Racer Report: March 27-31

 

 

MURRAY, Ky. – The latest Murray State University Racer Report includes student, faculty, staff and alumni accomplishments, announcements, upcoming campus events and more for the week of March 27-31. 

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Kendrick Quisenberry, senior associate director of recruitment at Murray State University has been selected to become the President-Elect for the Kentucky Association for College Admission Counseling Association (KYACAC). As President-Elect, Quisenberry is the chair of the conference planning Committee and responsible for the planning and implementation of the annual conference, which took place March 23-25, 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky. At the conference, he assumed the office of President.

KYACAC is the only professional association in the commonwealth that brings together those who work with students as they make the transition from high school to post-secondary education. The goal of KYACAC is to serve college-bound students within the commonwealth and to improve their access to higher education.

KYACAC is a state affiliate of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). KYACAC represents over 150 institutions and more than 500 individual members at the college, university and high school levels, as well as educational groups, service organizations and professional associations.

Quisenberry’s passion for helping students in their transition from high school to post-secondary education has led him to this leadership position within the state. His name is not only known in higher education within the state but also nationally. His willingness to share the wealth of professional knowledge he has gained in the last 15 years made him a prime candidate to lead the KYACAC in its quest to assist students.

“I’ve been a member of KYACAC for a long time and have served on several committees over the years,” said Quisenberry. “It is truly an honor to serve as President and to continue serving our high school students in Kentucky and beyond.”

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Murray State University’s Racers Helping Racers food pantry recently received a $10,000 donation from Kroger as part of the Murray store’s grand re-opening on March 29. 

“Thank you, Kroger, for the donation of $10,000 for Murray State University’s Racers helping Racers Food Pantry. Racers helping Racers opened February 14, 2014, fueled by our guiding mission to care, serve and support our students,” said ReNita Avery, director of Student Life and the Curris Center.

“At Kroger, our purpose and promise is to Feed the Human Spirit,” said Sheleah Harris, Corporate Affairs, Kroger Delta Division. “As good corporate citizens in the community, we are proud to partner with Murray State University and provide nutritious meals for students in need.” 

“Kroger always welcomes opportunities to support our communities. In collaboration with Murray State University, students’ focus should be on learning and leading not having to worry about their next meal…this is how we feed the human spirit. We’re also proud to have many students as associates at our Murray location,” said Micheal Cristal, President of the Kroger Delta Division.

First established in early 2014, the pantry has provided free food for all University students with a Murray State ID, no questions asked. The pantry is located in room 244 of the Blackburn Science Building. 

For more information, please email msu.racershelpingracers@murraystate.edu or call 270-809-4499. 

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Murray State University’s Committee for Institutional Studies and Research (CISR) provides small competitive grants and larger grants (Presidential Fellowships) for full-time faculty, staff and administrators to promote research, scholarship and creative activity that results in published and presented work. Grants help scholars and artists to achieve the standards set for faculty participation in institutional scholarship and research, and at the same time the grants reward work that reflects positively on Murray State as a teaching and research institution. The support funds are provided by a concerted effort from the Provost Office at Murray State.

CISR 2023 awards include the following:

Professor Rupkatha Bardhan (Occupational Safety and Health)

Title: Physiological monitoring of heat stress in employees using real-time monitor

Abstract: “This study will investigate the prevalence of heat strain among employees exposed to extreme temperatures in a workplace. The research findings will provide a better understanding about personal heat stress assessment and prevention of heat related injuries, illness and fatalities benefitting both employees and their employer.”

Professor Julie Cyzewski (English and Philosophy)

Title: Producing the postcolonial: African writing on the air

Abstract: “This project shows the significance of the radio magazines West African Voices and African Writers Club in understanding the BBC’s role in fostering an international readership of African literature. Examining the featured literary works, many of which remain unpublished, will result in a greater understanding of twentieth-century Anglophone African literature.”

Professor Andrea Darracq (Biological Sciences)

Title: Effects of turtle racing on box turtle movement and survival

Abstract: “To our knowledge there are no studies in the literature on the effects of turtle races on eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina). Thus, we aim to evaluate the effects of turtle races on eastern box turtle survival and to assess how turtle races influence long-term box turtle movement behaviors.”

Professors Bassil El Masri (Earth and Environmental Sciences) & Jessica B. Moon (Biological Sciences) 

Title: Contribution of methane from bottomland hardwood forests to the atmosphere

Abstract: “We are currently uncertain whether forested wetland ecosystems, such as bottomland hardwood forests, act as net sinks or sources of methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas. Our goal is to describe methane uptake and emissions in these forests to improve regional predictions of methane emission and understand how these may change with shifting climate and hydrology.”

