Kinesiology • Music TherapySchool of Nursing • WellnessPrograms • Student HealthServices • Outdoor EducationCenter for Health and SocialIssues • Wellness ProgramsStudent Health Services

School of Nursing • WellnessPrograms, Outdoor EducationOutdoor Education • Centerfor Health and Social Issues

Health SciencesCOLLEGE OFHEALTH SCIENCES

• Center for Health & Social Issues• Kinesiology• Music Therapy• Outdoor Education• School of Nursing• Student Health Services• Wellness Programs

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE • LEADERSHIP • COMMUNITY SERVICE • SCHOLARSHIP Spring 2011

Healthy Connections

Inspiring and Enhancing Sustainability

www.gcsu.edu/health

Dear Alumni and Friends,

We are pleased to present ournewly formatted annual publica-tion, Healthy Connections.Within you will find special fea-ture articles spotlighting impact-ful university initiativespromoted by the College ofHealth Sciences. Healthy Con-nections will also include high-lights of Health Sciences faculty,staff, and student accomplish-ments made throughout theyear, as well as updates from theCollege’s academic departmentsand service divisions. This printpublication will also be availableonline on the College of HealthSciences webpage,www.gcsu.edu/health/

The College will continue topublish our newsletter, Health

Sciences News & Notes, in anon-line format only. News &Notes will provide our alumni,professional colleagues, andfriends with timely informationabout the College’s activities ona more frequent basis. Alumninews, College announcements,and upcoming events will be in-cluded in this publication. If youwould like to receive News &Notes, please send your emailaddress to julie.collis@gcsu.eduand we will add you to the list.

It is our sincere hope that you willfind time in your busy schedulesto visit the Georgia College cam-pus soon. We would delight inassisting you in touring our re-cently renovated Health Sciencesand Marvin Parks Memorial Build-ings. You will easily recognize

these two beautifully restoredbuildings located on the NE cor-ner of the main campus as theirexteriors have been brought backto their original grandeur. Withinyou will find that the interior nowcontains state-of-the-art class-rooms, clinical and instructionallaboratories, as well as commonmeeting spaces where studentsmay actively and informally en-gage in academic and social dis-course. As a result of thisthree-year renovation project,Nursing, Music Therapy, Kinesiol-ogy and Outdoor Education fac-ulty, staff, and students are nowable to interact with each otherunder the same roof as a truefamily of Health Sciences schol-ars, learners, and professionalpractitioners.

Inside this issue:

Dean’s Welcome 2

Wellness & RecreationCenter 3

Childhood Obesity 4

Breast Education 4

Physical Educationat GC is changing 5

Student Honors 6

Residential LearningCommunities 7

Where Are They Now? 8

Outdoor Education 9

Kinesiology 10

Music Therapy 11

School of Nursing 12

Wellness Programs 13

Student Health Services 13

New Faculty 15

College of Health Sciences

Dean:Sandra Gangstead

Associate Dean: Martha M. Colvin

Newsletter Editor:Julie N. Collis

Photo Credits: Julie Collis, MarthaColvin, GC Archives, Lisa Griffin, AmandaHall, Chesley Mer-cado, Julie Nelson,Christy Preston, LizSpeelman, Rachel Sullivan, Tim Vacula, Erin Weston

Healthy Connections I Spring 2011 I 2

A Message from the Dean

Health SciencesDean’s Welcome

See “Dean’s Welcome” page 14

3 I Spring 2011 I Healthy Connections

Wellness and Recreation Center

One of the most exciting proj-ects to hit the GC campus inyears is the new Wellness &Recreation Center located on

West Campus. The $29 million,100,000-square-foot facility adds muchneeded space for expanded studentwellness, fitness, recreation, intramuralsports and social activities. The centerwill also be the new home for StudentHealth Services and Counseling Servicesproviding a new, holistic health ap-proach under one roof for our students.Funding for the construction of the cen-ter is being provided by a new student-approved fee and has the full support ofthe Student Government Association(SGA). SGA representatives have beeninvolved with the proposed project dur-ing its three-year planning stage.

“Georgia College is committed to a ho-listic approach to campus wellness”,said Dr. Gangstead, Dean of the Col-lege of Health Sciences. “We’re inter-ested in providing students with lifelonghealth and fitness activities and by plac-ing both the Student Health Servicesand Counseling Services inside the newcenter, we are working with holistic well-ness in mind.”

An aquatic center will feature a 25 yardcompetition-size indoor recreation poolfor water polo, volleyball and other in-tramural and recreational activities, aswell as lap and leisure swimming. Thepool will have a zip line, basketball

goals, will host a variety of water aerobicclasses, will act as a venue for our SwimCats Club Sports team and more.

A three-court gym will house basketball,volleyball and badminton courts whichwill offer additional recreational oppor-tunities for all students, as well asgreatly enhanced intramural team com-petition venues. One court will serve asa multi-purpose court for indoor soccer

and roller blade hockey. The center willalso house a classroom. Regular shuttleservice will be available from main campus.

Students will enjoy a rock climbing wall,classes of Yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates, spin-ning, zumba, krank, boot camp and ahuge variety of state-of-the-art fitness

equipment. In addition, the center willoffer social spaces, a fitness testing lab,locker rooms and an indoor joggingtrack. Individual services such as per-sonal training, health and wellnesscoaching and massage therapy will alsobe available.

The project calls for the center to beLEED (Leadership in Energy and Environ-mental Design) certified as a ‘green

building,’ and will be the first on campus.

To obtain LEED certification, the build-ing must address six major areas: Sus-tainable site, water efficiency, energyand atmosphere, materials and re-sources, indoor environmental quality,and innovation in design process.

An official ground-breaking ceremonywas held on September 14, 2010 to cel-ebrate the new Wellness & RecreationCenter. The 14-month project is sched-uled to open in fall 2011.

- Mr. Dave Terrell, Director of WellnessPrograms, dave.terrell@gcsu.edu

Watch the groundbreaking ceremony at:

tinyurl.com/wellnesscenter

Health SciencesCOHSNews

On the Web

Center for Health and Social Issues Battles Childhood Obesity

The Center for Health and Social Is-sues at Georgia College hasteamed up with the Robert WoodJohnson Foundation to address the

childhood obesity epidemic. Healthy Kids,Healthy Communities is the largest commu-nity-based investment ever made by a pri-vate foundation with a price tag of $33million. Milledgeville/ Baldwin County joins49 other communities from across the na-tion, including Puerto Rico and Guam, withthe goal of reversing the childhood obesityepidemic by 2013 through policy and envi-ronmental change aimed at increasing op-portunities for healthy eating and physicalactivity in those communities.

