Stetson University in the News, Aug. 24 – Sept. 6, 2019

A woman sits at a computer with Stetson in the News on the screen

Top Stories:

Christopher J. Ferguson, Ph.D., Stetson University
Christopher Ferguson, PhD

• Stetson Psychology Professor Christopher Ferguson, PhD, was quoted Aug. 29 in a New York Times Parenting article titled, “When Gamers Become Parents, Finding Balance Is Next Level.” Ferguson noted the stress-relieving aspect of video games, especially in the context of balancing parenting duties. “Games are stress-reducing and children are not,” Ferguson said.

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Stuart Michelson

• Roland and Sarah George Professor of Finance and Chair of Finance Stuart Michelson, PhD, was quoted in the Aug. 27 U.S. News & World Report story, “7 Differences Between Real Estate Funds and REITs.” In contrast with Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), Michelson said, “Real estate funds generally increase in value through appreciation and generally do not provide short-term income to investors.”

• Three Stetson professors were mentioned in the Orlando Sentinel for recent career moves: Sara K. Gramata, MBA, Prasad Nanisetty, PhD, and Matthew Hurst, PhD. Gramata recently joined the Stetson faculty team as an assistant professor of practice and was appointed the director of the sport business program. Nanisetty, a finance professor, was appointed as the interim Roland and Sarah George Professor of Investments. Professor Hurst of the Finance Department was appointed interim director for the Roland and Sarah George Investments Institute.

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Max Cleland, ’64

• Alumnus and former U.S. Senator Max Cleland, a Vietnam War veteran, was quoted in The New York Times article, “PTSD Made Him Walk Away From Public Life. Now He’s Heading Back,” on Aug. 25. Regarding the stigma of PTSD and mental health issues in the political sphere, Cleland said, “We never talked about it, because we couldn’t – you couldn’t say you were having problems and still be elected.”

• Law Professor Ciara Torres-Spelliscy wrote an Aug. 23 perspective piece for The Washington Post called, “Everyone is talking about 1619. But that’s not actually when slavery in America started.” She was also interviewed on NPR’s The Takeaway on the same topic in a piece called, “Beyond 1619: Slavery Under the Spanish Crown.”

• Stetson graduate student Lisha B. Day recently was recognized in a National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) foundation press release for her honor of being selected as the recipient of a $10,000 counseling fellowship to support her education and service of underprivileged minority populations.

LAW-Spelliscy
Ciara Torres-Spelliscy

• Law Professor Ciara Torres-Spelliscy was quoted in an Aug. 24 article in The Boston Globe called, “In the 2020 race, campaign swag matters. Can anyone top Trump’s MAGA hat?” 

Other News:

Visiting Assistant Professor of Health Sciences Ronette Lategan-Potgieter, PhD, was quoted in an Aug. 26 article in The Community Health Magazine titled, “Sugary drinks can pack a major punch to your gut and your health.” According to Lategan-Potgieter, “The main concern with sugary beverages is the amount of ‘easily consumed’ calories that are provided with very little or no other micronutrients.”

• Former Professor K.C. Ma, PhD, director of Stetson’s Roland George investments program, was among the experts referenced to in the LowestRates.ca article on Aug. 23, entitled, “Negative interest rates: Why some banks are paying people to have a mortgage.

• Law Professor Ellen Podgor was quoted in a Sept. 3 article in Politico titled, “Greg Craig trial shows dangers of self-lawyering.” 

• Joann Grages Burnett, associate director in the Career and Professional Development department, was featured in the Florida Bar News in a press release, “Stetson Law professional development conference wins ABA award.”

