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Faculty, staff and student briefs

Ding-Geng Chen, Wallace H. Kuralt Distinguished Professor, was named a Fellow of the American Statistical Association (ASA), the nation’s preeminent professional statistical society. To be recognized as an ASA Fellow, honorees must make outstanding professional contributions to and have exhibited leadership in the field of statistical science. Chen was honored “For leadership and influential contributions in biostatistics research; for leadership and prominent research contributions in public health; for major contributions to biostatistical methodology; and excellent in teaching and mentoring; and for prodigious and significant service to the profession.” Chen was awarded a certificate at a ceremony on Aug. 2, at the 2016 Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM 2016) in Chicago.
 
Clinical Assistant Professor Jodi Flick presented training for the military at Cherry Point on Aug. 5, on the effects of child maltreatment on brain development. She also led training on suicide intervention for 12 local law enforcement agencies (part of their 40 hours for Crisis Intervention Training) on Aug. 4. She presented three sessions at the AHEC conference at the Annual Children’s Services State of the Art Conference in late August.

Coordinator of Student Affairs Annie Francis was among a group of women selected for the “2016 Women to Watch,” a recognition by the American Indian Women of Proud Nations. The Women to Watch award recognizes American Indian women who are making a difference in their tribal communities and who have shown leadership potential. Francis, who is a member of the Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe, was recognized during a ceremony in early August at the Ninth Annual Conference for American Indian Women of Proud Nations in Nashville, N.C.

Philip Kaufman was selected as the School’s new IT Manager for CITU. Kaufman has more than 15 years of experience working with instructional technology and learning management systems at the University and provided technology leadership to the LEARN NC program. Most recently, he served as a project manager for an international e-commerce company. Kaufman is passionate about using technology to support teaching, learning and research and is happy about returning to the University.

Karen Kornegay has joined the School of Social Work as director of external communications and marketing. Previously, she worked for 12 years at UNC’s Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, where she managed communications and marketing for the center and for the North Carolina Science Festival. Kornegay earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from UNC and her master’s degree in adult education from Appalachian State University.

Melissa Lippold presented in August at the UNC School of Government on Adolescent Development. The talk was part of a course on child development for North Carolina judges.

Sara Harwood Mitra joined the School’s Global Social Development Innovations (GSDI) center as research project manager. Sara received her MSW and MPH from the University of North Carolina in 2016 and BA in International Affairs and Journalism from the University of Georgia in 2007. She has broad experience working with global organizations, including RTI International, UNC Department of Family Medicine, and SIL International. Before coming to UNC, she worked as the communications manager at SIL International’s office in Washington, D.C. and as a language education and development fellow at SIL International’s office in Dhaka, Bangladesh. In her role at GSDI, Sara is looking forward to being a part of the school’s growing global impact in social development research practices.

About 25 colleagues, friends and family members gathered on Aug. 16 to honor Clinical Assistant Professor Worth Bolton, who is retiring after a 40-year career as a treatment provider, clinical supervisor, mentor, trainer, teacher and consultant. Bolton, who began his tenure in 1997 at UNC, was celebrated with food and fellowship at Mama Dip’s in Chapel Hill, one of Bolton’s favorite restaurants. Bolton has spent his entire career assisting people with substance use problems to find help and health. At the School of Social Work, he served as the director of the Certificate Program in Substance Abuse Studies. Over the course of his career, Bolton has worked with community organizations, professional associations and state and national substance use disorder authorities to ensure that practice informs policy. He has influenced many across the state, impacting students, practitioners, veterans, policymakers and people seeking recovery. Those who gathered for his celebration, including colleagues with the School’s Behavioral Healthcare Resource Program, spoke highly of his contributions and service to the substance abuse population and of his general kindness, generosity and willingness to help anyone in need. Bolton was presented with a watch, featuring the UNC seal on the face and the engraved message on the back: “Thank you from your BHRP Family.”