The title of the local effort is Live HealthyBaldwin. The Center for Health and SocialIssues is the lead agency in a coalition con-sisting of partners from throughout BaldwinCounty: Baldwin County Health Depart-ment, Oconee Regional Medical Center,the Oconee River Greenway Authority,UGA Cooperative Extension Service, Bald-win County Parks and Recreation, the Col-lege of Health Sciences at GeorgiaCollege, the Bicycling Club ofMilledgeville, and the Milledgeville Com-munity Garden Association. The amount offunding received totaled $360,000 for theproject period beginning December 2009through December 2013.

The first six months of Live Healthy Baldwininvolved assessing the opportunities andbarriers to physical activity and healthy eat-ing in the community. We found that, out-

side of school, opportunities for physicalactivity are very limited in low incomeneighborhoods. Once children arrive homefrom school, they are restricted in their op-portunities for active play for a variety ofreasons related to availability and safety. Interms of healthy eating, fast food restau-rants and convenience stores are the pre-dominant source of food. Perceivedbarriers to healthy eating can be summedup as higher cost, lack of time to preparehealthier meals, and lack of knowledgeabout how to prepare those meals.

Live Healthy Baldwin is addressing these is-sues through community vegetable gar-dens, the Milledgeville Farmers’ Market,and making Milledgeville/Baldwin Countymore conducive to active transportationsuch as walking and bicycling for recreationand to get to school and work. At a part-nership meetingheld on August27th, 2010 theplan for the next18 months wasratified and workteams wereformed underteam leaders. Thefive work areasare: 1. Expandingcommunity gar-dens to schooland MilledgevilleHousing Authority properties; 2. Accept-ance of SNAP/WIC benefits at theMilledgeville Farmers’ Market; 3. Obtain-

ing additionalfunding to com-plete Phase 2 ofthe Fishing CreekCommunity Trailwhich will providea safe route toschool for childrenwho wish to walk,skateboard,rollerblade or bicy-cle; 4. Providinghealthy snacks in

after-school programs; and 5. Pursuing theBicycle Friendly Community designationfrom the League of American Bicyclists.

- Dr. Jim Lidstone, Director, Center forHealth & Social Issues,jim.lidstone@gcsu.edu

Healthy Connections I Spring 2011 I 4

A family works in theMilledgeville CommunityGarden.

Artist’s conception ofthe Fishing Creek Com-munity Trail

• Bicycling Club of Milledgevillemvillebikes.com

• Center for Health & Social Issueswww.gcsu.edu/chsi

• Healthy Kids, Healthy Communitiestinyurl.com/healthymville

• Live Healthy Baldwin Facebook Sitetinyurl.com/livehealthybaldwin

• Millegeville Community Gardenmvillegarden.wordpress.com

• Milledgeville Farmer’s Marketmilledgevillemarketplace.com

About the Center for Health & Social Issues

The mission of the Center is to improve thehealth of the residents of Central Georgiathrough collaborative campus/communitypartnerships to provide research and educa-tion concerning contemporary health prob-lems and social issues. The major focusareas are: cancer prevention and treatment;access to healthcare services; and lifestylerelated diseases such as obesity, diabetesand heart disease. For more information orto join in the work of the Center, contact Dr.Jim Lidstone, Director at (478) 445-2133,jim.lidstone@gcsu.edu or go towww.gcsu.edu/chsi.

Breast Education for Women with Intellectual Disabilities Expanded

The College of Health Sciences re-ceived a grant from the Central Geor-gia Affiliation of Susan G. Komen forthe Cure. It is designed to fund expan-

sion of the Breast Education Program forWomen with Intellectual Disabilities fundedby Komen last year. Last year, the grant fo-cused on Baldwin County. Through Komenfunding this year, the program will expand toserve women from not only Baldwin Countybut Bibb, Peach, Twiggs, Wilkinson, Jonesand Monroe counties.

Each participant will attend a class in the falland again in the spring where they will learnabout the importance of self-breast examina-tions, how to do the examinations, and to learnabout the importance of mammograms sotheir fear of having one will be reduced. In ad-dition, participants will tour a mammographysite and will receive a pink Komen braceletwhen they have a mammogram.

Nursing faculty and nursing students will befacilitating the classes.

- Dr. Chesley Mercado, Chair, Department of Music Therapy, chesley.mercado@gcsu.edu

Health SciencesCOHSNews

On the Web

Health Sciences

5 I Spring 2011 I Healthy Connections

COHSNewsPhysical Education at GC is Changing!

Physical health and well being havebeen staples at this institution since itsdoors opened in 1891 as GeorgiaNormal & Industrial College. As a

matter of fact, one of the pre-requisites for en-trance was sound physical health. Studentsarrived on campus knowing they would be re-quired to take pleasant, invigorating exer-cises daily in order to preserve health; and asthe President (Chappell) at the time stated,“Physical Culture will be carefully taughtthroughout the academic session to every classand will be made obligatory upon all pupils.”Physical culture was so ingrained in the fabricof this college that, in 1893, Mrs. Sarah Bou-dren was hired as the first Director of PhysicalCulture. She developed a physical training pro-gram consisting mainly of gymnastics.

Forward in his thinking, President Chappellfelt that there would be a growing demand insouthern schools for good teachers of physi-cal culture, and that every Georgia girl whomade herself thoroughly proficient in thisbeautiful and noble branch of educationwould be assured lucrative employment.Under President Chappell the first gymnasiumwas built and Boudren organized what shecalled outdoor sports…later to become ourmodern day Field Day. Activities such as lawntennis and a new rollicking outdoor gamecalled basketball were introduced.

By 1907, Physical Culture became known asPhysical Training/Health. By 1917, the firstHealth Education program in the country ar-

rived with Miss Kathleen Wooten. Soon camethe arrival of the Georgia Normal & IndustrialCollege Department of Physical Educationwith the hiring of Miss Marcia Perkins. MissPerkins stayed long enough to submit the firstorganized Physical Education program out-lined in the 1920 catalog – which was signifi-cant because that was the year the schoolcompleted its transition from a two year to afour year college.

