Here’s a round-up of education briefs from around Southwest and Southside:
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute professor to chair prestigious cancer conference
Jennifer Munson, associate professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, is presiding as co-chair of the prestigious Physical Science of Cancer Gordon Research Conference.
Several members of her lab were also accepted to attend the conference, which began Feb. 5 in Galveston, Texas.
Munson was elected to the position by her peers in cancer research along with David Odde, a professor at the University of Minnesota.
The Gordon Research Conference series dates to 1931. The organization annually brings together 40,000 scientists at nearly 400 conferences and seminars around the world, each highlighting the latest, cutting-edge research in a wide range of scientific fields. Each conference is limited to 200 attendees, who must apply to attend.
Munson is a biomedical engineer and cancer researcher whose work focuses on how fluid moving through human tissues, including tumors, affects cancer growth.
Monet Roberts, assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics and until recently a postdoctoral associate in Munson’s lab, was selected deliver a talk at the conference.
Caleb Stine, senior research associate in the Munson Lab, will present at a symposium immediately preceding the conference. Research scientist Jessica Cunningham, postdoctoral associate Gabriela Mendes, and graduate student Cora Esparza, will all present posters at the conference.
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Emory & Henry to offer programs at Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center
Emory & Henry College has signed an agreement with the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center to bring new programs to the Abingdon Campus in healthcare and business. As a partner, Emory & Henry will have its own office at the Center to work with prospective and current students, and plan courses at the Center using its state of the art technology. The College has recently opened a School of Business and a School of Nursing in addition to its Schools of Health Sciences and School of Arts & Sciences.
“Emory & Henry College has offered higher education to regional residents for 187 years and in 2021 had the largest incoming first year class in its history and in 2022 has the most residential students on campus, setting records,” said Emory & Henry College President John Wells in a statement. “The growth is prompting new modes and locations of academic delivery including the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center and new online graduate level degrees in business, nursing, education and mental health counseling.”
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Lynchburg begins search for E.C. Glass principal
After more than a month of gathering staff, student and community input, Lynchburg City Schools (LCS) has developed a candidate profile for the E.C. Glass High School principal position and is now seeking applicants. The candidate profile, which can be found on the E.C. Glass Principal Search website (https://www.lcsedu.net/schools/ecg/about/ecg-principal-search), details the leadership characteristics and focus areas of the ideal principal candidate. Interested applicants may submit application materials to the LCS jobs website.
The application period will close at the end of the month, and LCS will hold interviews in March. LCS hopes to announce the new principal in April, based on approval from the School Board.