Position/Job Title: Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, Department of Sociology, Criminal Justice, and Social Work

What do you like most about ASU: When I first visited, the historic buildings and giant trees on campus really captured my attention. Working here, I love the sense of community and our relatively small size. I get to know my students better and that makes my job more rewarding. Plus, my colleagues are wonderful. It means a lot to work with people who really do care about our students, their learning, and the university as a whole.

What are your research interests: My research areas include gender, crime and delinquency, corrections, program evaluation, feminist and qualitative methods, and feminist and criminological theories. I specialize in the study and evaluation of programs implemented with female juvenile offenders, and those that incorporate animals such as dogs and horses into their therapy and curricula.

Prior to coming to ASU, where did you work: For years, I reviewed delinquency prevention and treatment programs for a research institute called the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence at the University of Colorado. Before that, I did a few different jobs at the Payne County Drug Court in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Hobbies: I love to travel, cook (when I have time), and see live music performances.

Little known fact: I jinx whatever college football team I live closest to and it’s been happening since high school. Sorry, Dawgs.

Family: My family and friends are spread out all over the country. Right now, I have two 9 month old kittens named Greta and Parson.

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Years at ASU: 24

Position/Job Title: Professor, Department of Music

What do you like most about ASU: Small class sizes, faculty commitment, and collegiality

What are your research interests: The Music of African Americans, vocal accompaniments

Prior to coming to ASU, where did you work: Benedict College, Columbia, S.C.; Charleston County School District 20

Hobbies: Reading, traveling, having fun with friends

Little known fact: I make a great old-fashioned pound cake!

Family: Husband, the late Hernan A. Floyd

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“Trials are blessings, and they help unlock the gifts we have within us,” Cheatham said. “My parents were very supportive, and they always encouraged me to pursue my dreams, which included learning more about art.”

As a child, Cheatham says he remembers his mother painting and always making sure that he was exposed to the artworks of great artists. He believes those moments helped mold him into the printmaker he is today.

“Some of my greatest influences are Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Giorgio Morandi, Robert Motherwell, and Milton Avery,” Cheatham said. “The works of these men are such inspiration in letting me know that something simple can still have content.”

Cheatham enlisted in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War and was stationed in Georgetown. Although this was a tumultuous time in America, Cheatham says it felt as if his passion for art continued to call him since he was stationed near the culturally rich town of Washington, D.C.  After serving four years in the military, Cheatham enrolled in the Atlanta College of Art and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Upon graduation, he attended the University of Georgia and earned a master’s degree in fine arts.

Throughout his career, Cheatham has conducted lectures and workshops for many organizations including the University of Georgia’s Italian Studies Abroad Program in Cortona, Italy, and the Virginia Technical Institute’s Third World Forestry Program in Nicaragua. He has served as the curator of numerous art exhibitions, and he has won several awards including the Lamar Dodd Art Center Purchase Award, the Georgia Artist of Excellence, and the Georgia Council for the Arts Artist Initiated Grant. He also has participated in over five solo exhibitions as well as group exhibitions including The Cow Show at the Madison Morgan Cultural Center and American Art at the Swann Gallery in New York City.

Cheatham is also a member of several professional organizations including the Jack Davis Foundation, the Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art’s Advisory Board, and the McDuffie County Museum. He also is the former president of the Board of Trustees for the Activities Council of Thomson.

Name: Jackson Cheatham
Position: Director of ASU’s Mary S. Byrd Gallery of Art
Years at ASU: 9 years
Family: Wife, Connie; daughter, Jessica; son, Jackson, Jr.; and granddaughter, Emma.

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“I have always had a love for photography,” Cross said. “I use to take pictures for my high school newspaper, and I just really enjoyed the process.”

Cross, a native of Portland, Ore., says she remembers using her love for photography as a way to help her high school get through one of their most traumatic experiences.