Professor James Hereford (School of Engineering)

Title: Development of reinforcement learning algorithm for autonomous vehicle training

Abstract: “We plan to develop specific algorithms, based on the technique of Reinforcement Learning, to train an autonomous vehicle (such as a forklift) to navigate through a cluttered environment. We will develop the algorithms by training AI agents to do well in complex games such as Space Invaders and Doom.” 

Professor Matthew Hermes (Exercise Science)

Title: Change of direction deficit performance and strength/power characteristics

Abstract: “Change of direction (COD) ability is often assessed in athletic settings and is viewed as highly related to sport performance. Our aim is to assess the relationship between COD performance and strength and power measures to understand mechanisms contributing to COD performance, which coaches can apply to improve athlete performance.”

Professor Jeff McLaughlin (University Libraries)

Title: Jackie Robinson’s 1946 season with the AAA Montréal Royals

Abstract: “Jim Crow considerations sent baseball legend Jackie Robinson north to Canada before he could integrate America’s pastime. This project explores his 1946 season with the AAA Montréal Royals, why a mostly Québécois fan base embraced him, and how this brief sojourn helped him become a sporting and Civil Rights icon.”

Professor Joshua Ridley (School of Engineering)

Title: A Search for Pulsars in the Magellanic Clouds

Abstract: “This project will search through data obtained from the Parkes Radio Telescope in Australia in an attempt to detect new pulsars in the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. A discovery in the Small Magellanic Cloud could possibly be the most distant pulsar ever detected.”  

Professor Timothy Spier (Biological Sciences)

Title: Can eDNA be used to locate spring cavefish?

Abstract: “Spring Cavefish are an interesting and uncommon fish found in clear, undisturbed spring-fed streams like the ones in Land Between the Lakes (LBL). I wish to use eDNA and traditional stream sampling to collect data on the Spring Cavefish populations that are found in LBL.”

Professor Dena Weinberger (Biological Sciences)

Title: How does drug-contaminated water effect gene expression?

Abstract: “Wide ranges of drugs with overlapping neural targets contaminate our drinking water sources. By raising zebrafish in dosed water as a proxy for prenatal human exposure through contaminated drinking water, this project will identify sensitive genes that are expressed in developing neural tissues.”

Professor Gary ZeRuth (Biological Sciences)

Title: Generation of a transgenic zebrafish line to characterize gene expression

Abstract: “The transcription factor, glis3, has been implicated in numerous human pathologies including diabetes mellitus, polycystic kidney disease, and cancer.  In this study, a transgenic zebrafish line will be produced that will enable the characterization of glis3 gene expression and facilitate the identification of novel target genes it regulates.”  

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The Department of English and Philosophy’s creative writing program is pleased to welcome author Matt Bell to campus as part of the Murray State Reading Series. Bell will read from his work on Wednesday, April 5 at 7:30 p.m. in Faculty Hall 208. The reading is free and open to the public. 

Bell is the author most recently of the novel Appleseed, a New York Times Notable Book, and the craft book Refuse to Be Done, a guide to novel writing, rewriting and revision. He is also the author of the novels Scrapper and In the House upon the Dirt Between the Lake and the Woods, as well as the short story collection A Tree or a Person or a Wall, a non-fiction book about the classic video game Baldur's Gate II, and several other titles. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Esquire, Tin House, Fairy Tale Review, American Short Fiction, Orion and many other publications. A native of Michigan, he teaches creative writing at Arizona State University.

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Dr. Richard Blalock II and his daughter Rachel were guests at a recent meeting of the Murray State University Pre-Health Professionals (PHP) Club. Blalock discussed his journey to medical school and the rewards and challenges of practicing medicine in today’s healthcare environment. He also presented several case studies to demonstrate the range and scope of injuries and patients he treats as an orthopedic surgeon. Blalock is a member of the Murray Orthopedic Group at Murray-Calloway County Hospital. He is a graduate of Murray State and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He completed his residency training at University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and completed an Orthopedic Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery Fellowship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. 

The Pre-Health Professionals (PHP) club is a student-led organization that is devoted to helping students in their quest to attend professional schools such as medical and dental school. PHP helps students connect to important resources on campus such as the Purchase Area Health Education Center (AHEC). This office helps students find shadowing positions and provides the opportunity for students to receive discounted study materials for exams such as the MCAT and DAT. PHP also provides workshops and student panels on writing effective personal statements, studying and preparing for professional exams, and applying to schools through portals such as the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) and Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS). 

A mentoring program was recently established for freshmen and PHP has an alumni network of professionals who speak to the club and provide advice and mentoring. Putting together a successful application to professional schools starts the first day a student walks on campus. The unofficial motto of PHP is “you can do this, and we are here to help.”