BGSU Zoom News

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Pargament named to '50 Most Influential Living Psychologists' list | Music, food, poetry help carry us 'Beyond the Dream'

Kenneth Pargament

PARGAMENT NAMED TO ‘50 MOST INFLUENTIAL LIVING PSYCHOLOGISTS’ LIST

Dr. Kenneth Pargament, Professor Emeritus of psychology, has been named to the Best Schools’ list of “50 Most Influential Living Psychologists in the World.” The list is presented in alphabetical order.

Pargament received his bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1972 and his Ph.D. in clinical-community psychology in 1977, both from the University of Maryland. His nationally and internationally known research has addressed the role of religious belief in psychological health and coping with stress.

As a BGSU faculty member, Pargament taught general psychology and theories and techniques of therapy, among other classes. He is currently a research affiliate with the Center for Family and Demographic Research.

Best Schools noted Pargament’s creation of the “RCOPE Questionnaire” on its list. The questionnaire is designed to measure religious coping strategies, which Pargament believes may be usefully grouped into three broad categories: deferring styles of religious coping, self-directing styles and collaborative styles. Also of note, Pargament has identified four attitudes toward religion on the part of psychotherapists: rejectionists, exclusivists, constructionists and pluralists.

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Uzee Brown performs with the Bowling Green Philharmonia

MUSIC, FOOD, POETRY HELP CARRY US 'BEYOND THE DREAM'

Jessica B. Harris

In addition to their passion, courage and commitment to social justice, people working in the civil rights movement were sustained and nourished by music and food. The Jan. 10 “Beyond the Dream” program at Kobacker Hall celebrated the achievements of the movement through both. BGSU alumnus Dr. Uzee Brown, chair of the Department of Music at Morehouse College and director of the Ebenezer Baptist Church Choir, provided a stirring narration to Joseph Schwantner's “New Morning for the World: ‘Daybreak of Freedom,’" written to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and performed by the Bowling Green Philharmonia and conducted by Dr. Emily Freeman Brown, director of orchestral activities.

Eminent food historian Jessica B. Harris explained the significance of food to the movement, from the lunch counter sit-ins of the 1960s to the African American-owned restaurants where King and other leaders met to discuss strategy and find sustenance. Harris also discussed the changes to America’s eating habits brought about by the movement, as Northerners in solidarity reclaimed their Southern food roots, others nationally adopted the vegetarianism advocated by comedian-turned–activist Dick Gregory or the diet set forth by Elijah Mohammad, Nation of Islam leader, while still others looked back to Africa, bringing international cuisine to the United States.

Rounding out the program was a multimedia presentation of graphics by Heejoo Kim, assistant professor of digital arts, music by 2013 alumnus Evan Williams and poetry by student Bea Fields.

OBITUARIES
Clyde Willis, 80, dean emeritus of the College of Health and Human Services, died Jan. 22 in South Carolina. A specialist in speech pathology and audiology, he joined the college as dean in 1984 and retired in 2002. The Clyde R. Willis Faculty Development Award is named in his honor.

GRAND OPENING SLATED FOR TWO NEW STUDENT CENTERS

The University will celebrate the fruition of a longtime goal on Saturday (Jan. 27) with the grand opening celebration of the LGBTQ+ Resource Center and Multicultural Student Center in the Bowen-Thompson Student Union. Students, alumni, faculty, staff and the community are invited to attend the event, from 4-5:30 p.m. in 427 Union.

The new centers embody the University’s commitment to inclusion and diversity by bringing important student resources together in the heart of campus. Groups such as the LGBTQ+ Advisory Board, the Latino Student Union, Black Student Union, Vision (now QTSU) and others advocated for the move and have had input into the final design.

Interim President Rodney Rogers will lead the ribbon-cutting. Guests can take a tour guided by Office of Multicultural Affairs Ambassadors and view scrapbooks and other memorabilia commemorating the history of the programs and the journey toward the creation of the centers.