CCBP Council Welcomes New Faces, Announces New Responsibilities

  • October 13th, 2014
  • in News

By Jessica Hancock
CCBP Graduate Assistant

Photos by Sirui Shau

Council members learned of new leaders and decentralization of the Council structure at the September meeting.
Council members learned of new leaders and decentralization of the Council structure at the September meeting.

Graduate student Anna-Margaret Yarbrough tells the Council of SCOPE's growth and research presentations at the past three Engagement Scholarship Consortium conferences.
Graduate student Anna-Margaret Yarbrough tells the Council of SCOPE’s growth and research presentations at the past three Engagement Scholarship Consortium conferences.

Major changes in the staffing and organization of the Center for Community-Based Partnerships Council were announced at the Council’s well-attended Sept. 17 meeting at the Bryant Conference Center.

Here are the changes as provided by Dr. Samory T. Pruitt, vice president for Community Affairs.

  • Dean of the Graduate School Dr. David Francko will become chair of the CCBP Council Executive Committee, a position previously held by Pruitt.
  • Retired dean of the College of Education Dr. Jim McLean will become the new executive director of CCBP.
  • The following individuals will make up the CCBP executive committee: Dean Francko, chair; Dr. Laurie Bonnici, proposal and seed funding support; Dr. Pauline Johnson, faculty teaching and research support; Dr. Angelia Paschal, academic conference and presentation support; the Rev. Tyshawn Gardner, community partnership support; and Anna-Margaret Yarbrough, student involvement and support.

McLean served as a University Research Professor for the College of Education from 1987–1995 and as assistant dean for research and service from 1990–1995. After joining the faculties at East Tennessee State University and UAB, he returned to UA and served as dean of the College of Education from 2004-2012.

Pruitt released this statement about McLean’s appointment: “I am excited to announce Dr. McLean as the new executive director of CCBP effective October 1. He has agreed to serve in this capacity on a volunteer basis and his primary responsibilities will include leading our efforts to connect our teaching, research and service through innovative programs and projects in ways that support our mission to improve the quality of life for families and communities in Alabama and beyond.”

Community Affairs staff member Carol Agomo gives a report on the latest successes of the Savings Lives project.
Community Affairs staff member Carol Agomo gives a report on the latest successes of the Savings Lives project.

Vice President for Research Dr. Carl Pinkert highlighted the opportunities that engagement research provides for faculty members. “I define engagement research as research done in response to a problem,” Pinkert said, contrasting that with research purely to add to disciplinary knowledge.

“You have heard Dean Francko say that faculty seeking tenure and/or promotion on the basis of achievements in engagement research have been successful,” Pinkert said. “As a former divisional dean, I can support that in saying that the great majority of faculty I recommend for tenure or promotion include significant accomplishments in engagement research.”

Engagement research, he said, is valuable because it enables scholars to accomplish all three UA missions — teaching, research and service — at once.

Francko, who has been a mainstay in CCBP Council activity since its creation, provided updates on behalf of Dr. Laurie Bonnici, who was unable to attend the Council meeting, and announced that Bonnici is looking for Seed Fund committee volunteers.

Johnson spoke on faculty teaching and research support. She is also looking for faculty volunteers for a variety of roles, including faculty membership and committee membership. She is seeking to establish an engaged scholars fellowship program to support graduate students, along with guidelines and outcomes expectations for faculty whose graduate students are funded.

Newly named chair of the Academic Conference and Presentation Support Committee, Dr. Angelia Paschal, is seeking additional members.
Newly named chair of the Academic Conference and Presentation Support Committee, Dr. Agnelia Paschal, is seeking additional members

Paschal, who spoke on behalf of Academic Conference and Presentation Support, is also seeking to increase committee members.

Gardner spoke on Community Partner Support from the faith-based community. He believes that churches have value to offer the university, and this partnership seeks to benefit everyone involved.

Yarbrough provided updates on Campus Connecting Communities, a peer education team that forms bridges from campus to communities with a strength based and culturally sensitive approach. This program has already trained over 600 students and will continue to have open sessions once a month in addition to trainings by request

Several other CCBP members provided updates in their specific areas, including Dr. Joyce Stallworth, who announced the addition of Hispanic and Pre-K programs to the Parent Teacher Leadership Academy.

In a staff change since the Council meeting, Dr. Pruitt announced that Dr. Heather Pleasants, who has been with CCBP since 2008, would be moving to a new position in the Office of Academic Affairs. Dr. Pleasants main responsibility at CCBP has been with the Parent Teacher Leadership Academy. In an email to the Council, Pruitt thanked Pleasants for her many years of work, which has brought widespread recognition in the area of parental support for local schools.

The next CCBP Council meeting is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at the Bryant Conference Center.

Dr. Carl Pinckert, vice president for research, tells the Council of the importance of engaged scholarship in higher education today.
Dr. Carl Pinkert, vice president for research, tells the Council of the importance of engaged scholarship in higher education today.
Dr. Joyce Stallworth announced the addition of Hispanic and Pre-K programs to the Parent Teacher Leadership Academy.
Dr. Joyce Stallworth announced the addition of Hispanic and Pre-K programs to the Parent Teacher Leadership Academy.
Dr. Jim McLean, former dean of the College of Education and new CCBP executive director, addresses the Council.
Dr. Jim McLean, former dean of the College of Education and new CCBP executive director, addresses the Council.
New and old leaders of the CCBP Council, from left, Dr. Samory Pruitt, Dr. Angelia Paschal, Anna-Margaret Yarbrough, Dr. Jim McLean, Dean David Francko, Dr. Pauline Johnson, and the Rev. Tyshawn Gardner.
New and old leaders of the CCBP Council, from left, Dr. Samory Pruitt, Dr. Angelia Paschal, Anna-Margaret Yarbrough, Dr. Jim McLean, Dean David Francko, Dr. Pauline Johnson, and the Rev. Tyshawn Gardner.
New executive committee member Dr. Pauline Johnson outlines plans for increasing community engaged projects, such as the Engaged Scholars Fellowship Program, which will support three new GRAs.
New executive committee member Dr. Pauline Johnson outlines plans for increasing community engaged projects, such as the Engaged Scholars Fellowship Program, which will support three new GRAs.
The Rev. Tyshawn Gardner, pastor of the Plum Grove Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa, will chair a committee to bolster faith-based community partner organization projects.
The Rev. Tyshawn Gardner, pastor of the Plum Grove Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa, will chair a committee to bolster faith-based community partner organization projects.
Graduate Dean David Francko's report to the Council emphasized that engaged scholarship is making headway in tenure and promotion considerations.
Graduate Dean David Francko’s report to the Council emphasized that engaged scholarship is making headway in tenure and promotion considerations.