Let Us Serve You.  Monday, April 27th from 1:30 pm to 3 pm. Enjoy refreshments served by the President and Vice Presidents in the Grove.

Trivia Contest.  Monday, April 27th at 4:45 pm in the Coffeehouse.  Get your team of four together for fun and prizes. Contact Jason Gribek at jgribek@aug.edu for more info.

Recognition Breakfast.  Tuesday, April 28th at 8:00 am in the Ballroom.  Invitation only to those employees celebrating milestone anniversaries (hired in a year ending in 4 or 9)

Bingo.  Tuesday, April 28th at 4:45 pm in the Coffeehouse. Enjoy refreshments, fun and prizes.

Progressive Snacking.  Wednesday, April 29th from 1 pm to 3 pm.  Make plans for your department to participate in this popular event.  Camilla Reid will be providing all the details.

Employee Recognition Ceremony.  Thursday, April 30th at 11:00 am in the Maxwell Theatre. Followed by a delicious lunch for all.

Friday Fun. Friday, May 1st from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Maxwell Theatre.  Calling all talented ASU employees to  share your talents in a relaxing atmosphere.  Bring a lunch or order from Food Services.

In the summer of 1998, Clayton Shotwell, associate professor of music, was transformed into Boubacan Keita. The name Boubacan means explorer and Keita refers to the king who solidified the Mali Empire by bringing everyone together to form one community. And explorer is one word that accurately describes Dr. Shotwell, for he has travelled all over the world and is now using world music to bring students a unique understanding of the world and how we live in it.

Dr. Shotwell’s passion in ethnomusicology, the study of how music functions in all cultures, is reflected in his playing of hand-made drums. On one of his expeditions to the African country of Mali, Dr. Shotwell had hand-crafted drums made, which he now incorporates into his classes. He also takes the drums to local schools and teaches the children the art of African drumming. With these drums, he teaches American students a new way of communicating.

When Dr. Shotwell brings his drums to class, he gives little instruction. “For me, it’s not about teaching African culture, it’s about expressing yourself and letting yourself go—mind and body,” he says.

He has his students form a circle; he explains the three main rhythms or patterns; and then, he lets them play. He emphasizes that there is no wrong way to play these drums. He encourages students to relax and enjoy the moment. It is all about expressing oneself, moving the body and being in the moment.

In the past, he has used the drums for music therapy at Walton Rehabilitation as well as helped form a drumming community at Fort Gordon.

Dr. Shotwell’s teaching is shaped by his education and, more importantly, by his life experiences. “The problems in this world are problems of consciousness. You have to change the people before you can change the problem,” he says.

Dr. Shotwell received his bachelor’s degree in music from Hastings College and master and doctoral degrees from the University of Minnesota.

Name: Clayton M. Shotwell

Position: Associate Professor of Music and World Humanities

Time at ASU: 14 years

Family: wife, Cindy, is a retired nurse from Walton Rehabilitation; he has two sons as well as two dogs

Little known facts: An environmentalist, he is setting his home up to run on solar power. He says he is proud to be a product of the 60’s Berkeley, Calif., culture. And he starts most of his stories with “To make a short story long…”

Hobbies: He is developing his gardening skills and is passionate about growing as much of his own food as possible. He also enjoys making new things out of old materials.

Faculty members who were granted tenure include Edgar Johnson, assistant professor of communications; Randall Miller, assistant professor of political science; Ying Wang, assistant professor of mathematics; Judi Wilson, assistant chair of the Department of Teacher Education; Sharon Lorenti, assistant professor of nursing; Beth Pendergraft, assistant professor of early childhood education; Camilla Reid, assistant professor of library science and associate director of Reese Library; Robert Smalley, assistant professor of accounting; and Steven Weiss, associate professor of philosophy.

Promotions include the following to the rank of associate professor: Georgina Hammock, assistant professor of psychology; Jeff Heck, assistant professor of library science; Edgar Johnson, assistant professor of communications; Randall Miller, assistant professor of political science; Ying Wang, assistant professor of mathematics; and Judi Wilson, assistant chair of the Department of Teacher Education.

To professor: Kimberly Davies, chair of the Department of Sociology, Criminal Justice, and Social Work; Donald Howard, associate professor of marketing; Paul Harris, associate professor of political science; Martin David Jones, associate professor of music;

Clayton Shotwell, associate professor of music; and Jennifer Onofrio, associate professor of art.

Augusta State University is a unit of the University System of Georgia, a public institution located in the second largest city in Georgia. With more than 60 programs of study leading to associate, bachelor, master, and specialist degrees, the university enrolls more than 6,500 diverse students and has over 200 outstanding full-time faculty and 300 dedicated staff members.