By 1922 Georgia Normal & Industrial Collegebecame Georgia State College for Women.During the next two decades the Physical Ed-ucation program remained solid with thechanging of faculty and the addition ofcourses along the way. In 1950 the depart-

ment became known as HPER (Health, Physi-cal Education, & Recreation), eventually be-coming our current Department ofKinesiology.

The culture of health, well being and physicalactivity has always been a pillar at GC. Wehave transitioned our undergraduate healthand physical education teacher certificationdegree to a 4+1 graduate Master of Arts inTeaching (MAT) Kinesiology/Physical Educa-tion degree. As we made this decision, weexamined our economy and our student pop-ulation. Using those as our guide, we felt thetransition was necessary, but very positive.Our students continue to seek teacher licen-sure in health and physical education, and asa university with such a strong commitment tothis discipline, we had no intentions of everdoing away with it. We look forward to thenew MAT program and will be diligent aboutholding the standards of quality as high as itwas with our undergraduate degree. Here’sto change at GC being very positive!

- Dr. Lisa Griffin, Interim Chair, Departmentof Kinesiology, lisa.griffin@gcsu.eduHealth Education Faculty (left to right) Mrs.

Kathleen Wooten, Miss Mary Ellen Nelson, andMrs. Mary Joyce Ireland

Students play basketball

Health Sciences HistoricalSlideshow

tinyurl.com/healthhistory

Health Sciences

On the Web

Health Sciences

Healthy Connections I Spring 2011 I 6

COHSNewsCOHS Honors Outstanding Students

Megan Day was named the 2009College of Health Sciences Out-standing Student on April 17,

2009 at the COHS Student Recognition Cer-emony. Day, an undergraduate Music Ther-apy senior, was honored for being anexceptional student academically, musicallyand clinically.

Day, who had a 3.9 GPA, is an accomplishedcellist. In addition, she plays guitar, piano,and sings. She was a leader among herpeers, serving as an officer for the MusicTherapy Society for three years. Under Day’sleadership, the Music Therapy Society raisedmoney for students to attend the Southeast-ern Regional Music Therapy Convention.She was also instrumental in designing, or-

ganizing, and imple-menting the annualMusic Therapy Soci-ety fundraiser dinnerand performance.

Clinically, Day wasan outstanding stu-dent. She workedwith the Creative Ex-pressions performinggroups for fouryears, traveling withthem to perform-ances. Her clinicalsites included theNeonatal IntensiveCare Unit at the Med-

ical Center of Central Georgia in Macon,Brantley’s Assisted Living and the EarlyLearning Center located in Milledgeville.She completed a six month full-time in-ternship at the Veterans Medical Center inAugusta, Georgia.

After graduating from Georgia College inMay 2009, Day is now working in a con-tinuing care retirement center as an Ac-tivities Assistant in the memory care unit.Day plans to attend graduate school tocomplete a Master’s of Social Work de-gree so she can continue her career workwith elderly patients.

- Dr. Chesley Mercado & Ms. Julie N.Collis, chesley.mercado@gcsu.edu,julie.collis@gcsu.edu

2009 Student Honors

The College of Health Sciences hon-ored its 2010 outstanding students onApril 16, 2010. Katie Ragan, a Com-

munity Health & Human Services student,was named COHS Outstanding Student.

Ms. Ragan held a 3.88 GPA and was an ac-tive member of an undergraduate researchteam.

She published one manuscript in the GCCorinthian and has another manuscript inreview for the 2011 Corinthian. She collab-orated with Dr. Scott Butler, research teamadvisor, on two additional papers for pub-lication in peer reviewed, professionaljournals.

Ragan also provided leadership to a groupof graduate students to present a work-shop at the BACCUS Peer Education Net-work and presented two research papersat the GC Student Research Conference.As a member of Dr. Butler’s research team,Katie had three presentations in review forthe American College Health Associationand the Society for the Scientific Study ofSexuality national conferences.

She was a member of the COHS Dean’sStudent Advisory Committee and received

several honorsincluding theOutstandingMajor for theCommunityHealth andHuman Services concen-tration, Weir/Wells Interna-tional StudyScholarship, PhiKappa Phi StudyAbroad Grant,and the STARSGrant. She wasalso on the Pres-

ident’s and Dean’s Lists and a member ofthe Eta Sigma Alpha Honors Society, PhiKappa Phi, Alpha Lambda Delta, the BetaBeta Beta Biological Honors Society, andparticipated in the National Society ofSuccess and Leadership program.

Ms. Ragan is also a leader in communityservice and philanthropy at GC. She com-pleted a 1-year internship at the GC Inter-national Center and has been activelyinvolved with Chaplin Nursing Home,Relay for Life, Stepping Stone Farm, OakHill Middle School, Health Occupation

Students of America, and the PAWS PeerEducation Program.

Ragan graduated with her undergraduatedegree in May, 2010 and plans to attendgraduate school at the Emory UniversitySchool of Public Health and plans to pur-sue a career as an epidemiologist.

- Dr. Jude Hirsch & Ms. Julie N. Collis,jude.hirsch@gcsu.edu, julie.collis@gcsu.edu

2010 Student Honors

• 2009 Student Recognition Ceremony

tinyurl.com/2009honors

• 2010 Student Recognition Ceremony

tinyurl.com/cohs2010honors

• Student Honors Recipient List2009/2010

tinyurl.com/awardrecipients

On the Web

Health Sciences

7 I Spring 2011 I Healthy Connections

Residential Learning Communities Make a Difference

Georgia College implemented Residen-tial Learning Communities (RLC) in2000 with a mission of integrating stu-

dent “academic, social, and service experi-ences in small community settings.” As aconsequence, GC currently has seven themedcommunities. Two of these communities -Nursing and Wellness - are part of the Collegeof Health Sciences. Students in these commu-nities become closely connected with their ad-visors and participate in academic learning andcampus and community events.

Nursing RLC

Beginning in the fall of 2009, the Georgia Col-lege School of Nursing introduced its firstResidential Learning Community (RLC) to bet-ter enhance student development in accor-dance with GCs liberal arts message. An RLCis a group of students that share a similar in-terest and are typically housed together whileengaging in RLC events. The Pre-Nursing RLCis comprised of fourteen first-year freshmen.

