VOL. 126 | NO. 130 | Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Memphis Newsmakers
Burke Recognized As Outstanding Faculty Advisor
By Taylor Shoptaw
Tracie L. Burke, director of the Honors Program and Chair/Professor of Behavioral Sciences at Christian Brothers University has been named Tennessee’s Outstanding Faculty Advisor by the National Academic Advising Association.
BURKE
(Photo: Lance Murphey)
Hometown: Columbia Falls, Mont.
Last book read: “Superfreakonomics” by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner
Activities you enjoy outside of work: Real estate investment, my book club and activities with the She-Woman Adventure Club, which I created a few years ago to encourage myself and my friends to take time away from work to enjoy life.
Who has had the greatest influence on you? Definitely, my mom, Rosie, a hard working Montana farm woman who, at the age of 75, is still tossing hay bales, waterskiing, snowmobiling, beekeeping, flyfishing and hiking up mountains to gather huckleberries. She has been my greatest supporter and sacrificed a great deal to provide me with life changing opportunities.
What originally drew you to CBU? CBU is a very special place and you feel this when you first walk onto campus. Everyone is friendly, the campus is beautiful, and there are no more interesting and welcoming individuals than the Christian Brothers. It’s a little bit like Lake Wobegon, but with more humidity.
Why did you pursue a career in the behavioral sciences field and in teaching? I think most people have an intrinsic interest in behavior – why we do the things we do – and I was no exception, so psychology was a natural choice of major and career. Teaching, on the other hand, was not something in which I had a natural interest, but it developed somewhat suddenly when I got a call from Dr. Frank Leeming, the chair of the psychology department at the University of Memphis to teach an evening psychology class. I reticently agreed to teach the class and then asked, “When does it start?” When he answered, “Tomorrow night,” I guess that’s when my interest in teaching began. Thank you, Frank, for making that call.
What does being recognized with this award mean to you? I am so honored to receive this award. To me it means that the often overlooked value of student advising, which I consider the most important part of my job, is finally being recognized. Dr. Kelli Hefner, CBU Dean of Academic Services, deserves all the credit for this.
What do you consider your greatest professional accomplishments? I am proud of my work with the CBU Honors Program, which has developed into a multifaceted, exciting growth opportunity for its members, and I am exceedingly proud of the education we collectively provide to our CBU students.
Ben Hampton has been promoted to art director at inferno. Hampton previously served as junior art director at the agency. Heather Guess has joined inferno as public relations account coordinator. Guess previously worked as the marketing assistant for Aramark Higher Education at the University of Memphis.
Sandra Hugan-Green has been named the Emergency Room director at Methodist South Hospital. Hugan-Green’s responsibilities will include managing and controlling the activities and operations of the ER department.
Jim H. Thomas, director of golf course maintenance operations at TPC Southwind, has completed the renewal process for maintaining his status as a Certified Golf Course Superintendent with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.
The American Psychiatric Association has inducted Dr. Kenneth Sakauye as a Distinguished Life Fellow at the group’s annual meeting last month. Sakauye is director of geriatric psychiatry at UT Medical Group Inc. and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, where he serves as professor and co-chair of the psychiatry department.
Dr. Charles Blaha, professor or psychology at the University of Memphis, has received the Alumni Association Distinguished Research in the Social Sciences Award at the 24th Annual Faculty Convocation. Blaha’s research focuses on neurological diseases.
Kristen Briglia has joined Signature Advertising as digital media art director. Briglia has previous design experience in corporate communications, television, web and publishing.
Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare has recognized outstanding nurses at its recent Nursing Stars Celebration. They are Lakeshia Tillman, Jennifer Phillips, Carol Mattison, Abby Bigit, Lillian Wordlaw, Debbie Barnes, Pamela Wiseman and Tammy McGarvey.