faculty research

Heller publishes research in scientific journal

Erin Heller Research conducted by Randolph biology professor Erin Heller was recently published in the journal Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases. The article, “Passerine birds as hosts for Ixodes ticks infected with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto in southeastern Virginia,” details the work Heller and a group of other researchers completed while surveying nearly 1,800 passerine, or perching,... READ MORE >>

Randolph professor discusses research in new webinar series

Psychology professor Sara Beck lectures during one of her classes at Randolph

Randolph psychology professor Sara Beck recently brought her research about children and their engagement with music to a new webinar series created by opera singer Renée Fleming. Music and Mind with Renée Fleming, which launched in mid-May, features Fleming talking to experts in fields like childhood development, healthy aging, pain and anxiety management, and rehabilitation... READ MORE >>

Schwartz studies rewilding efforts in Holland, Germany

Schwartz walks along the Green Belt in Germany

Last week David Schwartz, Professor of Philosophy and the Mary Frances Williams Chair in Humanities, conducted research in various rewilding sites in Holland and Germany. The work supported a current project on the ethical issues raised by environmental rewilding. According to the Oxford Research Encyclopedia, rewilding is the process of maintaining or even increasing biodiversity... READ MORE >>

Rumore, Miller present equine research at IAHAIO Conference

Jo Anne Miller (left) and Amanda Rumore

Biology professor Amanda Rumore and adjunct equine studies professor Jo Anne Miller recently presented research at the 15th Triennial International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations (IAHAIO) Conference. Held in April, the conference was hosted by Green Chimneys in Brewster, N.Y. Their research, “Equine-Assisted Learning Combined with Traditional Tutoring Reduces the High School Drop Out Rate... READ MORE >>

Randolph mathematics professor publishes papers, organizes workshop

Michael Penn

Randolph math professor Michael Penn has published two new works. The first was co-authored with Chris Sadowski of Ursinus College and Corina Calenescu of the City University of New York and was titled “Principal subspaces of higher level twisted A22 modules.” The article was published in the journal, Algebras and Representation Theory, and is the... READ MORE >>

Sojka approved for tenure

Sarah Sojka

The Randolph College Board of Trustees recently approved Sarah Sojka, a physics and environmental studies professor, for tenure. She was also promoted from assistant to associate professor, effective July 1. Prior to coming to Randolph in 2013, Sojka received her undergraduate degree in environmental studies-public policy from Eckerd College and her master’s degree and Ph.D.... READ MORE >>

Randolph professor’s article in Good Beer Hunting inspires new brew

J. Nikol Beckham

Communication studies professor J. Nikol Jackson-Beckham continues to receive national recognition for her research on the craft brewing industry and her role as the first diversity ambassador for the Brewers Association. Most recently, her work inspired the creation of a new beer at a Charlottesville, Va. brewery. In December, Jackson-Beckham published a research-based article in... READ MORE >>

Randolph professor featured in New York Times for work as diversity ambassador in brewing industry

Janel Jackson-Beckham

J. Nikol Jackson-Beckham, a Randolph communication studies professor, has made national headlines recently as the first-ever diversity ambassador for the Brewers Association. On January 11, Columbus Business First published an article about her keynote at the fifth annual Ohio Craft Brewers Conference in Columbus, Ohio. And on January 14, she was featured in The New York Times... READ MORE >>

Bessenger visits Bhutan for research on Tibetan Buddhist religious biographies

Professor Suzanne Bessenger in front of Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Paro, Bhutan

This summer, religious studies professor Suzanne Bessenger traveled to Bhutan for research on the role of non-monastic Buddhist practices described in the 14th Century biographies of the female saint Sönam Peldren and her husband and scribe, Rinchen Pel. Bessenger consulted Tshering Dhendup, dean of academic affairs at the College of Language and Culture Studies in... READ MORE >>

Rumore published in top immunology research journal

Amanda Rumore

Randolph biology professor Amanda Rumore co-authored a paper that was published in Frontiers in Immunology, which is one of the top academic journals in the field. The article is titled “Innate Immunity Induced by the Major Allergen Alt a 1 from the Fungus Alternaria is Dependent Upon Toll-like Receptors 2/4 Lung Epithelial Cells” and was... READ MORE >>