These students were selected through a com-petitive interview process with School of Nurs-ing faculty. Members of the Pre-Nursing RLCare provided with the opportunity for guaran-teed admission to the Nursing program.

“As far as we are aware, there is no othernursing program in the state that offers in-coming freshmen with an admissions guaran-tee,” explained pre-nursing advisor ErinWeston, M.Ed. “This gives the Pre-NursingRLC members an experience like no other inthe state.”

Members of the Pre-NursingRLC must obtain a cumulative3.0 GPA and maintain activestatus in the community to re-tain their guaranteed spot.RLC members have partici-pated in a number of activi-ties, including a “behind thescenes” tour at Oconee Re-gional Medical Center, assist-ing nursing students in theclinical skills lab, volunteeringin the community, and a lunch-eon with faculty.

“The RLC has provided mewith a great support system tohelp each other through ourchallenging courses,” saidRLC member Page Gamel. “It has given me amore direct connection with the School ofNursing and has been a great way to start myjourney here at GC.”

Applications for the Pre-Nursing RLC are avail-able at www.gcsu.edu/nursing.

Wellness RLCThe Wellness Residential Learning Community(WRLC) is a two year community where stu-dents grow together in the development ofattitudes and practices that foster holistic well-being in a community of people who cometogether with a shared commitment to pursueall the dimensions of wellness. The Commu-nity promotes respect and understanding ofeach other, creating an environment that val-ues, encourages, and facilitates the pursuit of

a healthier lifestyle. Wellness RLC students ex-plore the different aspects of health to be-come “healthier” all-around students.

The Wellness RLC consists of eleven students,mainly freshmen with two upperclassmen.These students meet bi-weekly to discusshealth and wellness topics. Wellness RLC stu-dents must actively participate in communityevents in order to maintain membership. Stu-dents participate in W.H.A.Ts (Wellness &Health Activities and Things), co-sponsoredevents hosted by The Wellness Depot andStudent Health Services, as well as Universityaffiliated events and activities such as Finearts, Seminars, and Athletic Events.

- Mrs. Erin Weston, Nursing RLCAdvisor, erin.weston@gcsu.edu & Ms. Rachel Sullivan, Wellness RLC Advisor,rachel.sullivan@gcsu.edu

Wellness and Nursing RLC Students work at Andalusia to clean outa flower bed for RLC Community Service Day.

GC ResidentialLearning Communities

www.gcsu.edu/rlc

Front row (L-R): Nursing RLC students Bethany Abresh, Brittany Lampe, Melissa Little, Michelle Lingner, Amanda Veillon Back row (L-R): Jessica Lisska, Catherine Rentz, MichaelSawers, Aleacia Floy, Rebekah Baughman, Page Gamel, Katie Caviston, Andrew NeSmith, Bailey Harrison

Above - Wellness RLC students Kendra Schneider andChelsi Colburn rake new soil over a flowerbed at Andalusia for RLC Community Service Day.

Health SciencesCOHSNews

On the Web

While it hasn’t been very long since Igraduated from Georgia College, itdoes feel like my college days were a

lifetime ago. I graduated, officially, in 2008 butdid not attend my graduation because I was al-ready working across the country. My bachelor’sdegree in Music Therapy has served me quitewell as I now work for a private practice calledHeartland Therapy, Inc. in the Surprise, Arizonaarea. I travel all over the west valley area of Ari-zona and have 30 clients I see on a weekly basis.

My four years at GC are years that I treasure,probably more so than my high school years. Ifelt I was able to be grow, display my abilitiesand independence not just for my parents butmore importantly for me. No one was tellingme to do my homework, to study, or even whenand what to eat! Yet even with that feeling of in-dependence and freedom, the college was stillin an environment of security and safety.

I spent the majority of my time at Porter Hall, asmost music majors seem to. And all my musicand music therapy professors, who I’m afraid Iwill never be able to call by their first names,

became more than just the one who taughtmusic therapy techniques, or the one whotaught music theory, or sight singing. My pro-fessors became advisors to how life was goingto be after we left the safety of college and be-came professionals in our own fields.

I could go on and on about my life at GeorgiaCollege and whenever I get together withfriends from school, a rarity for me due to thedistance as most still live in Georgia or at leaston the East Coast, all we seem to be able totalk about is how it was and how much weloved to be able to walk to Blackbird for coffee,sit on front campus playing the guitar, or howwe dreaded staying late in a practice room toget ready for juries. Though there were thosefew moments when I thought: “What am Idoing? When will I have time to study? Whenwill I have time to sleep? It can’t possibly betime for finals!”

And even though GC prepared me for “reallife” in the work force, more importantly to meit was where I met lifetime friends and learnedqualities about myself I am confident I would

not have been able to find anywhere else but inMilledgeville. - Julie Nelson, MT-BC

A Music Therapy student shares how her degree from GC hasenhanced her professional career

Healthy Connections I Spring 2011 I 8

Christy Preston, ’08

Acareer in nursing allows for many

amazing opportunities. One such

opportunity that it has given me

is the chance to spend three months in

Brazil working on a medical and dental

boat. This particular boat, and others like it,

travel up and down the Amazon River and

its tributaries providing medical and dental

care to the people that live along it. I love

that I can be a nurse in Durham, North Car-

olina as well as on the Rio Negro in Brazil.

Don’t pass up the opportunity to step out of

your comfort zone and use your nursing

skills in other places!

- Christy Preston, RN

WhereAre TheyNow?

AlumniJulie Nelson, ’08

COHSNews

Would you like toshare your story?email julie.collis@gcsu.edu

OutdoorEducation

9 I Spring 2011 I Healthy Connections

ProgramsThe Outdoor Center at Georgia College

The mission of the Outdoor Center atGeorgia College is to provide excellenttechnical training, outdoor recreation

education, leadership training, and group de-velopment experiences. The Outdoor Centerserves outdoor education professionals, Geor-gia College faculty, staff, students, and mem-bers of the surrounding community. It seeks toenhance the mission of Georgia Collegethrough safe, environmentally sound, and ef-fective programs and services. All programsand services are led by competent personnelin compliance with The Association for Experi-ential Education accreditation standards.