“Several of our students and faculty were killed in a snow storm, and it really devastated the school as well as the community,” Cross said. “As a way to help us move forward, I developed a montage of pictures that celebrated the strength of the students, faculty, and community. Little did I know that the school administrators would eventually use my work as a recruitment piece for the school.”

After graduating from high school, Cross’ passion for photography led her to Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in special studies with a concentration in art.

Upon graduation, Cross decided to move to Iowa City to be closer to her relatives. Little did she know that this would also be the city where she would meet her future husband, Edgar Johnson, professor in ASU’s Department of Communications and Professional Writing.

“Since I had just moved to the city, I hosted my own housewarming party, and one of my friends invited Edgar,” Cross said. “The story of how we met still amuses me today.”

Shortly thereafter, Cross and Johnson were married. The couple relocated to Augusta in 2004, and Cross began working at the Charleston Street Florist. She joined ASU’s Department of Learning Support in 2006 and later moved to the Office of Admissions in her current role as admissions services coordinator.

“I love what I do here at ASU because I am still able to use some of my photography skills in my position,” Cross said. “The people here are loads of fun. There is such a sense of community, and the people are smart, fun, and dedicated to their work.”

When she is not working, Cross enjoys attending concerts and art exhibitions with her family. She also volunteers as a junior leader of the Evans Service Unit’s Girl Scout Troup 20711.

Name: Carol Cross
Position: Admissions service coordinator
Years at ASU: 5 years
Family: Edgar, husband; Lucy, daughter
Pets: 3 cats
Little known fact: Carol Cross is married to ASU Communications Professor Edgar Johnson.

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Even though she enjoys all these activities, Abdelnur finds immense satisfaction conducting research in the fields of the African diaspora, gender, under represented populations, and Colonial Spanish American history.

Early in her academic career, she participated in a six week intensive program in Guatemala to complete her degree in linguistics offered by Tulane University. While there, she studied the Kaqchikel Maya language. “It was just fantastic. The culture, sights, sounds; I never wanted to leave. I fell in love with Central America,” says the Boston native.

She returned to Tulane University and began an interdisciplinary program in Latin American studies. However, she had still had plans of one day going back to Guatemala. A few years later, Abdelnur was back in Guatemala as a Fulbright Hayes scholar conducting her dissertation research.

After completing her research, she and her growing family moved to Illinois. Abdelnur had landed her first job as an assistant professor at Blackburn College. It was during her third year at Blackburn that she was afforded the opportunity to interview for a position in ASU’s Department of History, Anthropology, and Philosophy.

“When I came to campus for the interview, after meeting the faculty it seemed it was the perfect group of eclectic folks.  I haven’t regretted it since. Everything about the CSRA and the university has been good for my family in general,” says Abdelnur.

An active member in her discipline, she is a recipient of the Georgia Consortium for International Studies (GCIS) Junior Faculty Internationalization Award. Abdelnur has served as a GCIS committee member representing ASU for the past two years and has served as committee chair. She recently was appointed to serve as secretary for the organization.

Abdelnur received her bachelor and master degrees from Tulane University and her doctorate from Texas Christian University.

Name: Heather Abdelnur
Position: Associate Professor of History
How long at ASU? 4 years
Little known facts: She quilts. “I worked at The Quilt Shop in New Orleans in the French Quarter for six years.”
Family: Husband, Abdelkhalig; son, Dahrius, 12; daughter, Norah, 6

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“When I was told that I was selected , I was truly surprised,” said Melton. “ I am very appreciative that my coworkers would choose me for such an award.”

Nominations for the Employee of the Quarter awards are submitted by Physical Plant employees. A list of nominees is compiled, and supervisors select the finalist based on the following categories: quality of work, job knowledge, attendance, dependability, and cooperation, and initiative, quality of personality, fellowship, and attitude.

Before joining ASU in 1999, Melton worked for several years as an engineer with Lily- Tulips Cup Corporation in Augusta, Ga.

