It is an honor and a
pleasure to acknowledge that this faculty development event has become a
signature, highly popular program among our many offerings. In the past five
years, we have featured well over five hundred publications. Every year
participants have come from all three schools, often representing all fifteen
departments. Many faculty have submitted publications each and every year. We
have also featured publications by academic staff and professors emeriti. In
our second year, we began the practice of honoring faculty who have passed away
by presenting their collected works and inviting colleagues to say a few words
about and the impact these individuals had in our community both on and off the
page.
I have been thinking a great deal about the fact that the 2020 Publication
Celebration was the last on-campus faculty development event prior to the March
20 stay-at-home. This year our event reflects the necessary pivot to a digital
format and will, I hope, become the one and only time the pandemic prevents us
from meeting together to celebrate at this event. More than 100 submissions by
sixty faculty this year makes clear that faculty are not only still publishing,
but excited to share their news!
The Library has been a critical partner and invested collaborator in this event
since its inception. This year, they have gone above and beyond by supporting
and coordinating all necessary efforts to “go digital” and create a Publication
Celebration Website and imagine and co-host with the Office of the Provost a
Zoom Launch Event. Ronni Oczowinski provided invaluable support by accepting
and organizing all submissions. Jo Cates and Dennis McGuire were critical in
review and formatting of the bibliography, as well as purchase of texts for our
permanent library collection. Jessica Jacobs has again designed our ‘print’
Publication Celebration Catalogue. Most importantly, a very special thanks goes
to Kristy Bowen, library access services assistant, webmaster for our
Publication Celebration Website. We literally could not have done this without
her.
Please take time to peruse the work here online. Looking forward to seeing
everyone face-to-face next year!
Ames Hawkins, Ph.D.
Associate Provost for Faculty Research and Development