Technical TrainingAdventure-basedoutdoor activitiesare the tools weuse to create expe-riential learning -learning about self,learning about oth-ers, learning sub-jects, and learninghow to accomplish important goals in ourlives. Adventure-based outdoor activities, bytheir nature, require training about how, when,where, and why. Our technical training pro-grams are for teachers, trainers, leaders, andprofessional outdoor educators who are inter-ested in using adventure-based outdoor activi-ties to work with others - or just because!

RecreationHave you ever wanted to do something differ-ent in your spare time, or learn a new skill like

canoeing or climbing, or meet new peoplewho like to do the same thing you do? TheOutdoor Center is a great place to discoverhow exciting outdoor recreation can be. Weoffer healthy and exciting ways to meet newpeople or hang out with old friends. A pro-gram with the Outdoor Center is a perfect wayto feed your passion for adventure!

Group DevelopmentMost people would agree that a group thatplays together, stays together! As well, agroup that works together is more effectivewhen its members communicate and prob-lem solve well, respect and utilize diversity inthe group, cooperate and constructively dealwith controversy, and use leadership withinthe group to transform itself into a highlyfunctioning team. The Outdoor Center atGeorgia College offers a broad range of cus-tom designed group development experi-ences that are focused on team building andteam effectiveness.

Leadership TrainingThe leadership training programs offered bythe Outdoor Center are a blend of traditionaland experiential education strategies that aretaught by experienced facilitators. We teach,model ,and discuss topics such as instructionaltechniques, facilitation strategies, program de-sign, industry standards, and explore leadershipmodels for a variety of contexts, clients, and en-vironments. Self-awareness is central to learninghow to effectively lead others with confidenceand enthusiasm. Our leadership training pro-grams are designed to promote personalgrowth and professional development and we

believe that the goal of leadership is to have apositive impact on others.

The Outdoor Center’s programs give you theopportunity to have a unique experience andvisit new places with experienced guides. Notonly are the Center’s programs fun andunique, they are low stress and easy to plan. Ifyou are interested in a certain activity or creat-ing a special program, give us a call or emailus and we will be happy to work with you.

For more information contact:Ms. Liz Speelman, Outdoor Center DirectorPhone: 478-445-5186/4217outdoor@gcsu.edu

• Outdoor Center at Georgia Collegewww.gcsu.edu/outdoor

• Department of Outdoor Educationwww.gcsu.edu/outdooredDepartment of Outdoor Education

Historically, academic programs fo-cused on preparing professional out-door educators grew out of a

demand to expand traditional recreation oreducation professional preparation pro-grams to include outdoor activity. Outdooreducation programs at Georgia Collegebegan in the 1950s as academic workshopsin the Department of Health, Physical Educa-tion and Recreation (HPER) in the School ofEducation (now College of Education). In thefall of 1996, HPER was relocated to theSchool of Health Sciences (now College ofHealth Sciences) and more recently becamethe Department of Kinesiology.

On August 1, 2010 outdoor education pro-grams and services formed the new Depart-ment of Outdoor Education in the College ofHealth Sciences. The Department’s newhome is a suite of offices on the third floor ofthe newly renovated Health Sciences build-ing. We are very excited about the possibili-ties and believe we are the only stand-alonepublic university Department of Outdoor Ed-ucation in the country.

The mission of the Department of OutdoorEducation is to provide a learning commu-nity of faculty, staff, and students dedicatedto the development of professional outdoor

educators who are grounded in the liberalarts tradition at Georgia College. The De-partment is committed to exemplary teach-ing, scholarship, service, and practice thatpromotes holistic wellness, fosters steward-ship of natural environments, and createsopportunities for positive change. We as-cribe to the principles of experiential educa-tion set forth by The Association forExperiential Education and believe that pro-fessionalism is central to the pursuit of excel-lence.

- Dr. Jude Hirsch, Chair, Department ofOutdoor Education, jude.hirsch@gcsu.edu

Now?

On the Web

ProgramsDepartment of Kinesiology

The Department of Kinesiology relo-cated classrooms, laboratory facilitiesand offices to Marvin Parks Memorial

from the Centennial Center. We are nowmore centrally located on one floor of onebuilding. The energy is high and the interac-tions frequent among colleagues, staff andstudents! Our new exercise science, athletictraining, and movement labs are beautiful,state of the art facilities.

Faculty and staff have been extraordinarilyproductive. For example, faculty produced34 presentations & 13 publications. ScottButler, Mandy Jarriel, Jeff Turner and WillHobbs completed their doctoral degrees.Faculty provided leadership to their profes-sions on multiple organizational boards,committees and/or publication reviews.Grant writing and recognition awards alsoincreased.

Students in the Department were very ac-tive as well. Highlights include 13 presenta-tions at international, national, regional orinstitutional conferences, 4,600 servicelearning hours, and three students were ap-pointed or elected to leadership positionsin professional organizations.

We now offer a BS in Ath-letic Training degree andour accreditation from theCommission on Accredita-tion of Athletic Training Edu-cation (CAATE) has beenaffirmed.

The new Master of Arts inTeaching (MAT) degree inKinesiology/Physical Edu-cation provides initialteacher preparation at themaster's degree level forqualified candidates whohold a bachelor's degreefrom a regionally accreditedinstitution in a related disci-pline such as Kinesiology,Exercise Science, HealthPromotion, Outdoor Educa-tion, and Human Perform-ance.

- Dr. Lisa Griffin, InterimChair, Department of Kinesiology, lisa.griffin@gcsu.edu

Department of Kinesiologykinesiology.gcsu.edu

Athletic Training Lab Movement Lab

Healthy Connections I Spring 2011 I 10

Kinesiology

On the Web

Exercise Science Lab

11 I Spring 2011 I Healthy Connections

Music Therapy

Music Therapy has two reasons tocelebrate. First, we have been offi-cially designated as a department

in the College of Health Sciences. This wasthe vision of my predecessor Dr. SandraCurtis and finally over 10 years later it isa reality. Second, the Department ofMusic Therapy is housed together in ournewly renovated space in the HealthSciences Building. Those of you who re-member being in the basement ofHealth Sciences will not recognize thenew space. Doug Keith, Vicky Robin-son, Phillis Brown and I have a beautifulsuite of offices with a workroom and aspace for graduate assistants and under-graduate workers.

