“We will be known by the problems we solve.” Plywood People

 

Philosophy on Service

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Outline:

1.     Introduction

2.    Committee Work

3.    Biology Department

4.    Neuroscience Program

5.    Neuroscience and Philosophy Department

6.    Neuroscience Community

 

 

 

1.    Introduction

The community we belong to defines us, at least in part. For many of us, it is a natural inclination to observe problems in our community and desire to be a part of the solution as way to improve our community. Through our own unique gifts and talents, we serve the community we are a part of when we offer up a potential solution to the problems we see. These communities can be our work communities, our child’s school communities, our home community or a community of people with similar religious beliefs. All of these communities experience problems and all of these communities need viable solutions. By engaging in the dialogue and the action, we can bring about improvements to all of these communities. 

 

My philosophy on service is that serving my Agnes Scott community and my Neuroscience community is a way to partner with each and bring improvement to each. I am not equipped with the gifts or energy to solve all the problems that may exist in these communities. But I can devote myself to their service with my own unique gifts, and make small improvements in my own way and in keeping the underlying philosophies of each community.

 

 

2.    Committee Work and Campus Involvement

Fall 2013 - present

 I have contributed the Agnes Scott community on committees each year (excluding my first year) and I plan to continue my commitment to committee work.

·      Board of Trustee’s Committee on Finance Success and Planning Fall 2022 – Spring 2024

·      Board of Trustee’s Subcommittee on Endowment Investment Fall 2022 – Spring 2024

·      Finance and Strategic Planning Committee (FSP) Fall 2022 – Spring 2024, Chair 2022- 2023, Fall 2023

·      Ad Hoc Committee on Professional Success Spring 2019

·      Committee on Academic Standards and Admission (CASA) Fall 2016- Spring 2018

·      Professional Development Committee (PDC) Fall 2013 – Fall 2015

·      Presidential Scholarship Weekend Interview Panel 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022

·      Mock Class March 2022 “Schizophrenia: Clinical Practices, Public Health Policies, and Mouse Models”

·      Mock Class April 2022. “Neuroanatomy Hands-on Lab”

·      Faculty Marshall 2021 and 2022

I will continue to contribute leadership to committees throughout my career to further connect myself to my colleagues and to the college. There are other committees that would fit with my interests and talents. I will continue to make those talents available through support at Agnes.

 

3.    Biology Department

Fall 2012 – Spring 2023

 

I have supported and lead the Biology Department through my work directing the construction and implementation of the first semester of introductory series, BIO 110, directing and contributing to hiring committees, providing assessment on RPT committees and leading as chair from 2019 – 2022. I am also currently enhancing our knowledge of our Biology Alum.

 

Department Member Fall 2012 – Spring 2023

·      Fall Stem Symposium

·      Curricular changes

·      Biology Alum tracking

·      RPT review of faculty undergoing tenure review

·      Hiring Committees for 2 different tenure track searches

 

Chair of Biology, 2019 -2022

·      Hire adjuncts

·      Approve Course adjustments

·      Monitor the budget

·      Attend Chairs and Director Meetings

·      Submit Course schedule to the registrar

·      Organize dept meeting schedule and construct the agenda

·      Worked on PSI in the major

 

4.   Neuroscience Program

Fall 2012 – Spring 2023

 

I was the co-Director for the Neuroscience Program at Agnes Scott from 2016 - 2023. I lead the faculty to enhance the major requirements based on the requirements for graduate school and medical schools. We have worked towards enhancing our introductory neuroscience sequence. We have planned and hosted a Neuroscience research night open to Atlanta area schools – Scotties with Nerves. This service is at the intersection of serving Agnes and Neuroscience. As such, it is one of the most exciting service opportunities I have the privilege of working on.

 

Co-Director for the Neuroscience Program at Agnes Scott. Summer 2016 - Spring 2023

·      Hire adjuncts

·      Approve Course adjustments

·      Monitor the budget

·      Attend Chairs and Director Meetings

·      Submit Course schedule to the registrar

·      Organize dept meeting schedule and construct the agenda

·      Continually work on PSI in the major

 

Program Member Fall 2012 - present

·      Scotties with Nerves Annual Symposium

·      Major Alum Tracking

·      Curricular Changes

·      Neuroscience Seminar Series

·      Fall Career Panel

·      RPT review for faculty members undergoing tenure review

 

 

5.    Neuroscience and Philosophy Department

Spring 2023 - present

In 2022-2023, we met with the philosophy department and revamped the Neuroscience major to include 4 required philosophy classes. During these meetings, we agreed to merge the Neuroscience program and the Philosophy Department. In Summer 2023, we officially became the Neuroscience and Philosophy Department.

 

Department formation Fall 2022 - Spring 2023

·      Worked one curricular issues and new major for Neuroscience

·      Developed the content for the forms for curriculum committee

 

Co-Chair of Neuroscience and Philosophy Summer 2023 - present

·      Developed the content for the forms for curriculum committee

 

6.   Neuroscience community

Fall 2003 - present.

I have served as a leader in Neuroscience for many years and I plan to continue to serve this field of science throughout the remainder of my career. Leading in this field strengthens my ability to be relevant in the classroom, enhances my research, and allows me to train the next generation of neuroscientists. I have served as a judge for science talks at the high school level as well as at the college level.

 

NSF Review Panel, Spring 2022 and Spring 2024

·      Read over 20 grants and prepared lead presentations for 4 grants.

·      Worked on a multi-day review panel to rate grant proposals to the NSF.

 

Associate Editor, Fall 2022 - present.

Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience

 

Reviewer, Fall 2016 – present.

Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience

 

Advisor for the Agnes Scott chapter, Spring 2014 – present.

Neuroscience National Honor Society, Nu Rho Psi.

 

Director of the NET/work program, a BP-ENDURE NIH grant, Fall 2012 – Spring 2016

·      Managed 16 Agnes students over 6 years

·      pairing students with a research lab for two academic years

·      pairing students with two summer research experiences for undergraduates

·      traveled with students to the annual Society for Neuroscience meeting

·      developed professional development workshops for all participants at Spelman, Emory and GSU.