Melton, a husband and a father of two, says he enjoys working at ASU and the employees have made it like a second home to him.

“We have some of the best workers here, as well as great supervisors”, said Melton. “ Not everyone can say they enjoy coming to work, but I can.”

When Melton is not working, he says enjoys bowling, traveling, and listening to “good ole” gospel music at Pineview Church.

Name: Gerald Melton
Position: HVAC II Mechanic
Years at ASU: 13

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“I work primarily in acrylic and mixed media. My art is considered to be feminist art; I don’t usually reference men in my work,” says Payne, who was recently named president of the Art Guild of Columbia County.

The Puerto Rico native also provides private art instruction. In 2010, she received first place recognition in the Fort Gordon Spring Fest 2010 Art Exhibition and Competition for a painting titled Old San Juan. She is currently working on the Art After Dark event for Columbia County as well as a couple of art pieces that will be on display at Queensborough Bank next year.

When not contributing to the local arts community, Payne can be found on campus either instructing students on how to conduct research or at work in the Reese Library.

“I work with different departments and focus the class instruction to their particular project or course work. I will soon be working with Dr. Drews on a class for women’s studies,” says Payne. “They are doing a Take Action Project where the students go into the community to identify social issues. Once the students have collected the information, they will then have to find library and government resources to verify their research.”

Payne’s personal research interest is in Native American and women/gender issues throughout history and culture. Her interest in culture is reflected in a her desire to learn new languages. She is fluent in Spanish and English, and she knows American Sign Language, some German, and Japanese. She hopes to learn Arabic and Russian.

As the government information librarian, Payne has been very active in various aspects of the library. She has served as president of the CSRA Library Association and founded the CSRA Library Association Conference which is held annually. The conference was created to help enhance the usefulness and efficiency of libraries.

She received her bachelor’s degree from Augusta State University and master’s degree in library science from Drexel University.

Name: Yadira Payne
Position:  Assistant Professor of Library Science / Government Information Librarian
How long at ASU: 5 years
Family:  Husband, Nate; daughter, Emerald and son, Daniel
What I like most about ASU:  “I like that it is both small and large at the same time. Not a tiny campus but it is small enough that you get to know students and faculty and get to relax with them,” says Payne.
Little known fact: When her daughter was young she joined 4-H club and decided to take up archery. Because Payne had to supervise the children in the class, she decided to take the train-the-trainer class. Due to her interest, she became an archery instructor.

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After graduating from ASU with a degree in communications and sociology, Harris began working at NBC Augusta as a weekend associate producer and was quickly promoted to producer of the station’s weekly program NBC Augusta at 11a. m. In 2008, Harris returned to Augusta State to accept her current position. In this role, she hosted the university’s radio show produced by Radio One/Perry Broadcasting, ASU Reports On-Air, in which faculty and administrators shared their expertise with radio audiences.

Harris says she used the knowledge she gained from working in television and public relations to become the host and producer of her own radio show, The Playlist, in 2010. The show aired every Sunday on Street Hymns Radio-WKZK.  In 2011, the program moved to television with the new name Danielle’s Playlist and now airs every second and fourth Sunday on Comcast Channel 4 at 6:30 p.m.

“I believe the impossible is possible and anything can be achieved when you are focused and surrounded by the right people,” Harris said. “I believe it is my faith, the support of my family, and the timely advice from my professors that have helped me reach some of my goals.”

Harris is the founder and CEO of Sanctified Diva, Inc., a mentoring program for women. She defines Sanctified Diva as a woman who is D-ivinely I-ntuned and V-ictoriously A-ssured (DIVA).

In July, she held the first Sanctified Diva Conference in Augusta, and more than 500 women attended. “It was an honor to see women of all nationalities and of all ages embracing who they are,” Harris said. “It was a life-changing experience, and I can’t wait to do it again next year.”

The 26-year-old Augusta, Ga., native is very active in the New Life Worship Center, where her parents, Claude and Regina Harris, are the pastors.