New Music Therapy Space

The Improv Room is still on the first floorbut now there is state of the art audio/visualequipment and a huge storage room forthe Orff instruments and all of the drums.Side closets organize the small percussioninstruments for easy access. The new musictherapy technology is exciting. We have aseparate room for Sensory Integration, acozy Somatron room , and a small therapyclinic room. These three rooms are linkedby an observation room with video andaudio capabilities. Faculty can video stu-dents working with consumers, make notes,and then upload the document to a web-site so students can review it before the su-pervisory conference. Students can do thesame as they watch faculty or other stu-dents work with consumers or participate inrole playing activities. The new Piano Lab isequipped with electronic keyboards andnew computers for each station with Finaleand internet capabilities. We finally have a

dedicated recording studio. Great care wastaken to design a space that has minimalreverb and is sound proofed. The last roomis a more traditional seminar room thatseats 20 comfortably.

Speaking of technology, we are planningan exciting research study using biofeed-back and the Somatron. New GSR andEEG equipment will enable us to system-atically investigate the benefits of the So-matron for a variety of populations.

Art Gallery

One of my favorite additions to the reno-vated space is the Art Gallery. A galleryhanging system has transformed our wallsinto an art gallery. The first exhibition wasCreative Expressions, Milledgeville, Ga.This was incredible art by adults attendingBaldwin Enrichment Center (formerly Bald-win Service Center) under the direction ofBarbara Coleman and GC Music Therapy

alum, Katie Whipple. Other exhibitionsthis year included paintings by Sarah Flinn,pottery by Pat Black, oil and watercolorpaintings by Juanita Sigmon, and the Ed-uardo Mercado Jr. Arts Competition

featuring work by artists with disabilitiesfrom Georgia.

This is a wonderful time to be part of theMusic Therapy Department. I hope each ofyou will visit, volunteer and add your ex-pertise to the exciting new projects we areplanning. Our theme this year is Expandingour Horizons. We are expanding the com-munity involvement of the MT Clinic and weare planning the Master of Arts in Art Ther-apy degree program. I look forward toworking with you this new year.

- Dr. Chesley Mercado, Chair, Department of Music Therapy, chesley.mercado@gcsu.edu

• Baldwin State Prison Art Showtinyurl.com/mtbaldwin

• Cracked Art Showtinyurl.com/mtcracked

• Creative Expressions Art Showtinyurl.com/mtcreative

• Eduardo Mercado, Jr. Arts Competition for Persons with Intellectual Disabilitiestinyurl.com/mercadoshow

• Music Therapy Classrooms and Labstinyurl.com/mtspace

• Through My Eyes: Juanita H. Sigmon Collectiontinyurl.com/mtsigmon

Music TherapyPrograms

On the Web

Piano Lab

Art Gallery

School of Nursing Update

Welcome to the School of Nurs-ing at Georgia College!Many exciting changes have

occurred since the publication of the lastnewsletter! In late Spring 2009, wemoved back into newly renovated space.The Health Sciences Building now

houses our classrooms, computer laband skills lab. All of the nursing facultyoffices are in Parks Memorial Hall. Theskills lab is a 30-bed unit including a pri-vate exam room, a 34-space simulationarea, and a media teaching area. Thespacious new lab has plenty of light withsurrounding ceiling to floor windows.Students’ skills are tested through simu-lation using Sim Man and Sim Baby.With the critical need for nurses, we arepleased that our students have opportu-nities to work with these resources.

Faculty and Staff!A number of new faculty have joinedour School over the past few years: Mrs.Lora Crowe, Mrs. Leslie Moore, Mrs.Carol Bowdoin, Dr. Brian Mendyka, andMrs. Sheryl Winn. They bring an excit-ing combination of clinical and teachingexperiences that have enriched ournursing education programs.

Drs. Dean Baker, Flor Culpa-Bondal,Debby MacMillan, Susan Steele, Sallie

Coke and Leslie Moore completed therequirements for the PhD and defendedtheir dissertations. We are so proud oftheir accomplishments! Donna Ingramis completing the requirements for theDoctor of Nursing Practice degree. LoraCrowe successfully defended her disser-

tation proposal and is in datacollection. Carol Bowdoin andGail Godwin are newly enrolledin a PhD program at GeorgiaBaptist.

Nursing ProgramsWe admitted our second classof prenursing students into theacademic-based ResidentialLearning Community (RLC).The program offers an opportu-nity for talented new Freshmento engage in service learning

activities related to the nursing profes-sion. These students earn an automaticplacement in the junior nursing cohortpending their service learning participa-tion and maintaining a high grade pointaverage. As a result of the GeorgiaBoard of Nursing visit in January 2010,the School of Nursing earned full ap-proval of its BSN program through De-cember 31, 2014. We received ninecommendations, including recognitionfor a four-year running NCLEX-RN passrate of 96%. The students in theRN/BSN program participate in a men-torship model for career developmentactivities. This model replaces the for-mer clinical preceptorships. The MSNstudents have been the recipients offederal traineeship money each year.The certification pass rate for ourMSN/FNP graduates stands at 100%.The nursing faculty are writing a pro-posal for a Doctor of Nursing Practiceprogram.

Please come by and visit us!

Fond FarewellIn May 2009, three tenured nursing fac-ulty with about 60 years of combined

service to GC (pictured from left toright): Ms. Margie Johnson, AssistantProfessor Emeritus; Dr. Cheryl Kish, Pro-fessor Emeritus; and Ms. Carol Ormond,Assistant Professor Emeritus.

- Dr. Judith Malachowski, Director, School of Nursing, judith.malachowski@gcsu.edu

• School of Nursingnursing.gcsu.edu

• GC Nursing Gradstinyurl.com/nursinggrads

GC Nursing GradsOn Top

Georgia College nursinggraduates who took the national licensing exam forthe first time in 2010earned the highest overallpass rate among public colleges and universitiesacross Georgia.

Healthy Connections I Spring 2011 I 12

School of NursingPrograms

On the Web

Nursing Skills Lab

13 I Spring 2011 I Healthy Connections

Wellness Programs

Ahost of new programs and events arebeing offered on campus to encour-age students to “Be Well Connected”

in order to enhance student engagement inactivities that promote healthy choices andbehaviors. Making the connection betweenthe mind, body, and spirit is critically impor-tant to a successful college career and lifelongwellness. Increasing student awareness ofgood nutrition and dietary habits, the impor-tance of exercise and physical fitness, bodymass index and healthy body composition,along with reducing tobacco use are primarytarget areas for programming.

