Fisher Community Making News
Faculty, staff, and students at St. John Fisher University make headlines every day. Here’s a round-up of recent accomplishments.
Conferences and Presentations
Last month, Dr. Yi Liu, assistant professor of finance in the School of Business, presented during a poster session at the Financial Therapy Association (FTA) conference. Her poster was based on a recent research publication, “Personality Traits and Student Loan Holding for Self and for Children Among Baby Boomers.” Her work, completed with coauthors Thomas Korankye and Blain Pearson, was shared in the Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning and explores the relationship between personality traits and student loan indebtedness among U.S. baby boomers.
Dr. Timothy M. Franz, professor and chair of psychology, presented to nearly 300 people at the Partha Ghosh Academy of Leadership at the India Institute of Technology. Franz presented alongside Dr. Seth Silver, an expert in the field of organizational psychology. They shared insights from their book, Meaningful Partnership at Work: How the Workplace Covenant Ensures Mutual Accountability and Success between Leaders and Teams.
Student Sophia Ross recently traveled to the national Forum for Undergraduate Student Editors conference at Geneseo. She represented ANGLES, Fisher’s literary magazine.
Dr. Daniel J. Connolly, dean of the School of Business, was featured in a WalletHub story about Liberty Mutual Review. In the piece, Connolly offers his opinion on how the company distinguishes itself from the competition.
Dr. Julie Berkhof ’23 (DNP), a graduate of the Wegmans School of Nursing, presented her research at the International Society of Geriatric Oncology in Valencia, Spain. Her research was one of 200 presentations accepted into the session. Her research explores the impact nursing can make in geriatric screening.
Dr. Joanne Weinschreider, director of experiential learning at the Wegmans School of Nursing, recently published doctoral research in Nurse Education Today. Her grounded theory research, which was completed at the University at Buffalo, was related to how nursing graduates develop electronic health record competency during their transition to nursing practice period.
Dr. Carol Wittmeyer, director of the Family Business Program at Fisher, has engaged in several presentations and activities related to family business. In October, she presented at the Cornell Family Business Conference and a webinar for the Family Business Alliance, through Wilkes University and Penn State Scranton.
Additionally, Wittmeyer served as a judge for the Cornell Case Competition for Family Ownership - Cornell Team Selection Application. The winner of the competition will represent Cornell in the Cornell Case Competition for Family Ownership in February 2024.
Hawkins Dynamics, an international company that specializes in force plate hardware and software, featured the sport science research conducted by Fisher students and faculty on their blog. Dr. Robert Enck, visiting assistant professor of physics and sport science research coordinator, uses a set of Hawkin Dynamics force plates and an isometric testing rig in his work with students.
Awards and Accolades
Courtney Polimeni ’13, a graduate of the Wegmans School of Nursing, won a national essay contest on humanism as the foundation of caring. Her essay details her time working in the Kessler Burn/Trauma ICU at Strong Memorial Hospital. The top prize receives $1,000 and essays are published in Academic Medicine and The Journal of Professional Nursing in the 2023 fall issues. Polimeni’s essay (PDF) can be read here. Polimeni is currently a doctor of nursing practice student enrolled in the Family Nurse Practitioner program at Washington State University.
Fisher student Dawn Zygnierski was recently named one of five Civic Innovation Scholars by Partners for Campus-Community Engagement. As a scholar, she will receive a $1,000 for the civic engagement work she is doing on campus and within the local community. The purpose of Civic Innovation Scholarships is to encourage and support the civic innovations of the next generation of undergraduate leaders. This scholarship program is open to students who have innovative ideas for addressing local civic problems, either on campus or in the local community. Zygnierski’s project will focus on sustainability practices, specifically creating a pathway to reuse or recycle electronic “waste” on campus.
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