Dr. Nicole Blau, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies, has a passion for the integration of her teaching and research.  In a recent research article published in the Florida Communications Journal she examines the impact of teacher-student relationships on student values.

Dr. Linda Trautman, Assistant Professor of Political Science, was recognized as the campus Phi Theta Kappa Professor of Year at the June 2011 Honors Convocation in Lancaster. Dr. Trautman teaches a variety of courses in American politics. She researches and is professionally active in the areas of political socialization, redistricting and electoral and legislative politics.

Mr. Todd McCullough recently returned to college to prepare for new career opportunities. He is a double-major in Organizational Communication and in a relatively new program, the Bachelor of Science in Applied Management. Along with his studies, he has taken on notable student leadership roles. He serves as president of the Adults Belong in College and has been appointed as a representative to the Campus Coordinating Council.

Last July, Dr. Scott Minar, Professor of English, gave a workshop at The University of Pittsburgh on how to use his book The Working Poet in high school classrooms. The session was attended by thirty Pittsburgh area high school and middle school teachers and was presented by The Western Pennsylvania Writers Project. The workshop was arranged by Professor Minar's publishers, Autumn House Press.

Ms. Carolyn Bateson, Executive Assistant to the Campus Dean, was recently named the Lancaster/Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce Administrative Professional of the Year. Nominations for the award were made through the Business Forward committee of the Chamber, and the award recognizes her strong contributions to the campus and the campus leadership. Ms. Bateson is also a past recipient of the Ohio University Outstanding Classified Employee Award .

Dr. Joseph Faber, Associate Professor of Biology, recently co-authored a study of the genetic identity of walleye fish native to the upper Cumberland River. He and fellow researchers determined the native walleye have remained genetically distinct from walleye introduced into the region through spawning activity confined to a single tributary of Lake Cumberland. Their findings are slated to appear in the April 2012 edition of American Midland Naturalist.