APSU Mondays: New nurses, artist featured, professor awards, and alumni awards

Courtesy of APSU
·3 min read

Here's the latest news from Austin Peay State University.

School of Nursing to welcome new students

The School of Nursing will celebrate incoming nursing students with a Welcome to Nursing Stethoscope Ceremony on Tuesday in Clement Auditorium from 3:45-5 p.m.

Students will receive essential nursing supplies to help them start their journey in the program. These supplies include a Littman stethoscope, pen light, scissors and a bag for their essential materials.

An APSU nursing student in the McCord Building's nursing lab during the Spring 2018 semester.
An APSU nursing student in the McCord Building's nursing lab during the Spring 2018 semester.

The event highlights students who have been accepted into the nursing program and are about to begin their first semester in Fall 2023. Therefore, every incoming nursing student will receive funding from the McCampbell Helping Hands Fund.

With this introductory ceremony, the nursing program hopes to show students that Austin Peay strives to support them throughout their collegiate experience.

The event is free for incoming Austin Peay nursing students and their families. A tour of the McCord Building and refreshments will be provided immediately following the event.

Alumnus talks artistry ahead of Nashville exhibition

Alumnus Khari Turner (2019), a Wisconsin native and accomplished artist who first ventured to Clarksville to bring the iconic Gov mascot to life, was featured on the recent Govs on the Go podcast.

Turner graduated from the Department of Art + Design in May 2019 and went on to attend graduate school at Columbia University. His work has been featured in many exhibitions, juried shows and residencies, and he was recently interviewed about his accomplishments on “The Kelly Clarkson Show.”

Khari Turner, Wisconsin native and artist.
Khari Turner, Wisconsin native and artist.

“Right now, [my] work is about history [and] the body as a body of water,” Turner said. “It doesn’t matter who you are — you’re mostly water, regardless of skin, gender or identity.”

Those concepts are reflected in Turner’s upcoming exhibition, “Resonance,” which will be hosted from Sept. 2-30 at The Red Arrow Gallery in Nashville in collaboration with artist Donté K. Hayes. He is currently working to build his artwork into a narrative about those who died in the Middle Passage, a stage of the Atlantic slave trade, surviving as beings made entirely of water.

Turner’s artwork has also been showcased on the cover of Austin Peay’s Zone 3 literary journal, as part of Hulu’s 2020 Woke Art Fest and in publications from InStyle to Forbes.

'Distinguished Professorship' winners announced

The College of Business announced the 2023 AJ Taylor Distinguished Professorship Award winners on Aug. 18, signaling the beginning of a new academic year for the college. The award is presented annually to two exceptional business faculty members who demonstrate excellence in teaching and research.

The 2023 recipients are:

  • Excellence in Teaching: Dr. John Volker, professor of management

  • Excellence in Research: Dr. Tim Self, assistant professor of hospitality management

To mark the occasion, each honoree received a special plaque and academic stipend to support their educational aspirations.

For more information about the 2023 AJ Taylor Distinguished Professorship Award winners, contact Elaina Russell at russelle@apsu.edu.

College of Arts and Letters presents Distinguished Alumni Awards

Dr. William "Buzz" Hoon, dean of APSU's College of Arts and Letters (at right), presents Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts (center) with a Distinguished Alumni Award.
Dr. William "Buzz" Hoon, dean of APSU's College of Arts and Letters (at right), presents Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts (center) with a Distinguished Alumni Award.

The College of Arts and Letters recently announced six recipients of the 2022-2023 Distinguished Alumni Awards, one from each department within the college.

Award winners are chosen annually for their exceptional achievements, significant contributions to their fields, dedicated service to their community and unwavering loyalty to the university.

"The Distinguished Alumni Awards showcase the remarkable talent and outstanding achievements of our alumni," said Dr. Buzz Hoon, dean of the College of Arts and Letters. "We are thrilled to honor these individuals who have not only excelled in their respective fields but have also remained connected to their alma mater and have made significant contributions to their communities."

This year’s recipients include:

  • Rusty Mitchell

  • Christian Hodges

  • Joe Pitts

  • Emily Pitts-Donahoe

  • Sgt. Samuel Barlow

  • Dr. Walter Riley Braem.

APSU Mondays content is provided by submissions from APSU News and Communications department.

This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: APSU Mondays: New nurses, artist featured, professor awards