| In 1984 the Tennessee General Assembly created the Centers
of Excellence program to encourage the further development
of outstanding programs at state universities. These centers
extend the teaching, research, and service missions of their
host institutions. ETSU is proud to have two Centers of Excellence:
Center for Appalachian Studies and Services and Center for
Early Childhood Learning and Development.
Additionally, we have seven Chairs of Excellence, endowed
positions occupied by outstanding professionals who focus
on specific fields of study that advance a university's service
to its students, community, and region. The Tennessee legislature
also began the statewide program for endowed chairs by making
available matching funds for qualifying institutions.
The Center for Appalachian
Studies & Services
The Center for Appalachian Studies and Services (CASS),
established in 1984, is one of the original Centers of Excellence
in Tennessee. CASS supports scholarly, educational, public
service, and artistic activities addressing the needs and
interests of the Appalachian Region. In 1986, CASS was named
one of the top five centers in the state, and it became one
of the first to be recognized as an Accomplished Center of
Excellence in 1987. The three units of the center, which
provide a variety of academic, research, and support opportunities
are
-
Archives of
Appalachia exists to collect, safeguard, and share
the memories of the people of Appalachia. The Archives
holds approximately 15 million manuscripts, a large
photographic collection containing nearly a quarter
of a million images, a music and folklore collection
of over 25,000 sound recordings, 6000 films or video
recordings, and a collection of regional books and
publications. The Archives offers reference assistance,
advice on conservation of materials, and duplication
services.
-
Carroll Reece
Museum houses artifacts related to the Southern
Appalachians including contemporary fine arts, folk
art, and crafts comprising three permanent exhibits
and a collection of nearly 10,000 objects. Formally
dedicated in 1965, the Reece is one of only 10 museums
in Tennessee accredited by the American Association
of Museums.
- Regional
Resources Institute includes academic programs, research
projects, and administrative offices of CASS.
back to top
Academic Programs
-
Appalachian Studies,
undergraduate interdisciplinary minor.
-
Appalachian-Scottish & Irish
Studies, annual exchange program with the University
of Edinburgh in Scotland to introduce students, teachers,
and community members to the Celtic Roots of Appalachia.
-
Bluegrass
Program, the only bluegrass and country music program
at a four-year institution and has produced several
Grammy Award winning recording artists.
Publications
The Encyclopedia
of Appalachia will be the most comprehensive reference
work on Appalachia ever produced. The encyclopedia is expected
to be published by the University of Tennessee Press in
2005.
Now & Then, a
magazine published three times a year, presents a fresh,
revealing picture of past and present life in Appalachia.
back to top
Research and Public Service Programs
-
Research Opportunities in regional issues: health care,
education, history, tourism, folklore, language, and
linguistics are available for ETSU and world-wide scholars
-
The Governor's
School for Tennessee Heritage, hosts up to 80 of
Tennessee’s most gifted high school students
for a month-long summer program of in-depth study of
Tennessee history and heritage.
Dr. Roberta Herrin, director of CASS, is active in the area
of Appalachian Studies. Herrin has been president of the
Appalachian Studies Association and chair of the board of
the Appalachian Consortium. As an educator, she has taught
classes in Appalachian literature, children’s literature,
and Appalachian studies.
back to top
The Center for Early Childhood Learning
and Development
The Center for Early Childhood Learning and Development
was designated a Center of Excellence in 1985 and an Accomplished
Center in 1988. The Center includes research, service, and
training that relate to young children (birth to 8) their
families and those that work with them. Programs include:
The Center also oversees two programs on campus that serve
young children and their families.
-
Child
Study Center: A model program serving young children
(infants and preschoolers). This NAEYC approved program
is located on Signal Drive. This program is a training
site for many different academic programs on the ETSU
campus as well as state training grants.
-
Little
Buccaneers: An early childhood program designed
to support ETSU students while they attend classes.
This program provides part-time care for infants through
Kindergarten.
The Center has significantly increased the number and
amount of grants in the last 5 years bringing ETSU and
the region $11.3 million to provide services, training,
and research to improve programs that serve young children
and their families. The Center faculty continues to author
books and referred journal articles and present to national
and international professional meetings.
