the pertinent information to Diane Payne (dpayne@spsu.edu). To be considered for use in a specific issue of the SPSU Hornet’s Nest, a news item must be submitted no less than four weeks before the date of the issue.

Volume 4, Issue 38
October 5, 2011