Every two weeks, Highlander Highlights shares with readers some of the extraordinary research and accomplishments happening on and off campus through the tireless work and curiosity of our students and faculty.
We Are Radford award winner for April
The We Are Radford employee recognition program is a monthly honor recognizing an individual whose daily interactions with students and colleagues represent the best of the Radford University experience. The winner for April is Molly Hood, an associate professor in the Department of Theatre.
“Molly Hood is an excellent professor, multi-talented theatre professional and collaborator,” her nominator wrote. “Molly works to expand the collaboration of the Department of Theatre and Cinema outside of the department to include voices across campus. A great example of this is her collaboration with Dr. Sandy Liss [assistant professor of physics] to learn more about astronomy and [famous astronomer] Henrietta Leavitt for the fall 2023 production of ‘Silent Sky.’ One of Molly’s greatest strengths is her ability to create an inclusive and welcoming environment in both her classroom and rehearsal room. Anyone who comes to see a show led by her direction can see that the ensemble building that she guides throughout the rehearsal process leads the students working on the show to have bonds that will last well beyond their years at Radford. It’s an honor and privilege to be her colleague.”
Employees who have served at least one year at Radford are eligible to be recognized for upholding the university’s core values.
Honors student presents senior capstone in Las Vegas
Senior social work major Hayley Bare presented her Honors College capstone project at the student section of the Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors annual conference in Las Vegas in early March.
For her project entitled “Preparing social workers for telehealth practice: Experiences and insights,” Bare focused on learning more about recent Radford Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) graduates’ experiences with education and training to provide telehealth services.
“Hayley reviewed literature on the topic, designed a survey, received institutional review board approval for the project and sent out the survey to M.S.W. students who graduated within the last three years,” explained Assistant Professor of Social Work Sarah Rakes, who mentored Bare on the project throughout the summer and fall of 2024.
Overall, Bare said, “The research found that more training is needed in this area, especially with the post-COVID rise in telehealth services.”
Presenting at the conference “was an unreal and rewarding experience,” she said. “I was provided a chance to showcase a topic that means so much to me, especially coming from a small rural community in Sparta, North Carolina, where these services might be particularly beneficial.”
Many individuals in her community, Bare explained, have no access to mental health services due to transportation, cost and internet access issues.
“My community is nestled in the northwestern part of the state, and folks have to drive distances upward of an hour to receive the necessary care,” she said. “At the conference, I channeled the heartbreaking nature of these issues and presented the topic with them in mind.”
Rakes, who coordinates Radford’s Bachelor of Science in Social Work program, also attended the 42nd annual conference designed for social work program directors.
Dickinson in the park
In early April, students in English Professor Rick Van Noy’s American Renaissance course trekked to nearby Wildwood Park to read and discuss works written by Emily Dickinson.
“She writes about flowers, so let’s see some of the spring ephemerals in the park,” Van Noy said of the excursion. “We saw wild ginger, spring beauty, bloodroot, toothwort, bellwort, purple larkspur and Dutchman’s breeches.”
They hoped to see a snake, too, “and feel zero to the bone,” Van Noy said, referencing Dickinson’s poem “A Narrow Fellow in the Grass.”
“But, that didn’t happen,” he said while noting that “the students really enjoyed getting out and walking in the park,” getting out of the classroom on a beautiful spring day.
English major Zander Lenoir found inspiration in the outing.
"Van Noy and company emerge from the Wild Woodwork of Wildwood Park!” said the junior from Floyd, Virginia. “We rugged American renaissance comrades returned with a stupefying energy and dark revery for Dickinson. Her dreamy secrets revealed in the floral blood and britches of spring's sapling heartbeat."