Hampton University News May 7, 2014 HU Professors Assume New Leadership Roles Hampton University is very proud to announce the changing roles of two impressive and visionary faculty members, Dr. Battinto Batts and DaVida Plummer Vanderploeg. Batts is now the Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs in the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications, and Vanderploeg is now the Director of the William R. Harvey Leadership Institute. Dr. Batts is no stranger to the HU community and their goals. He received his PhD in Higher Education Management from HU in 2013. Prior to his arrival at HU, he worked in reporting, editing, and marketing positions at five major newspapers (South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Daily Press, Virginian-Pilot, and Tampa Bay Times). He began his career at HU in 2007 as an Assistant Professor in the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications. His teaching expertise focuses on the use of the Internet and mobile technology as media platforms. In 2012, he received a fellowship from the Scripps Howard Foundation to expand the study of media entrepreneurship. He was named Director of the William R. Harvey Leadership Institute in 2010. In this role, he required leadership students to complete 400 hours of service learning. Students in the Leadership Institute are now serving as mentors for high school students on the Peninsula as the result of three new partnerships. He also expanded computer access at the Leadership Institute through the support of the University and the U.S. Department of the Interior/National Park Service. Further, the Leadership Institute also raised funds for Hurricane Sandy Relief and sent 20 students to New York in order to participate in the hurricane relief effort. Vanderploeg is far from new to the HU vision and mentality as well. She received her B.S. in Journalism and the M.A. in Communications from Ohio University. In 1987, Vanderploeg taught in the Mass Media Arts Department at Hampton University. In 2012, she returned to the University as an Assistant Professor in Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications after 30 successful years as an accomplished journalist in some of the top newsrooms in the country. She is a six-time Emmy-award winner who has utilized her leadership skills as an on-camera reporter, executive producer, and news director in some of the most competitive media markets in the country (Atlanta, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Norfolk). She also garnered success as an entrepreneur when she started her own media company in 2005, DavidaVision. In her role as Assistant Professor, she has launched two "industry standard" live weekly newscasts produced and anchored exclusively by HU students; planned and hosted corporate visits from top media companies; organized the HU screening of "12 Years a Slave"; and, developed course curricula to enhance the Journalism Track. Vanderploeg has been selected as an International Center for Journalists 2014 Fellow assigned to CNBC in order to develop pipelines between the industry and HU. HU is honored to have such dedicated faculty like Batts and Vanderploeg who continue to prosper in the excelling atmosphere at our Home by the Sea. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2014meeting-form.html for the October 26-28, 2014 HBCU Library Alliance 6th Membership Meeting in Atlanta GA!