Madison Caucus for Gender Equality Steering Committee

Stephanie Baller joined the Department of Health Sciences at JMU in the Fall of 2010. She completed her Ph.D. in Health Education and Health Promotion at the University of Alabama and has been previously employed at the University of Mississippi as well as Northwest University. Her primary research interests include the interpretation of space and place and the impacts of materialism and physical activity as they relate to health and quality of life. Originally from Bellingham, Washington she enjoys reading, movies, outdoor pursuits and horseback riding.

Howard Lubert

Political Science

luberthl@jmu.edu

Howard L. Lubert was born and raised in Schenectady, New York, and attended Rutgers University, where he received his B.A., studied Political Science and English, and was a member of the Henry Rutgers Honors Program. After graduating from Rutgers he attended Duke University, where he earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science, with a focus in political philosophy. He has held full-time teaching positions at Alma College (in Alma, Michigan) and Rutgers (New Jersey). He came to James Madison University in fall, 1999 as an Assistant Professor of Political Science. Dr. Lubert has taught courses in American constitutional law, American political thought, political philosophy, federalism, race and politics, and politics and literature. He was the recipient of a 2004 National Endowment for the Humanities award for his ongoing study of federalism in the American Founding. His publications include essays on the political thought of James Otis and Thomas Hutchinson (American colonial leaders) and Benjamin Franklin, as well as an essay on the New York State Constitution.

Misty Newman

Community Service-Learning

newmanmj@jmu.edu

Misty Newman earned her B.S. in Business Administration and Public Relations at Heidelberg University and M.Ed. in College Student Personnel Administration at James Madison University. Before coming to JMU, she worked at Ashland University in Ohio. Misty has worked at JMU since 2004 in offices such as Residence Life, Financial Aid & Scholarships, and currently in Community Service-Learning. She has also been adjunct faculty for Psychology, Social Work, Individualized Study, and University Studies. Additionally, she has really enjoyed her roles with Homecoming Student Spirit Committee, Civic Mentoring, Sigma Alpha Omega, Epsilon Sigma Alpha, and Future is Female. Outside of work, Misty enjoys serving the community, serving on the Board for Patchwork Pantry, leading worship, live music, Latin dancing, being a licensed Groove facilitator, and fun runs that end at a local vineyard or cidery.

Kathy Ott Walter

Health Sciences

ottwalmk@jmu.edu

Kathy Ott Walter received her B.A. in Psychology from Kent State University (1995), M.S. in Community Health Promotion from West Virginia University (1998) and her Ph.D. in Health Education and Promotion from Kent State University (2009). Before coming to JMU she worked at the Cleveland Clinic as a Substance Abuse Trainer/Educator from 2006-2008. Kathy also worked at Ohio University from 2000-2002 at the Assistant Director for Health Education and Wellness for Substance Abuse Prevention. Prior to that she worked as a Community Development Specialist for Substance Abuse Prevention at Westbrook Health Services in Parkersburg, WV (1997-2000). Her research interests include sexuality and substance abuse/use among college students.

Erin Phillippi

Office of Research Development and Promotion

cartwree@jmu.edu

Erin E.C. Phillippi is the marketing and content coordinator in the Office of Research Development and Promotion, which is a unit of Research, Economic Development and Innovation. Before her current role, she worked in Ethical Reasoning in Action: The Madison Collaborative and the office of the Vice Provost for Faculty and Curriculum. She has also taught for the School of Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication and the International Study Center, part of Study Group USA. In previous semesters, her courses have included first-year composition, developmental writing, rhetoric and the body, banned books, and American culture. Erin earned her B.A. from Mary Baldwin College in 2005 (English major and Creative Writing minor) and her M.A. from James Madison University in 2008 (English). She likes to spend her time at the intersection of feminism, pop culture, and geekery.

Mary Thompson

English

thompsmx@jmu.edu

Dr. Mary Thompson is an Associate Professor of English and the coordinator of the Women's and Gender Studies minor, where she teaches courses in women's literature and feminist theory. Her research investigates literary and popular culture representations of reproductive justice issues, and her current research is a feminist examination of the unexpected and critically neglected role of abortion in women's life-writing narratives.