For the Record provides information about recent professional activities and honors of University of Delaware faculty, staff, students and alumni.

Recent publications, presentations and honors include the following:

Publications

Ravi Ammigan, associate provost for international programs, has coauthored a peer-reviewed journal article with Adil Bentahar, assistant professor at the English Language Institute, examining the curricular and co-curricular experiences of students in Intensive English Programs. Earlier this year, Studies in Higher Education published research from Ammigan and colleagues from Stony Brook University and Emory University on the cross-cultural adjustment, well-being and success of international students in the U.S. 

Presentations

John Caldwell, associate librarian and coordinator of political papers and electronic records, and Rebecca Johnson Melvin, manuscripts librarian and curator of the Joseph R. Biden Jr. Senatorial Papers, from the Library, Museums and Press, participated in sessions at the annual meeting of the Association of Centers for the Study of Congress from May 3-5 at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Caldwell moderated and co-presented “Practitioner’s Corner, AV Matters,” during which he spoke about the challenges of preserving, reformatting and providing access to audiovisual material in contemporary political papers. Johnson Melvin moderated “American Indians and Congress,” a session that highlighted resources found in the archives of Congress and former members of Congress about historical and contemporary policies and issues related to Native Americans.

Honors

Several UD students studying biomechanics and movement science (BIOMS) recently competed at the American Society of Biomechanics East Coast Regional Conference on April 28-29 at Penn State Berks Campus in Reading, Pennsylvania, and took home top awards. BIOMS doctoral student Rebecca Daniels, who works in Kinesiology and Applied Physiology (KAAP) Associate Professor Christopher Knight’s Exercise Neuroscience Research Laboratory, took home first place for her graduate podium presentation. Her research, funded by local community partner Shake It Off, focuses on how motor segmentation predicts motor symptoms in people with Parkinson’s disease. “I feel honored that my presentation was recognized in this way considering the high quality of student work on display at the conference,” Daniels said. “There was a huge UD presence at this conference, including a lot of really talented students, and I’ve had such a vibrant research experience here at UD.” Doctoral student Nancy Nguyen, who works in KAAP Assistant Professor Jeremy Crenshaw’s Falls and Mobility Lab, took home first place in the graduate poster competition. “This conference was an outstanding opportunity for students to present and discuss their research as well as network with other researchers and industry partners in the region,” Crenshaw said. “Many of the students were recognized for the quality of their research, and I think they left the conference with more confidence, enthusiasm, and ideas for future studies.” Master’s student Zahra McKee, who works in KAAP Assistant Professor Elisa Arch’s Orthotics and Prosthetics for Enhanced Mobility Lab, took home second place in the graduate poster competition for her work in the Archer lab. Senior Jenna Mlecko, an exercise science major, preparing to enter UD’s top-ranked Physical Therapy Program, placed first in the undergraduate poster contest. Mlecko has been working in KAAP Assistant Professor Jocelyn Hafer’s Gait Biomechanics Research Lab using wearable sensors to study knee osteoarthritis since she was a freshman.“I was shocked to win first place with so many interesting and unique research projects in this competition,” Mlecko said. “Working in Dr. Hafer’s research lab has been one of the best experiences during my time here at UD.”

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