Opportunities for students to “Be Well Con-nected” include:

Fit Fridays: A new fitness topic highlightedeach week, such as basic components of fit-ness, functional training, and gender specifictraining. Wellness staff will have informationtables and demonstrations set up on campusevery Friday for seven weeks.

Fuel for Life: A different nutrition topic high-lighted each week, such as basic nutrition,glycemic index, and hydration. Wellness staffwill have information tables set up on cam-pus every Friday for seven weeks.

Fitness 1st: Avoiding the Freshmen 15: Afun 10-week program designed to help fresh-

men tackle the adjustments of col-lege life, the healthy way! Partici-pants will have group support andlearn tools and skills to help themget started on the right foot.

Freedom From Smoking: A sevenweek smoking cessation programoffered free to students, faculty andstaff.

What’s Your Number?: Body Mass Indexand Body Composition screenings con-ducted twice monthly on campus to help stu-dents know their numbers and understandthe importance of maintaining a healthyweight.

Wellness Connection Newsletter: An elec-tronic Wellness newsletter sent to students,faculty and staff each month.

Wellness Presentations:Wellness staff pres-ent programs to Freshmen Seminar, BridgeScholar and other classes, campus groups,and organizations on a variety of health andwellness topics.

Colonnade and Radio: Weekly wellness tipsand articles in the campus newspaper and“Health and Wellness” weekly campus radioshow.

Personal Training and Wellness Coaching:One-on-one personal fitness training andhealth coaching to help students, faculty andstaff reach their individual health and fitnessgoals.

Wellness Programs also works in collabora-tion with Student Health Services and otherdepartments to offer events and educationalactivities that promote national health obser-vances, like Breast Cancer Awareness, Alco-hol Awareness Week, and Fruit and Veggies:More Matters month.

- Laura Childs, Assistant Director, StudentWellness Programs, laura.childs@gcsu.edu

Wellness Depot

• Wellness Programswww.gcsu.edu/depot

• Student Health Serviceswww.gcsu.edu/studenthealth

Student Health Services

The Student Health Services staff isready for a busy semester. We havealready begun seeing students with

many of the common ailments we normallysee.

We had a successful flu shot campaign. Forthe past few years nursing students havehelped administer the vaccine and this hasbeen a tremendous help. We successfullydealt with the H1N1 flu last year and havehad much less fear and anxiety this flu sea-son. In order to protect as many of thecampus family as possible from the flu, vac-cine is be given to students at no cost andto faculty and staff at a low cost.

The American College Health AssociationHealth Assessment will be administered tostudents beginning spring 2011. These sur-

veys provide data on the health and well-ness of our students and to help guide ourprogramming efforts. We also receive infor-mation on our students and compiled datafrom all participants to see how our stu-dents compare to others.

We began using the American CollegeHealth Association Patient Satisfaction Sur-vey in spring 2010. Data from the surveyare used to help us set goals and objec-tives for the upcoming year.

Rachel Sullivan, the University Health Edu-cator, has many fun yet educational activi-ties planned for the year. She participatesin many Freshmen Seminars and helps trainpeer educators to deliver health program-ming. In addition, she is the Advisor for theWellness Residential Learning Community.

We continuously try to improve the healthand health choices of our students yet arehere to treat them when they are sick. Weall believe that in order to be the best onecan be academically, good health and well-ness are essential!

- Alice Loper, FNP-C, Director, HealthServices, alice.loper@gcsu.edu

School of Nursing Student HealthPrograms

On the Web

Health Sciences

Healthy Connections I Spring 2011 I 14

Dean’s Welcome continued

By the end of 2011, Health Sciences two service divi-sions will be functioning together in the new GeorgiaCollege Wellness & Recreation Center located at WestCampus on the HWY 441 by-pass in Milledgeville. ThisLEED Silver, green building will be home to our Stu-dent Health Services and Wellness Program’s adminis-trative offices, clinics, and laboratory/activity spaces,including a new aquatics center. Also housed withinthe Center will be the Georgia College CounselingCenter and administrative offices for Campus Intramu-rals and Recreational Sports. This building representsGeorgia College’s continued commitment to sustain-ing a “culture of wellness” in the campus community.As you physically or “virtually” tour today’s GeorgiaCollege and read about our current Health Sciencesacademic, community, and campus service programsin this publication, you will note that the holistic healthand wellness traditions established at Georgia Collegein the 19th and 20th centuries continue to flourish inthe 21st century.

Indeed, the College of Health Sciences has much tocelebrate: newly restored facilities, outstanding anddedicated faculty, students majoring in high-demandand challenging undergraduate academic programs,ever increasing opportunities for community outreachwithin the state and region, national programs of dis-tinction, and a strong reputation for providing excep-tional professional continuing post-baccalaureate andgraduate education. However, the task of upholdingour mission becomes ever more challenging. As statefunding support decreases permanently, we as a Col-lege must look to external sources of financial supportto help us provide superior programs for our students.We have significantly increased our external grant ap-plications in recent years and have met with success ingetting several key grants funded that have assistedthe College in its goal to provide professional supportfor health enhancement initiatives, as well as assisthealth professionals with pursuing advanced educa-tional opportunities. But we must continue to seek sig-nificantly more funds to assist the College in helpingstudents gain access to our fine programs and continu-ing to improve those programs.

We ask your assistance in supporting the College ofHealth Sciences programs and services. Your donationswill help us continue to meet our commitments to im-proving the health and well-being of our communities,families and individuals in Georgia and throughout theregion. Through your generosity, we can offer opportu-nities for well-deserving, financially-challenged stu-dents to attend Georgia College and major in a HealthSciences academic program. These highly talented,

dedicated health professional graduates will most cer-tainly make a significant impact in the lives they touch

throughout their professional careers. Your contribu-tions will also assist the College in procuring sophisti-cated instructional laboratory equipment, supplies,and support for critical instructional technology up-grades. Additionally, donations will support the effortsof our faculty in providing exemplary instructional,scholarly and service opportunities for our students. Allof these play a vital role in enhancing programs withinthe College.

Your contribution to Health Sciences, or to any one ofits outstanding programs will provide you with the op-portunity to “pay it forward,” knowing that your sup-port will make it possible for a young professional toenter into a health science career or assist an aspiringprofessional in the field to gain an advanced degree orcertificate.