She is currently writing a book on dating, which is set to be released in the summer of 2012.

Harris also is enrolled in ASU’s College of Education master’s degree program in educational leadership and is scheduled to complete the program in December. Last week, Harris was tapped for membership in the university’s chapter of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

Name: Danielle Harris
Position: Media Relations Specialist
Years at ASU: 3 Years
Little known fact: Harris is a graduate of the John Casablanca Modeling and Career Center. She has appeared in local commercials and done promotional work for V8 Splash.
Family: Claude and Regina, parents; and Claude, Jr., brother

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Zhang, a native of Dingzhou, China, began a path toward the world of business when she received her bachelor’s degree in English from Nankai University in Tianjin, China. Although choosing the major was not her decision, she said it helped to place her in the right direction.

“My mother is a high school English teacher; at that time in China, your parents decided your college major,” Zhang said. “However, I knew the next step in my school career would be my choice.”

Zhang developed an interest in business after a friend shared stories and experiences with her. Her newfound passion for business led her to the University of Oklahoma, Norman, where she obtained master’s degrees in management information systems and business administration.

“I like to learn everything, and my first economy class just interested me,” Zhang said. “It was so much different from how I was taught in China, and everything that I learned about business seemed to be so practical.”

Zhang continued studying business at the University of North Texas in Denton where she earned her doctoral degree in information technology and decision sciences. While attending UNT, Zhang also met her husband, Clinton Amos, ASU marketing professor. “We both were doctoral students, and we met while working in the office,” Zhang said.

Before she joined the ASU faculty in 2008, she taught business statistics and management information systems at the College of Charleston. She now serves in the Hull College of Business, teaching courses such as Human Computer Interaction, Operation Management, and Management Information Systems. She also works with Study Abroad in the university’s China Study Abroad Program.

Zhang has coauthored several articles that have been published in respected periodicals such as the Information Systems Management, the Entrepreneurship Journal of Organizational and End User Computing, and CyberPsychology & Behavior.

In 2009, she received the Charles Goeldner Best Paper Award for her research titled The Effect of Online Information Search on Image Development: Insights from a Mixed Method Study, which was published in the Journal of Travel Research.

In July, she finished her latest research, Content and Design Trends of Chinese Corporate Web Homepages. In this study that compares the homepages of China’s top 500 companies with those of Fortune 500, she discovered 93 percent of the homepages of Chinese companies contain animations such as rotating text and pop-ups. Whereas, many of the web pages of American companies use very little animation or flash features. She also discovered that the Chinese websites reflect the culture of the society by offering the consumer information on social responsibility and the work of the Communist Party of China. Many companies also reserve a page for consumers to dialogue with various staff members of the company.

Zhang hopes to publish the results from this study sometime in the near future.

Name: Grace Zhang
Position: Associate professor in the Hull College of Business
Years at ASU: 3 years
Family: Husband, Clinton Amos, Hull College
Hobbies: When she is not working, Zhang enjoys hiking, reading, and canoeing.

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“This is definitely an honor for me,” said Fiocchi. “To know that my coworkers thought I should be given this award still amazes me.”

In May, Fiocchi graduated from Augusta State. He earned a bachelor’s degree in education while working full time at ASU. Fiocchi, a husband and a father of three, says his schedule throughout the week included both conducting his student teaching at Evans High School and working 40 hours on ASU’s campus.

“I’m thankful to have the support of my family and coworkers,” said Fiocchi. “There were times when I felt overwhelmed, but I knew I had to stay focused if I wanted to reach my goal.”  Last month, Fiocchi received his teaching certificate, and he hopes to become a high school social studies teacher.

• Name: Timothy Fiocchi
• Position: Groundskeeper
• Years at ASU: 5
• Family: Wife, Ashleigh; daughters, Dasia, 12; Tristin, 5; and Allie, 2

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