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INSIDE MOREHOUSE, OCTOBER 2012
College’s First Female Dean Wants to Make an Impact on the Future
BY CHRISTIAN SAINT-VIL
larissa Myrick-Harris accept
ed the position of Dean of
Humanities and Social Sciences
at Morehouse at the beginning
of the academic year—and she’s already
making history. She is the College’s first
female dean.
History aside, it is the future—
particularly of the Division of Humanities
and Social Sciences—where she wants to
make an impact.
“Through thoughtful faculty and
student engagement, learning experi
ences that embody ‘high impact’ and
experiential educational practices—such
as learning communities, collaborative
research, civic engagement through ser
vice learning, writing intensive courses,
faculty and undergraduate research, global
learning and community-based learn
ing—the Division will create a culture
of free flowing and constant productive
communication, collegiality and collabo
ration to achieve our end of transforming
21st-century learners into 21st-century
leaders,” said Myrick-Harris.
Myrick-Harris, who previously
worked for the United Negro College
Fund, said she has an open-door policy
and welcomes creative ideas to address the
challenges the division faces.
“I have been doing a lot of listening
during these past few weeks,” Myrick-
Harris, a graduate of Morris Brown
College, said. “I think it’s important for
me not only to come in without any pre
conceived notions; however, 1 am coming
in with a vision.”
Myrick-Harris’ vision for the
Division is based on the Sankofa
Imperative, which means “learning from
the lessons and best traditions of the past
to create the ideal future.”
Specifically, her goals are to furbish
grants that will aid the recruitment and
retention of a young faculty; meet the needs
of the faculty with funding to travel for
research and presentations at conferences;
and reduce faculty work load by using stu
dent assistants and having seasoned profes
sors mentor younger faculty'. ■
Christian L. Saint-Vil is the editor-in-chief
o/The Maroon Tiger.
larissa Myrick-Harris
Morehouse Community Walks To
Give Breast Cancer the Boot
BY CHRISTIAN SAINT-VIL
A year after being diagnosed with breast cancer and giving it the boot, Sandra
Walker, the director of Administrative Services and Special Programs at
Morehouse College, stepped forward and locked arms with other Morehouse employ
ees who were fighting breast cancer.
With the support of Mary Peaks and the entire Morehouse community, for 13
years, Walker has coordinated a two- mile breast cancer walk around the Atlanta
University Center.
Chandra Price, one of the originators of the walk lost her battle with breast cancer
two years after the inception of the College’s annual walk. Walker and Peaks con
tinue this walk to educate women and men and have raised $186,000 for the American
Cancer Society and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer on behalf of the College.
This year, Walker will host Morehouse College’s 13 th Annual Breast Cancer Walk
on Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 8 a.m. on the plaza of the Martin Luther King Jr.
International Chapel. Those wanting to help set up are expected to arrive at approxi
mately 5:30 a.m.
Walker is asking for a $20 registration fee (which includes a T-Shirt) to help fund
research on breast cancer—which can affect both women and men. However, all may
walk with or without a donation.
To give breast cancer the boot, Walker encourages being faithful to having a yearly
mammogram and continue to go to follow-up appointments.
3 ou can make it, said Walker “ Just keep on and you can make it!”
And Price once said, “Immediately after finding out they have breast cancer, people
think it’s a death sentence. I want people to know there is hope and there is a chance.” ■
Staff Advisory Council to be Revived
BY JILLIAN WESTFALL
he Office of Human Resources is reviving the Morehouse Staff Advisory Council as a way for the
College’s staff members to develop programs to optimize recognition, engagement and com
munication among staff members, as well as infuse a sense of fun in the workplace, said Pamela
Weston, associate vice president for Human Resources.
“When employees are provided with a platform to be heard, they feel valued,” she said. “That’s
especially true when they see their ideas and suggestions being implemented. This, in
turn, helps improve retention efforts since employees who feel appreciated are gener
ally more committed to their jobs. So the Staff Advisory Council is an important way to
implement positive change at Morehouse.”
The council has been dormant for the past couple of years because no budget was
provided for the group and many staff members felt like they given an opportunity to
participate, said Julie Tongue, communications assistant and the last president of the
former Staff Advisory Council.
It s important that staff has a vehicle that will serve as a liaison between the admin
istration and the staff,” she said. “There’s a faculty advisory council and a place to air
their grievances and the students have a council to air their grievances and I think the
staff should have one as well. But I think it’s a wonderful idea to revive the committee
to be something that we can participate in and leave a mark.”
Weston envisions a 10- to 15-member committee, maybe meeting monthly, that will deter
mine short- and long-term goals and devise plans for attaining them. But committee members
will decide when and where, and choose their leaders and structure. They will also establish a
mission, charter, and committee guidelines. Morehouse’s TigerNet is the platform where they
will convey their work and spread news of upcoming events to the college’s entire staff.
111 partner with the Staff Advisory Council and share best practices,” she said.
“However, the agenda and priorities will be set by the committee.”
If you are interested in joining the Staff Advisory Council, contact Pamela Weston
at pweston@morehouse.edu. For updates, check http://www.tigernet.morehouse.edu
listed under the my HR tab. ■
Zipcar Available on Campus
Z ipcar, the service that allows you to rent a car by the hour, is now available on
the Morehouse campus. The service is open to students, faculty and staff.
After an initial sign-up fee of $15, participants are able to rent a car for $8 an
hour. The fee includes insurance and gas.
An access card unlocks the car, tracks the car’s whereabouts, monitors the
participant s usage, and works as a credit card for gas purchase.
Michael Davenport, the College’s transportation manager, knew of students
who were already Zipcar members, but who were taking public transportation
to nearby Zipcar locations, including Georgia Tech, to pick up cars. He said the
Zipcar program is a value-added service particularly for students.
“We needed something like that here on our campus,” he said. “Many of the stu
dents don’t need a car for the whole day.”
To join Zipcar under the Morehouse plan, please visit www.zipcar.com/more-
house <http://www.zipcar.com/morehouse>. ■