Center Director is Dr. Rebecca Isbell who is also a professor
of early childhood education. For more information visit
the Center’s web
site.
back to top
ETSU Chairs of Excellence
Chairs of Excellence are endowed positions occupied by
outstanding professionals who focus on specific fields of
study that will advance a university's service to its students,
community, and region. The Tennessee legislature began the
statewide program in 1984 by making available matching funds
for qualifying institutions.
The Cecile Cox Quillen Chair of
Medicine in Geriatrics and Gerontology
Former Vice President George Bush came to campus in 1985
to dedicate ETSU's first
Chair of Excellence, named in honor of the wife of Congressman
James H. Quillen, from Tennessee's First District. Located
in the College of Medicine, this chair plays a vital role
in achieving the university's goal of meeting the needs of
the older adult population through teaching, research, and
health care service. Research projects have included:
-
Causes of osteoporosis and its management in both women
and men;
-
Effects of physical exercise on bone mass, cardiovascular
and pulmonary functions, and balance control ;
-
Changes in bone mineral content and density after strokes;
and
-
Polypharmacy, the interaction and effects of different
drugs.
Dr. Ronald C. Hamdy, an internationally known expert in
the field of aging, has served as chair holder since 1990.
His research has been published in the American Journal of
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the Southern Medical
Journal, the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and the Journal
of the Tennessee Medical Association. Dr. Hamdy is the editor
of the Southern Medical Journal and the Director of the ETSU
Osteoporosis Center.
back to top
The AFG Industries Chair of Excellence
in Business and Technology
Created in 1987, the mission of the AFG
Industries Chair of Excellence in Business and Technology is
to promote entrepreneurial leadership, technical innovation,
and partnerships between industry and higher education. Dr.
Andrew J. Czuchry became this chair holder in 1992
and since then has:
-
Founded the East Tennessee State Entrepreneurs’ Club;
-
Helped establish ETSU’s Entrepreneurial
Leadership Graduate Certificate Program;
-
Served as a resource to local business and industry
to facilitate strategic planning, technical innovation,
quality management and entrepreneurship to enhance competitiveness
in the global arena;
-
Developed graduate program emphases in entrepreneurship,
continuous improvement, and strategic experience consulting
teams; and
-
Continued to enhance economic development within the
community by encouraging joint ventures, partnerships,
and other collaborative efforts among business, industry,
government, the professional community and the university.
Dr. Czuchry serves on the Panel of Judges for the Tennessee
Center For Performance Excellence, the Board of Directors
for the Northeast Tennessee Technology Council, and the Johnson
City/Jonesborough/Washington County Economic Development
Board. His record includes a number of publications in his
field. Before coming to ETSU, he was President of IRISS,
a Raytheon-General Dynamics joint venture.
back to top
The Allen and Ruth Harris Chair of
Excellence in Business
In 1988 the late Allen and Ruth Harris of Johnson City donated
a naming-level gift to the university, establishing the third
endowed Chair of Excellence at ETSU, the Allen
and Ruth Harris Chair of Excellence in Business. The
principal mission emphases of the Chair are:
-
To strengthen the working relationships between ETSU’s
programs in business and the regional business community;
-
To enhance the regional, national and international
reputation of ETSU and its Business programs;
-
To enhance the academic, research and service programs
in business, with an emphasis on management skills and
practices;
-
To assist with the development of the ETSU MBA program
which serves as a means of upgrading the management skills
of area personnel;
-
To provide expertise to businesses and other organizations
seeking to improve its management systems and practices.
The Allen and Ruth Harris Chair of Excellence in Business
has been held since 1999 by Dr.
Allan D. Spritzer, who is also a professor of management.
From 1981 to 1999 Dr. Spritzer served as dean of the ETSU
College of Business. Under his leadership, the College achieved
accreditation of its programs in business administration
and accounting from AACSB International-The Association to
Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. As chair holder,
he has served as advisor and consultant to numerous regional,
national, and international organizations.
back to top
The Carroll H. Long Chair of Surgical
Research
This chair was announced in 1989 and named in honor of Dr.