• Stetson University College of Law’s upcoming free consumer protection fair in partnership with AARP was featured in the Pinellas County Business News section of Tampa Bay Newspapers Beach Beacon

portrait in a gown at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony
Rebecca Morgan

• Law Professor Rebecca C. Morgan wrote an Aug. 30 blog called, “Accessibility of Elder Housing-What Happens When the Elevator is Out of Order?” for the Elder Law Prof Blog that includes a guest post by Law Professor Mark D. Bauer. She also posted a Sept. 3 blog called, “Financial Fraud in US Upcoming Conference” on Elder Law Prof Blog. Professor Morgan wrote a Sept. 4 blog called, “Assisted Living – Is It the Right Option for Assistance in Living?” for the Elder Law Prof Blog. 

• Law Professor Ciara Torres-Spelliscy was quoted in an Aug. 23 interview with WFSU called, “Scott Maddox Is Still Listed As a Candidate For State Senate. But Could He Actually Be Elected?” 

• Law Professor Candace Zierdt was featured in an Aug. 23 interview on the PrawfsBlawg about the Bruce R. Jacob Visiting Assistant Professor Program at Stetson University College of Law. 

• Law Professor Rebecca C. Morgan wrote an Aug. 23 blog called, “UBER and LYFT as the answer to elder transportation needs?” on the Elder Law Prof Blog. She also wrote, “Abuse of SNF resident on video,” for the Elder Law Prof Blog. Professor Morgan wrote an Aug. 27 blog called, “Napping more than usual? Read this article.” for the Elder Law Prof Blog. She wrote, “Medicare observation status: Post-trial report” on Aug. 27 on the Elder Law Prof Blog.  Professor Morgan also wrote an Aug. 28 blog called, “Veterans victims of consumer scam” for the Elder Law Prof Blog. 

• A 1996 Stetson Law Review article called, “A Practical Perspective About Annexation in Florida” by Alison Yurko was quoted in an op-ed piece in the TC Palm on Aug. 26 called, “’Misinformation’ or not, proposed Sebastian annexation of 1,100 rural acres controversial.” 

• A Stetson Law Review article by Susan Nauss Exon and Soomi Lee called, “Building Trust Online: The Realities of Telepresence for Mediators Engaged in Online Dispute Resolution” was referenced in an Aug. 26 blog post called “Do parties trust mediators when they’re not in the same room?” on the Just Court ADR blog. 

Alumni News

• Jaclyn Nesheiwat ’02, was featured in the Heavy.com article, “Jaclyn Nesheiwat, Scott Stapp’s Wife: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know.”

• Alumnus John Hicks ’68, Libertarian candidate for Governor of Kentucky, was featured in the Northern Kentucky Tribune on Sept. 3. 

• Kevin Holbert, a CPA, was promoted to Senior Accountant of the Daytona Beach office of James Moore and Co., P.L., according to the firm’s recent press release.

• Stetson alumnus James P. Hewitt III passed away on Aug. 27, in Buffalo, New York, per an obituary in The Buffalo News.

• Stetson alumnus and adjunct professor Thomas Bullitt McCoun passed away on Aug. 27 in St. Petersburg, per an obituary in the Tampa Bay Times. 

• Stetson alumnus Chris Winkelman was named partner at Holtzman Vogel Josefiak Torchinsky, PLLC in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 5, per a press release from the firm. He returns to HVJT as partner after serving as General Counsel to the National Republican Congressional Committee for three election cycles.

• Alumna Carolin Schart was featured in the Aug. 28 Poets and Quants article “IESE’s Inaugural MiM Class Gets Underway.” Schart is one of the students in the inaugural class of IESE Business School’s new Masters in Management program.

• Blair Parke ’06, Communications, published an article titled, “Jezebel – What Her Life and Story from the Bible Teach Us,” at CrossWalk.com on Aug. 29.

• Law Alumnus Brian Pierce has joined the Stewart Title Guaranty Company Underwriting team in the State of Georgia, according to an Aug. 27 PR Newswire release featured on Nasdaq.com and other online outlets. Pierce will work with Stewart independent agents and support the agency services team in Georgia.

• Alumna Jacqueline Prats has been selected to participate in Tampa Connection’s current class of 2020, per a news release on the Trenam Law website.