Dean Schutten is the Featured Author of the Month

Dean Schutten

Dean Mary Schutten

The College of Applied Sciences and Arts (CASA) Dean, Mary Schutten, is the San José State University (SJSU) ScholarWorks Featured Author of the Month.

“With so much wonderful work going on at SJSU, it is nice to be a featured scholar,” said Schutten as she was honored to be selected.

Schutten said ScholarWorks “was a way to provide information on my work that led to requests to submit similar work to publications.” Other benefits included the monthly download report. This report helped identify areas in Schutten’s research portfolio that informed decisions about future research topics.

ScholarWorks provides access to scholarly work created at SJSU. The repository aims to increase global visibility of SJSU’s intellectual output. Schutten highly recommends using this service.

Benefits of ScholarWorks:

  • ScholarWorks provides a permanent, interactive, on-line CV for you to share with colleagues and the wider world. CASA faculty members Anthony Bernier (School of Information), Kasuen Mauldin (Nutrition, Food Science & Packaging) and Miranda Worthen (Health Science and Recreation) are great examples of how to use this online repository tool. You can also browse by school or department using the CASA collection.
  • All permissions for posting PDF files and links are taken care by ScholarWorks.
  • Full text of all works in the associated Digital Commons repository are optimized for Google & Google Scholar searching.
  • Authors receive a confidential monthly download report showing total downloads for the last 30 days and cumulatively for all works in the depository.
  • Facilitates networking and sharing of scholarly work – anyone can subscribe to receive updates from a scholar regarding announcements of recent work, or receive automatically generated emails anytime new work is added to a profile.
  • Publish working papers.
  • Download counts algorithm for accurate download statistics
  • Research announcement tool allows scholars to maximize their work.
  • It is extremely easy to use.Email a current CV to scholarworks@sjsu.edu.

View Schutten’s profile and sign up for ScholarWorks yourself or update an existing profile by sending in your latest Curriculum Vitae (CV).

Mark Your Calendar: Silicon Valley Innovation Challenge

Silicon Valley Innovation Challenge

Silicon Valley Innovation Challenge

The Silicon Valley Innovation Challenge (SVIC) is taking place all-day on Monday, November 16 in the new Student Union Ballroom. We encourage CASA students to enter the competition. It is a great way to showcase the innovations conceived by our creative, talented students and celebrate at this year’s event.

The new “Best Sport-Tech” award, sponsored by University Advancement, will be made available this year in addition to the Best Overall Innovation, Best Elevator Pitch, and Best Social Innovation award categories. Each winner will receive a cash prize.

SVIC is a fantastic networking and career building opportunity for students. Judges include faculty and industry professionals from leading Silicon Valley companies such as Cisco Systems, Applied Materials, AT&T, LinkedIn, Citrix, Ericsson, WMware, NetApp, and more.

Cisco Systems in particular plans to use SVIC as a talent recruitment platform. Eligible students with a GPA of 3.2 or higher should visit the Career Center to improve resume writing and interviewing skills prior to the event.

KEY DATES

  • October 5: Submission opens for students, alumni, faculty, etc.
  • October 26: Submission closes at midnight
  • October 28: Online judging begins
  • November 9: Finalists Notified
  • November 16: SVIC Finalist Showcase, Student Union Ballroom, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Visit SVIC to learn more.

Silicon Valley Innovation Challenge Poster

College launches new website for international experience initiative

Students in the College of Applied Sciences and Arts have the opportunity to participate in 10 faculty-led study abroad programs this summer including programs in Turkey, Spain, France, Grenada and other countries (some courses are still pending approval.)

Program details can be found at a new website launched by the College of Applied Sciences and Arts that is devoted to its International Experience Initiative.

The website is part of an effort to inform incoming students of a new requirement for students enrolling in Fall 2015 and later in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, the Valley Foundation School of Nursing and the Department of Occupational Therapy, and the School of Information starting in Spring 2015 to have an international experience before they graduate. The four departments and schools are piloting the initiative with plans to expand to all the schools and departments in the College in future years.

