A paper by Dr. Mohammad A. Alam (left), associate professor of chemistry, and Dr. David Gilmore (right), emeritus professor of microbiology, was published in ChemMedChem. In their continuing research, they describe the synthesis of 30 chimeric compounds as potent antimicrobial agents. These compounds are the hybrid structure of nootkatone, an approved tick and insect repellent from grapefruit, and thiazole, a privileged scaffold in drug discovery. The article is online.

Laura Cremeens, Enrollment Management, was recognized with the Unsung Hero award recently during the 28th annual Distinguished Performance Awards ceremony . In the midst of the pandemic, Cremeens transitioned to a new office and changed job duties from what she had done for the previous 30 years, but she never let up. Among her many contributions, she initiated an effort to better organize Admissions Office inventory.

Research by Dr. Sarah Mayberry Scott, assistant professor of communication studies, has been published in the intercultural anthology, Communicating Across Differences: Negotiating Identity, Privilege, and Marginalization in the 21st Century. ​In her chapter, she reviews the debate on person-first language, discusses the use of disability euphemisms, and makes recommendations on how researchers can utilize rhetorical listening and cultural humility in their practices.

Congratulations to Karen Blue, who was among the retiring faculty members recognized during Convocation of Scholars. An assistant professor of nursing, Blue chaired the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree program and worked in all of the nursing undergraduate programs at some time or another during her 23-year career at A-State.  She also initiated the online LPN-AASN program and continued to nurture its success.

Instructor in English Helen Duclos, who was recognized at Convocation of Scholars after her retirement, taught freshman writing classes for 22 years. As one of the first English instructors to embrace online teaching, Duclos was committed to learning new skills. Students often commented on her willingness to meet with them individually to help them improve their writing. She also served on the Delta Symposium committee.