October faculty and staff features

Cindy Munro, Ph.D., R.N., School of Nursing
Munro, professor in the Department of Adult Health and Nursing Systems in the VCU School of Nursing, has received a $1.8 million continuation grant from the National Institutes of Health. The four-year grant allows Munro to expand on her previous research started five years ago on the impact of chlorhexidine — antibacterial mouthwash — on critically ill patients. Her first study revealed that chlorhexidine did reduce pneumonia in patients without a high pneumonia score. In this study, the team will examine the impact of administering chlorhexidine earlier in the process, just before the patient is intubated. 

David Wojahn, professor and director of creative writing, Department of English
Wojahn received the Carole Weinstein Poetry Prize on Oct. 17 at the 11th Annual Library of Virginia Literary Awards honoring Virginia authors.

Wojahn, the author of six collections of poetry, was selected by the prize’s Board of Curators. The Weinstein Prize is awarded each year to a poet with strong connections to central Virginia. The $10,000 annual prize recognizes significant recent contribution to the art of poetry and is awarded on the basis of a range of achievement in the field of poetry.
Wojahn was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2007 for his most recent collection of poetry, “Interrogation Palace: New and Selected Poems 1982-2004.” 

Mark Fenske, professor of creative, VCU Brandcenter
Fenske recently was honored as an ADC Grandmaster by the Art Director’s Club, a New York-based organization of the most talented creatives in advertising, design and visual communications. This year marked the first time that the club had presented the awards, and Fenske was one of just five educators to be recognized.

Joseph Seipel, senior associate dean for academic affairs and director of graduate studies, School of the Arts
Seipel was re-elected to serve a second three-year term as Virginia’s representative on the Board of Directors of the Southeastern College Art Conference (SECAC). Seipel was re-elected during the 2008 annual meeting of SECAC in New Orleans. SECAC facilitates cooperation and fosters ongoing exploration of pertinent creative, scholarly and educational issues between teachers and administrators in universities, colleges, community colleges, professional art schools and museums. The organization represents 12 states, as well as individual members across the United States and abroad.

Nelson Wikstrom, Ph.D., professor of political science and public administration, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs
The Henrico County Board of Supervisors has appointed Wikstrom to a three-year term on the Henrico 2011 Celebration Advisory Commission. The 12-person panel, made up of business, education and community leaders, is planning a series of events for the yearlong celebration of Henrico’s 400th anniversary in 2011.

Wikstrom teaches Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations, and State and Local Government and Politics in the Wilder School. He is the recipient of many awards and honors and has received several research grants. He is the author of numerous published papers and books, including “Councils of Governments” and “The Political World of a Small Town.”