The newly launched website has a description of the types of study abroad that will be accepted as well as contact information for advisers who will be able to answer questions students might have.

Some of the suggested ways to meet the requirement include:

  • SJSU Semester Exchange Program (Semester or Academic Year, some summer only available)
  • SJSU Faculty Led Program through College of International and Extended Studies (Semester, Summer, Winter & Spring Break)
  • CSU International Program (Full Academic Year)
  • Academic program through an international university
  • Study abroad program through another university or a community college
  • Approved Independent Study Abroad Program

For more on the programs, visit the new website at: http://www.sjsu.edu/casa/international-experience/

 

DNP grads share experience with prospective SJSU students

Christine Tarver said she had considered getting a doctor of nursing practice degree for years when she heard the CSU system had something in the works.

“The timing worked and the stars aligned,” she said. “I always knew I would get one more degree.”

Tarver, who already had a master’s degree, is part of the second cohort of DNP students enrolled in the California State University Northern California Consortium Doctor of Nursing program, a joint effort between San José State University and CSU Fresno.

“The other (DNP) programs were in the city (San Francisco) and one was not affordable,” she said, noting that the online format of the CSU program allowed her to continue working while she earns her degree. “We have faculty from all over because it’s virtual.”

Tarver said she works in administration and she jokes with her hospital director that she just wants to change the world.

But that is not far from the goals of the program. One of the key requirements of the DNP program is that in their five semesters in the program, students undertake a research project that has a direct link to changing healthcare outcomes.

“When I’m talking to a potential student, I talk about the project,” said Ruth Rosenblum, the acting director of the SJSU DNP program. “It is about improving patient outcomes – there needs to be a direct line.”

Mae Lavente is in her first semester with the program, part of the third cohort. She is a nurse practioner who is most excited about the research component of the program. Her project involves delirium and the logistics of musical therapy.

“I want to shape it so it’s not just conceptual, but practical,” she said.

She said the first semester has been challenging.

“It’s been a struggle because I’ve been out of school for so long,” she said, noting she finished her last degree 12 years ago. “I need to get back in the groove.”

When she completes her DNP, she said she wants to teach the next generation of nurses.

The DNP program launched its pilot in 2012, with the first cohort of students graduating in May 2014. Four of the May graduates joined the College of Applied Sciences and Arts Valley School of Nursing professors at a reception and showcase Oct. 15 where they shared their experience with current and prospective students.

“Today is a celebration of nursing in our community,” said Kathy Abriam-Yago, the director of the Valley Foundation School of Nursing, at SJSU. “It is a celebration of nursing excellence.”

Christine Mallon, the CSU Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic Programs and Faculty Development, attended the reception to talk about the inception of the DNP program.

“It took a few years to develop,” Mallon said.

It also took an act of the state legislature to authorize the CSU to award a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. The state assembly bill itself called for a DNP degree to be distinct from the doctor of philosophy degree offered by the UC system and to allow professionals to earn the degree while working full time. The program allows students to do much of their coursework online, with in-person intensive sessions each semester held alternately at SJSU and CSU Fresno. The first cohort included students from as far north as Redding and as far south as Bakersfield.

“People know nurses and know their value,” Mallon said. “But they are not just giving one person a better experience – with research we get better outcomes (for many.)”

As part of the evening event, the four graduates were introduced by Rosenblum, who shared a summary of their research projects. The graduates then took questions from the audience members, including prospective students who are interested in applying for the fourth cohort.

Lisa Walker-Vischer, a graduate of the program last year, said she started working on her degree without a specific goal in mind.

“I had considered a PhD,” she said. “Part of the piece for me was two years versus four or five years. I loved the application and I am one of those who was transformed. I wasn’t looking for another job, but I got drawn into this.”

Walker-Vischer’s project focused on the experience of Latino parents of hospitalized children during family-centered bedside rounds.