We invite you to become our partners in making an im-pactful, long-lasting difference in the lives of those weserve. Please make your contribution to the College ofHealth Sciences today. Enclosed is an envelope inwhich you may send your gift. Or, you may make a se-cure donation online at the Georgia College Founda-tion website

http://tinyurl.com/healthsciencesgiving

We will be absolutely delighted to share with you per-sonally our vision for the future of the College of HealthSciences. Please do not hesitate to call upon us!

Yours in Health,

Sandra Gangstead, Deansandra.gangstead@gcsu.edu

...the holistic health and well-ness traditions established atGeorgia College in the 19thand 20th centuries continueto flourish in the 21st century.

Health Sciences

15 I Spring 2011 I Healthy Connections

Health Sciencesand Parks Memorial

Open HouseState and local dignitaries attended the HealthSciences and Parks Memorial Ribbon CuttingCeremony and Open House held on Friday,October 16, 2009. The buildings underwentrenovation from Summer 2006 to Spring 2009.

From left to right: Jack Hill, Georgia’s 4th District; Seth Harp, Senator, Georgia’s 29th District; Robert Hatcher, Chair,Board of Regents; Errol Davis, Chancellor, Board of Regents; Dorothy Leland, President, Georgia College; Tad Brown,Chairman, GC Board of Trustees; Rusty Barber, Project Architect Surber, Barber, Choate, & Hertlein Architects; Barbara Black, Associate, Surber, Barber, Choate, & Hertlein Architects; Ben Tarbutton, Regent, Board of Regents; JeffArlington, Vice President, Garbutt-Christman Company; Felton Jenkins, Regent, Board of Regents; Sandy Gangstead,Dean, GC College of Health Sciences; Andrew Morton, GSFIC Project Manager; Leslie G. Callahan III, Descendant ofMarvin Parks, the University’s second president and the building’s namesake.

• Renovation Picturestinyurl.com/hsbpmb

• Historical Picturestinyurl.com/cohshistory

Welcome New FacultyCarol BowdoinMs. Bowdoin is an AssistantProfessor of Nursing at theGC School of Nursing. Shehas had a diverse career inclinical, academic, and mili-tary practice with 16 years

focused in the area of Executive Nursing andHospital Administration. Her clinical specialtyareas are in critical care, emergency/disastercare and renal services. In addition, she is aColonel in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps Re-serve (1980 – present) and has served asChief Nurse and Commander of two US ArmyReserve Hospital Units (2003 and 2006).

She has a Diploma in Nursing from GeorgiaBaptist Hospital School of Nursing, a Bachelorof Science in Nursing and a Masters of Sci-ence in Executive Nursing Administration /MBA from Marymount College.

Elizabeth SpeelmanMs. Speelman is the Directorof the Georgia College Out-door Center. Previously shewas Assistant Director ofProgram Development at the

Clemson University Youth Learning Institute.

She holds a Masters Degree in Education in

Outdoor Education Administration and Bach-elor of Science Degree in Environmental Sci-ence. Her research includes challenge coursemeta-analysis.

Sheryl WinnMs. Winn is an Assistant Pro-fessor of Nursing at the GCSchool of Nursing. Previouslyshe was an Instructor atEmory University School ofNursing and an Assistant Pro-fessor of Nursing at Macon

State College.

She has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing fromPensacola Christian College and a Masters ofScience in Nursing from Emory UniversitySchool of Nursing.

In addition, she is nationally certified throughAmerican Nurses Credentialing Center as anAdult Nurse Practitioner.

Kelly ManningMs. Manning is an assistantprofessor of Kinesiology. Sheis currently completing herdoctoral studies in Kinesiol-ogy at Georgia State Univer-sity. She has an Exercise and

Health Science B.S. from Kennesaw State Uni-versity and an Exercise Science M.S. fromGeorgia State University. She is an ACSM Cer-tified Health and Fitness Specialist, an ACECertified Advanced Health and Fitness Special-ist, and an ACE Certified Personal Trainer aswell as an ACE Personal Trainer CertificationProgram instructor. She has worked in thehealth and fitness field for 18 years as a fitnessprofessional and has 8 years of teaching expe-rience with areas of expertise in: exercise phys-iology, anatomy/physiology, biomechanics,fitness assessment and exercise programming,special populations, and personaltraining/group fitness instruction.

Heidi FowlerHeidi Fowler comes to GCby way of Georgia Southern.She is completing her doc-torate in Public Health, hav-ing earned her Mastersdegree in Public Health fromArmstrong Atlantic and her

BA in Women’s Health and Gender Studies atMercer University. Her areas of interest are inrural health/populations, infectiousdiseases/epidemiology and environmentalhealth. She has spent the past several yearsstudying/researching mosquitoes for the de-velopment of a mosquito control device thatis currently being used world-wide to preventthe spread of malaria and dengue.

Health Sciences

On the Web

COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCESCampus Box 64Milledgeville, GA 31061

Phone: (478) 445-4092Fax: (478) 445-1913E-mail: sandra.gangstead@gcsu.edu

Change Service Requested

www.gcsu.edu

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 73

Milledgeville, GA

For information regardingadmissions and programs offered contact:

Kinesiology

Dr. Lisa Griffin, Chair (478) 445-4072lisa.griffin@gcsu.edu

Music Therapy

Dr. Chesley Mercado, Chair (478) 445-2645chesley.mercado@gcsu.edu

Nursing

Dr. Judith Malachowski, Director (478) 445-5122 judith.malachowski@gcsu.edu

Outdoor Education

Dr. Jude Hirsch, Chair (478) 445-1225/1226 jude.hirsch@gcsu.edu

Continue Your EducationThe College of Health Sciences offers a variety of graduate programs that will provide the additional education you need to accomplish your goals.

Kinesiology (M.Ed. & M.A.T.)kinesiology.gcsu.edu

Music Therapy (MMT)musictherapy.gcsu.edu

Nursing (MSN)nursing.gcsu.edu

Outdoor Education (M.Ed.)outdoored.gcsu.edu

Certificates

• Cancer Exercise Specialist (Graduate level certificate)

• Cancer Nurse Navigator (Continuing education course)

For more information about the certificate programs, visit www.gcsu.edu/chsi orcontact Dr. Jim Lidstone at (478) 445-2133 or jim.lidstone@gcsu.edu.