TROY News Center

August 18, 2011

TROY Continuing Education Center opens fall registration
 

DOTHAN—Troy University's Continuing Education Center at the Dothan Campus has started registration for its fall 2011 lineup of courses.

The Continuing Education Center offers a variety of personal and professional development classes, including certifications in several areas. The fall schedule includes courses in business, education, healthcare and law, among other topics.

Copies of the complete fall schedule are available at the Continuing Education Center office or online at www.troy.edu. For more information, or to register for courses, call (334) 983-0005.

August 18, 2011

TROY College of Health and Human Services announces new associate dean
 

TROY – Dr. John Miller has been appointed Associate Dean of the College of Health and Human Services at Troy University.

It marks the first time the College has had such a position. Within the College of Health and Human Services are the School of Nursing; the Department of Human Services, Rehabilitation, and Social Work; the Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion; and the Department of Athletic Training Education. Dr. Miller will assist the College in accreditation and academic issues, and teach classes for TROY's Sport and Fitness Management Program, one of only five nationally accredited programs.

"The College of Health and Human Services is most pleased to attract someone of Dr. Miller's caliber to this important Associate Dean position," said Dr. Damon Andrew, Dean of the College. "In this role, Dr. Miller will draw upon his significant experience in curriculum and policy development, assessment, and research to provide academic support to our faculty."

A leading international expert on risk management in sports, Dr. Miller was an associate chair and professor of sport management at Texas Tech University, a Carnegie-classified High Research Activity University. He has been named a Fellow of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance's Research Consortium and Distinguished Scholar by the School and Community Safety Society of America. He was recognized as an outstanding faculty as selected by Texas Tech University undergraduate senior students on three occasions. He has published a textbook in the field, with another book in progress, in addition to authoring 46 peer-reviewed publications, five invited manuscripts, 19 book chapters and 156 peer-reviewed presentations.

"I am excited to be part of the challenges and opportunities in the College of Health and Human Services at Troy University," Dr. Miller said. "I believe my previous experiences will allow me to bring different insights to TROY students as well as assist in the future growth of the College."

As a collegiate swimming coach for more than 10 years, Dr. Miller coached one national champion in four events, more than 20 All-American swimmers and divers, and was elected President of the National Swimming and Diving Coaches Association. Dr. Miller completed a Ph.D. in Sport Administration at the University of New Mexico in 1994, and earned a master's degree in sport psychology from the University of Minnesota. He completed his undergraduate studies in physical education at the University Wisconsin-Oshkosh. His primary research interests include risk management security issues in sport and recreational activities and facilities, sport marketing and promotion affecting consumer behavior in sports, and issues dealing with sport management pedagogy. In 2009, he was elected president of the Sport and Recreation Law Association and was awarded the Charles Peter Yost Award by the National Safety and Risk Management Council.

August 17, 2011

TROY to offer free lecture Saturday in conjunction with 'A Fine Romance' exhibit
 

DOTHAN—A noted author and lecturer on Jewish culture and popular music will deliver a lecture on Saturday, Aug. 20, in Dothan in conjunction with the exhibit "A Fine Romance" currently on display at Troy University.

Dr. Kenneth Kanter, director of the Rabbinical School for the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, OH, will discuss his book "The Jews of Tin Pan Alley" starting at 7 p.m. at the Temple Emanu-El located at 188 North Park Ave. Admission is free and open to the public.

Kanter is a popular lecturer and author of books, journals and articles focusing on the Jewish contribution to American popular music from the 1840s to the 1940s.

The lecture is sponsored by a grant from the Alabama Humanities Foundation.

The American Library Association traveling exhibit "A Fine Romance: Jewish Songwriters, American Songs" is on display at the TROY Dothan Campus library through Aug. 26. It explores the contributions of iconic Jewish songwriters such as George and Ira Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein to the great "American Songbook" during the period 1910-1965.

The exhibit is offered through a partnership between TROY, the Temple Emanu-El and the Houston-Love Memorial Library.

For more information about the exhibit or upcoming events, contact library director Christopher Shaffer at 334-983-6556, ext. 1320, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

"A Fine Romance" was developed by Nextbook, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Jewish literature, culture, and ideas, and the American Library Association Public Programs Office. The national tour of the exhibit has been made possible by the Charles H. Revson Foundation, the Righteous Persons Foundation, the David Berg Foundation, an anonymous donor, and Tablet: A New Read on Jewish Life.

August 16, 2011

Lee Ann Womack, Ed Asner highlight 2011-2012 season at TROY's Davis Theatre
 

MONTGOMERY—A concert by country star Lee Ann Womack and a solo performance by Emmy-winning actor Ed Asner are among the highlights of the upcoming 2011-2012 season at Troy University's Davis Theatre for the Performing Arts.

Season tickets are on sale now for the series, which features a diverse mix of performances including beloved musicals, Motown favorites and more. Season tickets can be purchased by calling the theatre office at (334) 241-9567.

The Davis Theatre is located in downtown Montgomery at 251 Montgomery Street. All shows have a 7 p.m. curtain time. A season ticket package to all of this season's productions ranges in price from $105 to $185.

"We are thrilled to bring such a diverse lineup of talent to Montgomery," said Davis Theatre Director Kristen Koehler. "The 2011-2012 season at the Davis truly offers something for everyone."