She had been a clinical nurse specialist in pediatric care for nine years. As she was nearing the end of her program, she was offered a position as the director of the Center for Nursing Excellence at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford.

Suzette Urquides, whose research focused on treatment times for adult patients directly transferred to cardiac catheterization laboratories versus the emergency room, said she selected the SJSU-Fresno program because of the emphasis on research.

“I saw things I couldn’t prove and I didn’t have a voice,” she said. “I knew this degree would allow me to have a voice at the table.”

Working for a hospital in Salinas, she said she hopes to share her knowledge as a consultant at other hospitals in the region.

“I’ve been a nurse’s aide and now I’m a doctoral practioner,” she said. “I’ve seen it all.”

Six CASA professors granted tenure/promotion

The College of Applied Sciences and Arts at San José State University is pleased to announce six professors completed the rigorous process of receiving tenure, promotion or both.

Dr. Danielle Harris received tenure and was promoted to an associate professor in Justice Studies.

Dr. Danielle Harris received tenure and was promoted to an associate professor in Justice Studies.

Danielle Harris, a Justice Studies professor, received early tenure and early promotion to an associate professor in her fifth year.

Dr. Harris’ research interests include sexual offending and aggression; developmental and life course criminology; the criminal career paradigm; desistance; public policy; female criminality; criminological theory; sexuality and justice. She has published several articles related to sexual offenders about both male and female offenders.

Dr. Harris received her doctorate in Criminology in 2008 from Griffith University, Australia. Prior to that, she completed a Master’s degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Maryland (College Park) and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Justice Studies (with Honors) at the Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane and the University of Westminster, London. Dr Harris is the Director of Research for the Art of Yoga Project, a nonprofit organization that provides a yoga and creative arts curriculum to girls in custody. She is also actively involved in the SJSU Record Clearance Project. When she is not grading or writing, she enjoys travel, theatre, and sleep.

Jessica Chin, a Kinesiology professor, received tenure and promotion to an associate professor.

Dr. Jessica Chin received tenure and promotion to an associate professor in Kinesiology.

Dr. Jessica Chin received tenure and promotion to an associate professor in Kinesiology.

Dr. Chin is the research and core specialist for the department of Kinesiology.

She said her favorite part of being a professor is watching her students grow and learn.

“It is rewarding to see my students succeed in and outside the classroom,” she said, “whether by applying a concept in class, demonstrating deep knowledge of a topic on an exam, completing a high-quality research paper, being hired for a dream job, confidently defending a master’s project or thesis, or receiving admission to a highly respected doctoral program.”

She said the most challenging part of the RTP process is trying to excel in all areas of research, teaching and service.

“It’s hard to excel in one area without making sacrifices in another, let alone reserving time and energy to look after my own health,” she said, via email.

Moving forward she is going to continue her research projects and look for new research opportunities. She is part of a research team that recently received a three-year grant to conduct hazing research among college athletes in Canada.

Chin earned her Ph.D. in Kinesiology at the University of Maryland in College Park, MD., where she was a member of the Physical Cultural Studies (PCS) research group. After receiving a national language training grant, she moved to Romania to learn the language and pursue her research examining the physical activity and bodily experiences of women in postcommunist Romania. With the goal of improving the social and cultural climate of sport for girls and women, her current research is centered on examinations of initiation and hazing among female collegiate athletes in the U.S. and Canada. Dr. Chin is passionate about physical activity and remains an advocate for underserved and underrepresented populations through her teaching, research, and community service.

Dr. Chin is an active member of the Western Society for the Physical Education of College Women (WSPECW), the International Sociology of Sport Association (ISSA), and the North American Society for the Sociology of Sport (NASSS), regularly presenting her research at their annual conferences. For NASSS, she serves on the Elections Committee and the Environmental Impact Committee; she has also played an active role on the Diversity and Conference Climate Committee. Further, Dr. Chin served as Chair of the Committee to Enhance Equity and Diversity (CEED) in the College of Applied Sciences and Arts (CASA) from 2010-2014 and was also as an academic consultant to the Bay Area Physical Education-Health Program (Bay PE-HP).

