Faculty and staff news

Linda Caperton, administrative assistant for journalism and the Speech Center, had her photograph of a hummingbird published in Virginia Wildlife as the Image of the Month.

Uliana Gabara, dean and Carole M. Weinstein Chair of International Education, addressed the opening plenary session of the 18th annual conference of the European Association for International Education in Basel, Switzerland. Gabara serves as president of the Association of International Education Administrators.

Doug Hicks, associate professor of leadership and religion and director of the Center for Civic Engagement, and Jonathan Wight, associate professor of economics and international studies, have won the Templeton Foundation’s In Character Prize for editorial and opinion writing for their op-ed published last year in The Christian Science Monitor. The award is for the year’s best journalism about everyday human virtues and their impact on society and American life.

Linda Hobgood, director of the Speech Center, has been initiated into The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. The organization promotes professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education. Selection is based on professional qualifications, leadership potential and personal qualities.           

Carole Mitchell, operations manager in the Office of Admission, was elected to a three-year term as vice president of competitive operations and a member of the board of directors of U.S. Synchronized Swimming (USSS). She has completed two terms as technical vice president. In her newly created post, she will oversee seven committees and subcommittees and operation of six national championships and the Olympic trials. In addition, she was named coach-of-the-year for the south zone of USSS. She is head coach of the Weinstein JCC Dolpholinas and serves as staff advisor for the Richmond synchro team.