Highlander Highlights: Week of Sept. 15, 2025

Sociology student presents at national conference

Alivia Turner, a senior from Front Royal, Virginia, gave her first academic conference presentation at the 87th annual meeting of the Rural Sociological Society, held in Salt Lake City, Utah, July 30-Aug. 2. Supported by the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship and the Student Travel and Research Support program in the College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences, Turner's participation highlighted the importance of student research and its connection to pressing community needs.

A sociology major with a minor in wicked problems, Turner presented her work on revitalizing Radford University's chapter of the Food Recovery Network, an initiative aimed at addressing food insecurity on campus and in the surrounding community. During her internship with Associate Professor of Sociology Aysha Bodenhamer, Turner served as a food recovery specialist, conducting a waste audit, developing a recovery plan with Chartwells dining services, and organizing logistics for the chapter's launch.

Her project connects directly to local needs. The Radford-Fairlawn Daily Bread, which serves food-insecure residents in the area, has faced growing challenges due to rising food and operating costs. Turner's proposed model would enlist student volunteers to repackage untouched surplus food from the university's dining hall and deliver it to the organization for distribution.

Reflecting on her experience, Turner admitted to initial nerves but found reassurance through connecting with fellow presenters. "For first-time conference presenters, I recommend talking to your peers," she said. "They are just as nervous as you are, and discussing your work or your anxieties helps a ton."

Bodenhamer praised Turner's achievement, noting the broader impact of her research. "I have a renewed sense of the importance of rural work in a time of great need," she said.

Hall named CIPEP director

Jenny Hall, an associate professor of public health and healthcare leadership, has been named as the associate dean for Interprofessional Education and director of the Dr. Raymond N. Linville Center for Interprofessional Education and Practice (CIPEP).

The Linville Center was founded in 2017 as a hub for interprofessional education and collaborative practice. Through CIPEP, Waldron College students are prepared to become healthcare and human service providers with the skills to transform service delivery through collaborative practice, recognizing that a sustainable, innovative health system, effective health promotion and good patient outcomes require the full, creative participation of all healthcare providers.

We Are Radford winner for September

The We Are Radford employee recognition program is a monthly honor recognizing an individual whose daily interactions with students and colleagues represent the best of the Radford University experience. The winner for September is Sherry Wade, an administrative assistant in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

"Sherry Wade is always welcoming to every student, staff, employee, and faculty member she meets," her nominator wrote. "Even after a horrific car accident, she has worked to get back to work at Radford University. She is always making sure the students who work in our office a floor away are fed and greets everyone with a smile. Sherry knows everyone on campus, and people just smile and perk up when you say her name."

Employees who have served at least one year at Radford are eligible to be recognized for upholding the university's core values.

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