With a strong desire to include students in work that promotes diversity and social justice, Dr. Chin has mentored and advised students in various capacities. As an example, she leads and advises RePlay, a nonprofit, student-based group that seeks to benefit and initiate positive change in local communities and educational institutions. Following the core principles of promoting social justice and a green lifestyle, RePlay collects used sporting goods and equipment, which they refurbish and distribute at events specially organized for underserved community groups. RePlay has organized events and made significant donations to foster children, homeless shelters, underfunded physical education programs, and summer camps. Each event focuses on providing equipment and opportunities for physical activity that otherwise might not be available for these communities.

For leisure, Dr. Chin enjoys training and competing in various sports. Though she is a former powerlifter, she has shifted her focus to triathlons (swimming, biking, running). She is currently a coach and advisor for SJSU’s Triathlon Club and has also advised the Boxing Club and Track & Field Club. She remains engaged in the local sporting community as a U.S. certified umpire for field hockey and girls’ and women’s lacrosse. Since moving to California, she has enjoyed making the most of the beautiful weather offered year round, jumping on every chance she has to ride her bike, run her favorite routes, and explore new hiking trails.

Susan McNiesh, a professor in the Valley Foundation School of Nursing, received tenure and promotion to an associate professor.

Dr. Susan McNiesh received tenure and promotion to an associate professor in the Valley Foundation School of Nursing.

Dr. Susan McNiesh received tenure and promotion to an associate professor in the Valley Foundation School of Nursing.

Dr. McNiesh’ s primary research interest is how students learn to be practitioners.

“Practice learning requires learning a certain way of thinking to be open to ambiguity and uncertainty, while being guided by a strong moral compass,” she said, via emial. “For that reason simulation of situations that unfold over time are of interest to me in both my teaching and research.”

She said she enjoys having a dialogue with her students.

“Unfortunately undergraduate students rarely take advantage of office hours just to chat, but graduate students are much more apt to come in and talk about their project ideas,” she said.

She said the most challenging part of the RTP process for her is that she is not a detailed-oriented person so the charts, lists and indexes were a challenge to complete.

She worked as a labor and delivery nurse for 17 years before enrolling at SJSU to complete a master’s in nursing, followed by a PhD in nursing from University of California, San Francisco.

Toby Adelman, a professor in the Valley Foundation School of Nursing, received tenure.

Dr. Toby Adelman, right, pictured at the Grand Canyon with her daughter Shy, received tenure in the Valley Foundation School of Nursing.

Dr. Toby Adelman, right, pictured at the Grand Canyon with her daughter Shy, received tenure in the Valley Foundation School of Nursing.

Toby Adelman RN, PhD, has been an Associate Professor at the SJSU The Valley Foundation School of Nursing since 2008 and she said she is honored to have received tenure in Spring 2014.

“My career in nursing has been exciting and varied in form,” she said. “I worked primarily in neurosurgery for a decade at UCSF Medical Center, followed by shorter positions in cardiac telemetry, oncology, and outpatient case management, all in San Francisco.”

During her five years at the Institute on Aging in SF, she returned to University California, San Francisco to complete a doctorate in nursing, with a focus on gerontology and health policy. She was selected as a Betty Irene Moore Fellow, requiring her to complete her PhD in three years.

“As a single parent with an eight-year-old daughter at the time, that was a challenge, and very fulfilling when completed,” she said.

In her time at SJSU, she has taught more than 1,000 seniors in addition to supporting a number of masters in nursing students in classes on community/public health and professional role development.

“I have complete confidence that the next generation of registered nurses coming out of SJSU are poised to take on the incredible challenges ahead,” she said. “Our students are bright, inquisitive men and women who are dedicated to life-long learning and providing the best possible nursing care. It is always an engaging experience, being in the classroom and clinical settings with our students.”