The Season Subscriber Series will launch on Tuesday, Oct. 18, with a performance by the Hunt Family Fiddlers. The Hunts are an award-winning family of Irish step dancers, fiddlers and singers. The family of nine performs Celtic, bluegrass, inspirational and popular tunes, and has toured extensively in the U.S., Canada, Scotland and Ireland.

Thursday, Nov. 10, will feature a new production of the classic musical "My Fair Lady." The 1956 Broadway smash inspired an Academy Award-winning film starring Audrey Hepburn and features such memorable songs as "Wouldn't It Be Loverly?," "With a Little Bit of Luck," and "The Rain in Spain."

Lee Ann Womack will take to the Davis Theatre stage on Thursday, Dec. 8. Winner of a Grammy, five Academy of Country Music Awards and six Country Music Association awards, singer/songwriter Womack brings a contemporary flair to old-fashioned country music. Her hit songs include "Last Call," "Solitary Thinkin'," "I Found It in You," "If These Walls Could Talk" and the CMA Song of the Year winner "I Hope You Dance." Vocalist Dani Flowers will open.

Friday, Jan. 27, will feature a performance of the award-winning musical "Damn Yankees." Based on the novel "The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant" by Douglass Wallop, this popular musical is filled with hit songs including "Whatever Lola Wants" and "You Gotta Have Heart."

Emmy-winner Ed Asner, best known for his role as Lou Grant on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and its spinoff "Lou Grant," will take to the Davis stage on Tuesday, March 6, for a solo performance in "FDR." This powerful, one-man play follows the iconic president as he reflects on his years in office and takes the audience through FDR's White House years including the Depression, the steps leading up to WWII and the war years.

Finally, the Season Subscriber Series will close on Friday, March 23, with "The Legends of Motown" featuring Horizon. This talented trio of vocalists and their backing band will bring authentic Motown music to Montgomery with their energetic, precise, harmonic, witty and well-choreographed style.

In addition to the Season Subscriber Series, the Davis will feature two performances in its annual University Series, including "Jazz Comes Home" on Tuesday, Oct. 4 and "A Salute to Our Nation's Veterans" featuring the TROY Symphony Band on Tuesday, Nov. 1, along with a special add-on event, the musical "Band Geeks!" by TROY alumnus Tommy Newman, on Friday, April 20.

The 2011-2012 Davis Theatre season is sponsored by AT&T, Charter Media, Cumulus, Fresh Face Media, the Montgomery Advertiser, RSVP Montgomery, SMI Advertising, Touch of Class Limousine and Transport, Troy University Montgomery Metro Alumni Chapter, Viamedia and WSFA 12 News.

For more information on the upcoming season, call the Theatre office at (334) 241-9567. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday, 8 a.m. to noon.

Troy University's Davis Theatre for the Performing Arts 2011-2012 Season

• Tuesday, Oct. 4: Jazz Comes Home
• Tuesday, Oct. 18: Hunt Family Fiddlers
• Tuesday, Nov. 1: A Salute to Our Nation's Veterans
• Thursday, Nov. 10: My Fair Lady
• Thursday, Dec. 8: Lee Ann Womack
• Friday, Jan. 27: Damn Yankees
• Tuesday, March 6: Ed Asner as FDR
• Friday, March 23: The Legends of Motown Featuring Horizon
• Friday, April 20: Band Geeks!

August 15, 2011

Long-time TROY faculty member honored with Malone Award
 

TROY – Dr. Fred Meine, professor of public administration and former regional director of Troy University's Florida Region, has been awarded the Wallace D. Malone, Jr. Distinguished Faculty Award.

Dr. Meine, who joined the TROY faculty full time in 1994, was presented the award by Chancellor Jack Hawkins, Jr. and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Earl Ingram during the University's annual Faculty and Staff Convocation on Friday at the Troy Campus.

The award consists of a $1,500 cash prize and a medallion to be worn with academic regalia. The award is made possible through at $100,000 endowment by the SouthTrust Corp. Wallace Malone, former chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of SouthTrust, served as a TROY trustee from 1975-1995.

"Dr. Fred Meine is an extraordinary leader and teacher," said Chancellor Hawkins. "He has demonstrated the highest standards of excellence throughout his career at Troy University and it is an honor for us to honor him."

"Not only was I totally shocked and surprised, but I am humbled by this great honor," Dr. Meine said. "I have been proud to serve this great university for the last 20 years and hope to continue contributing to its future growth."

Dr. Meine, who first associated with the University in 1991 as an adjunct faculty member, earned the Doctorate in Public Administration at Golden Gate University in San Francisco, Calif., and the master's degree in criminal justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice at the City University of New York. His undergraduate work in criminal justice was completed at the University of Nebraska.

In addition to his service in the classroom and as regional director, Dr. Meine chaired the Department of Public Administration from 1997 to 1999 and was associate regional director for academic affairs and student services for TROY's Atlantic Region from 1995 – 1997. He has mentored many faculty members during his tenure at the University.

Prior to entering the academic world, Dr. Meine was an officer in the United States Army, including a posting as Chief of Investigative Policy and Programs which oversaw major felony investigations, drug interdictions programs, crime prevention and economic crime programs, technical equipment and forensic investigation for the largest region in the Army's Criminal Investigation Division from 1986-1991.

During his academic career, Dr. Meine has authored more than 20 peer-reviewed publications, many of which address administrative ethics issues, and has presented more than 50 conference papers while developing sustained collaborations with colleagues to strategically advance a very active research agenda.