Carroll Hardy Long, a retired physician and former mayor
of his hometown, Johnson City. TN. The primary foci of The
Carroll H. Long Chair of Surgical Research are:
- Advise resident in research and promote faculty research
involvement;
- Support departmental teaching and research activities;
- Provide consultation services to other departments;
- Obtain funding and publish findings for research projects;
- Strengthen institutional programs and enhance institutional
recognition.
Dr. Race L. Kao, chair holder since 1992, is internationally
recognized for his cardiovascular research. His impressive
vita includes major grants awarded by the National Institutes
of Health, Department of Veterans Affairs, and American Heart
Association; over 100 publications as chair holder; and visiting
professorialships at McGill University, Chang Gung University,
and Nanjing Medical University.
Dr. Kao initiated cellular cardiomyoplasty research (using
autologous stem cells for patients with heart attacks or
hearty failure) and successfully performed 30 cases with
his collaborators. Significant improvement in quality of
life, ejection fraction, local perfusion, and myocardial
contractility has been observed. The residents and students
worked with him were awarded with grants, Gold Medal Awards
at Southeastern Surgical Congress, Medforte Innovation Award,
and numerous awards from Student Research Forum.
back to top
The Paul Dishner Chair of Excellence
in Medicine
The primary focus of the Paul
Dishner Chair of Excellence is to enhance research
efforts in ETSU's Department of Internal Medicine. Announced
in 1989, the chair was named for Southwest Virginia native
Dr. Paul Dishner, because of his generous financial contributions
to the College of Medicine.
Dr. J. Kelly Smith, currently Professor Emeritus in the
Department of Internal Medicine, was appointed the first
chair holder in 1993. He held the chair until he retired
in 2001. Dr. Smith received his M.D. degree from Cornell
University College of Medicine, where he served as Chief
Resident and as a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Disease supported post-doctoral research fellow. He received
further research experience at the Walter Reed Army Institute
of Research. He is board certified in internal medicine,
infectious disease, allergy-immunology, and geriatric medicine.
Dr. Smith came to ETSU in 1979. He served as Chair of Internal
Medicine from 1981 to 1987. With over 100 publications to
his credit, he has received a number of research and teaching
awards, including the students' Outstanding Clinical Professor
Award in 1987. In 1991 he received the Faculty Member of
the Year Award from the College of Medicine and was a recent
recipient of the Laureate Award from the Tennessee Chapter
of the American College of Physicians. His research efforts
have focused on the immunological effects of exercise and
have included studies on the therapeutic efficacy of exercise
on HIV-1 infection.
A search for the second chair holder is currently underway.
back to top
The James H. Quillen Chair of
Excellence in Education
This chair honors former First District Congressman James
H. Quillen's strong commitment to educational improvement
in the region. The Chair of Excellence in Education was established
specifically to address issues related to teaching, its relationship
to learning, and innovative practice and problem-solving.
The holder of the chair is responsible for assisting the
College of Education in building on its reputation as the
principal provider of education and related service professionals
in East Tennessee. The chair holder actively participates
in the life of the campus by teaching one or two classes
per semester, engaging in a progressive program of scholarship
(particularly scholarship directed at the unique needs of
our region), faculty mentoring, and grant-seeking activities.
Chairholder Dr. James
E. McLean came to ETSU in 2000 with 32 years of teaching
experience and 22 years of administrative experience; he
had directed, co-directed or administered more than 100
research, assessment and evaluation projects funded in
excess of $6 million. Before joining the university faculty,
McLean was research professor and founding director of
the Center for Educational Accountability in the School
of Education at the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
back to top
The Wayne G. Basler Chair of Excellence
for the Integration of the Arts, Rhetoric, and Science
In 1994 the Wayne G. Basler Chair of Excellence for the Integration of the
Arts, Rhetoric, and Science was named in honor of an individual who has continuously
supported the university over many years. This chair helps to bridge the gap
that exists in academia between the sciences and the arts and humanities disciplines.
Chair holders serve for one semester, or the equivalent, allowing a number
of individuals from a variety of fields to participate over time.
|