She said her favorite part of being at SJSU’s Valley Foundation School of Nursing is seeing graduates obtain employment as RNs and “hearing them share their excitement about being a part of the art and science of nursing, and appreciating the faculty’s part in them being where they are. It feels great to see them succeeding.”

In her off time this summer, she took a two-week, cross-country road trip with her 18-year-old daughter as a graduation present before her daughter heads off to college. They drove Route 66 before heading north to Dr. Adelman’s hometown in Maine, then driving to Boston to turn in the rental car and fly home. In the fall, she will be adjusting as her daughter heads off to college in New York.

She said the most challenging part of the RTP process was to stay on top of everything she does and document it to be evaluated. She said while she was willing to take on lots of projects and is good at executing them, her challenge is documenting all the work.

“I love being a part of the SJSU The Valley Foundation School of Nursing Nurse Managed Centers,” she said. “We are actively engaged in research and practice throughout Santa Clara County and Santa Cruz.”

Her clinical research allows her to engage with many partners on and off-campus, including: The Santa Clara County Public Health Nurse Department; the Stanford Geriatric Education Center; The Health Trust; and The SJSU Center for Healthy Aging in Multicultural Populations.

She recommended those who are starting the RTP process to be organized in documenting all that they do and to learn from department colleagues who have been through the process.

“My nursing faculty colleagues were readily helpful and I appreciate their assistance greatly,” she said.

Her plans for the coming year at the School of Nursing are to continue a research project on incorporating electronic records into the Nurse Managed Centers, presenting the research utilizing the Stanford Geriatric Education Center’s ethno-geriatric teaching modules at an international conference in Jerusalem, Israel in November, and continuing to work with faculty and community partners  to provide students with current, effective knowledge in the art and science of nursing.

Lori Rodriguez, a professor in the Valley Foundation School of Nursing, received tenure and promotion to a full professor.

Dr. Lori Rodriguez, back, hoods Dr. Diane Crayton at the CSU, Fresno DNP graduation ceremony, a joint program between SJSU and CSU, Fresno. Dr. Rodriguez received tenure and promotion to a full professor in the Valley Foundation School of Nursing.

Dr. Lori Rodriguez, back, hoods Dr. Diane Crayton at the CSU, Fresno DNP graduation ceremony, a joint program between SJSU and CSU, Fresno. Dr. Rodriguez received tenure and promotion to a full professor in the Valley Foundation School of Nursing.

Dr. Rodriguez started working at SJSU in the Fall of 2007. As a former intensive care nurse, manager, nurse practitioner and educator, she came to the university with a strong service background. With previous teaching experience and publications, she was fortunate to have a head start on two of the areas required in the RTP process. Whether designing courses or programs, she loves to experiment with new ways of teaching and has found the Learning Management Systems (webCT, D2L, Canvas) to be great support to her teaching. Her greatest joy was to be a part of the graduation of doctors of nursing practice this spring.  The RTP process is a nosebleed, she said, and the most challenging part was the detail work involved. Plans for the future include supporting the process of bringing the Family Nurse Practitioner program back to San Jose State to meet the health care needs of the community.  In Spring 2015, she will be on sabbatical to conduct surveys and interviews with the graduates of the DNP class of 2014 to determine the degree to which the program prepared the graduates to be faculty, advanced practice clinicians, and/or leaders.

Claudio Vera Sanchez, a professor in Justice Studies, received tenure and promotion to an associate professor.

Dr. Claudio Vera-Sanchez received tenure and was promoted to an associate professor in Justice Studies.

Dr. Claudio Vera-Sanchez received tenure and was promoted to an associate professor in Justice Studies.

Vera Sanchez’ research interests are centered on how Latino and African American juveniles from underprivileged neighborhoods are criminalized by both nurturing (schools, etc.) and non-nurturing (police, etc.) institutions. His work has also involved channeling at-risk Latino and African American youth, some who have been previously gang affiliated to a path of success. He has taught courses on statistics, qualitative research methods, juvenile delinquency, and the policing of Latino and African American youth.