Assistant Professor of Psychology Xiang Ao, Ph.D. published a peer-reviewed article in the Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology. The article, “Re-Socialise or Punish? Reactions Toward Ingroup Deviants as a Function of Types of Deviance,” examines how people’s social judgment processes shape their strategies for bringing their fellow deviant ingroup members back on track.
From October 8th to November 14th of this year, Peter E. Costas, M.F.A., assistant professor of photography, had a solo exhibition. “Petrichor” at the Linfield Art Gallery at Linfield University in McMinnville, Oregon. Professor Costas visited the gallery during the first week of the opening and presented two lectures, a public lecture and an artist talk during their Board of Trustees dinner in the gallery space.
Director of the School of Education Curtis Garcia, Ph.D., and Associate Professor of Education Michele Mann, Ph.D., presented their most recent co-authored research paper at the 18th Annual Mentoring Institution Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico during the week of October 20th. The paper, Analyzing the Relationship between Self-Efficacy and Well Being Among Mentor Teachers, focuses on the work the two professors have done through the mentor teacher endorsement program while studying the impact on mentor teachers in the San Luis Valley. Over the last 5 years, Drs. Garcia and Mann have secured nearly $400,000 in state grants to sustain the program and provide scholarships and stipends to over 50 participating teachers in the SLV. The paper will also be published in the Institute’s journal later this year.
Chayan Lahiri, Ph.D., assistant professor of earth sciences, and earth science students presented at the Geological Society of America Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas, in October. Presentations included a poster, “Assessing Natural and Anthropogenic Factors Influencing Changes in Channel Morphology in the Rio Grande, San Luis Valley,” presented by students Nick Pieper, Allen Espinoza, Elijah Olguin, and Dr. Lahiri, who also gave an oral presentation “Growth of Alluvial Fans Draining to Reelfoot Lake in West Tennessee.”
In November, Assistant Professor of Music Melinda Leoce, D.M., and four music students attended the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) in Indianapolis, Indiana. In addition to enjoying clinics, masterclasses, and concerts, Dr. Leoce performed in a session entitled, “A Legacy of Brazilian Percussion” led by Professor Carl Dixon (CU Boulder) and featuring guest artist Mestre Jorge Alabé (Rio de Janeiro, Brasil).
Professor of Kinesiology and Exercise Science Graduate Program Coordinator Tracey Robinson, Ph.D., in her role as a Board member of the Rocky Mountain chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine (RMACSM), brought in a guest speaker for the fall lecture series sponsored by the RMACSM and the Department of Kinesiology. Dr. Marissa Baranauskas, from UCCS, spoke on “Considerations for the female athlete: Interactions between performance and menstrual cycle health” to a group of approximately 40 students, faculty and community members. The lecture was well received by those in attendance.
Assistant Director of Scholarships and Recruitment Russell Shawcroft coached the Centauri volleyball team this season taking them all the way to the state playoffs. The Falcons suffered a loss to Sterling High School in the first round and were eliminated from the 2025 Class 3A state tournament by The Classic Academy.
On November 8th, the ASU Future Business Leaders of America Collegiate Club (FBLA) participated in the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) Ethics Initiative Case Competition. The UCCS Ethics Case Competition is a competition for college students, sponsored by the UCCS College of Business Ethics Initiative, that challenges teams to analyze and present solutions to business ethics scenarios. Students apply their critical thinking skills, knowledge of ethical principles, and public speaking abilities to a real-world case, with judging based on factors like the solution’s creativity and adherence to principles from the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative. The team consisted of Kristen Ewards, Ana Arroyo, and Zariah Archuleta. The team was supported by the School or Business and FBLA Club sponsor Assistant Professors of Business Brittany Harlan and A.J. Webb, D.H.S.
Introduction to Strength Training Workshop 10/16/2025
Per the feedback received from the Adams State Wellness Program Survey, the President’s Commission on Employee Wellness (PCOEW) offered an “Introduction to Strength Training” workshop to faculty and staff. Rena Kirkland, Ph.D., professor of psychology, organized the event and Athletic Director Katelyn Smith promoted the event. Terry Dupler, Ph.D., associate professor of kinesiology, and Kris Mugrage, lecturer of kinesiology, created and facilitated the workshop which included terminology review in the classroom and strength training demonstration in the East Campus Exercise Lab. Participants tried a variety of strength movements and asked questions. There were eight participants and four PCOEW members in attendance (Dr. Kirkland, Darin Tandberg, Dr. Dupler and Dr. Webb). The Introduction to Strength Training workshop will be offered again, and a follow up intermediate workshop will be offered to participants.
Emeritus Professor
Emeritus Professor of Chemistry Martin Jones, Ph.D., volunteers at the Alamosa Public Radio Station, KRZA. He assisted in creating a video promoting public stations across Colorado. The HBO Show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver picked up the segment with Dr. Jones, appearing at the 5:30 timestamp.