Dear Faculty Colleagues,

Welcome to the Spring 2026 semester! I hope your winter break was truly restorative - full of rest, reflection, and moments that left you feeling recharged and ready to begin something great.

And, of course, as we ease into spring, we do so with one eye on the shiny syllabus and the other on the looming weather forecast - because nothing says “new semester” quite like a possible weekend snowstorm reminding us to stay flexible and prepared. 😊

Wishing you a smooth, energizing start to the semester and a term filled with engaging classes, meaningful moments, and continued success.

From Barriers to Bridges: Accessibility in Practice — THANK YOU
Thank you to everyone who joined us for From Barriers to Bridges: Accessibility in Practice on January 14. Your engagement, thoughtful questions, and willingness to reflect on accessibility as an essential component of effective teaching made the day both meaningful and impactful.

Accessibility work is most powerful when it is grounded in practical strategies and shared commitment, and your participation demonstrated APSU’s dedication to inclusive, student-centered learning. We are grateful to our presenters for sharing their expertise and to all attendees for showing up ready to learn, collaborate, and build bridges in their teaching practice.

Thank you again for contributing to a day focused on removing barriers and expanding access for all of our students.

Upcoming Events
Here’s a quick look at upcoming opportunities for and by faculty:

• OIC CoAL Appreciation and Belonging Hour - Jan 22
• CoAL Faculty Research Spotlight - Jan 26
• Music Department Faculty Showcase Concert - Jan 30
• CCCA presents Daniel McGrew, tenor - Feb 1
• TechBytes Session - Feb 5 
• Outcomes Extravaganza - Feb 18

CAFE Calendar 
I'll continue to update our CAFE Calendar as more events and sessions become finalized.  Be sure to bookmark it and add any events directly to your Outlook calendar. 

As always, I welcome your ideas on how CAFE can better serve you.  Please don't hesitate to reach out at williamsjj@apsu.edu or 931-221-7648.

It has been a pleasure to see campus come back to life. I wish each of you a smooth, successful, and rewarding first week of classes. Here’s to a strong start and a great semester together.

Yours always,
Jeff 

A place develoted to celebrating the achievements of our APSU faculty colleagues!

Winters named recipient of the Aristeia Award 

Dr. Timothy Winters, Professor of Classics and Director of Honors and the President's Emerging Leaders Program, has been named the 2026 recipient of the Aristeia Award for Distinguished Alumni/ae of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens.

The Aristeia Award, now in its 16th year, was created to honor those who have done the most over the years to support the School's mission in teaching, research, archaeological exploration, and/or publication. Timothy F. Winters has made outstanding contributions that have made a lasting impact on his students, the School, and the broader field of Classics. 

Wilson highlights the holistic health benefits of animal interaction

Dr. Debra Rose Wilson, Professor of Nursing, highlights how interacting with animals can support holistic health and well-being. Drawing on research she co-authored with Sarah Cummins entitled, “The Holistic Effects of Interacting with Animals” for the American Holistic Nurses Association, Wilson explains that spending time with animals can reduce stress hormones while increasing oxytocin and other mood-regulating chemicals, leading to improved emotional regulation, cardiovascular health, and immune function. She emphasizes that even simple or brief interactions with animals can promote calm, connection, and overall wellness.

Yoo interviewed on why Tennessee is attractive to foreign companies

South Korean companies have invested $13 billion in projects in Tennessee since 2019. Dr. Chanyong Yoo, Assistant Professor of International Business, shares how the state is uniquely positioned to strengthen U.S. manufacturing opportunities and supply chain security.

In a segment that aired on Fox13 Memphis at the end of December 2025, he said with the addition of Korea Zinc, Clarksville is well-equipped to become an integrated supply chain hub for EV and defense-related industries.

Clark publishes in Journal of Pediatric Surgical Nursing

Dr. Terri Clark, Associate Professor in the College of Education, co-authored an article, "The Role of the Microbiome in Autism Spectrum Disorders" which reports on recent research highlighting the significant role of the gut microbiome in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), suggesting that a deeper understanding of the gut–brain connection may inform improved strategies to support children with ASD, particularly in the perioperative setting.  The Journal of Pediatric Surgical Nursing is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes original research, case reports, and review articles on a wide range of topics related to pediatric surgical nursing.

Sahi & Cordell study Fort Campbell's economic impact on our surrounding community

As part of their spotlight on Clarksville, WKRN News 2 highlighted the work of Mathematics and Statistics Professor and Graduate Coordinator of Mathematical Finance, Dr. Ramanjit Sahi, as well as GIS Center Engineer, Mason Cordell. The WKRN segment looks at how Fort Campbell functions as a major economic engine for the surrounding region. It explains that the Army installation contributes significantly to the local economy by supporting jobs, payroll, spending by soldiers, civilian hires, families, and retirees — all of which help businesses, generate tax revenue, and sustain economic activity in the area. 

The Office of Institutional Culture (OIC) is excited to continue our monthly
Please join us at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22,
in Morgan University Center Rooms 303-305,
as we celebrate the dedicated faculty and staff from the College of Arts and Letters. Come and stay for the entire time, or just a few minutes.

During this time, the OIC will announce the recipients of this month's Faculty and Staff Everyday Excellence Appreciation Awards, which recognize the good work our employees do every day in their positions at APSU. At the end of the academic year, OIC will have a drawing to give away one iPad from the pool of nominated employees.

The OIC will also provide refreshments to all in attendance, and a few giveaways.

A special concert featuring the performances of the following
APSU Music Department faculty

Friday, January 30 @ 7:30pm
Mabry Concert Hall

with a free pre-concert talk by Dr. Jeffrey Williams, Professor of Voice,
at 2pm in MMC 147

Have questions about assessment for your degree program?

We’ve got answers! Join us as your schedule allows for a drop-in Outcomes Extravaganza on Wednesday, February 18 from 10:00am-2:00pm in MUC 308.

We can help with writing and/or revising outcomes and assessment measures, getting your program set up in Watermark, Major Field Test questions, and more!

For more information, please reach out to
Allie Michael, Director of Institutional Effectiveness & Assessment at michaela@apsu.edu. 

Did you know that about 30% of APSU students are first-generation? Many of them don’t realize how many faculty and staff share that same experience. Help us change that by completing the First-Gen Faculty and Staff Survey.

Your responses will help highlight the strong first-gen presence at APSU on the G1Govs website and guide future opportunities like mentorship programs, panels, and speaking engagements. Help us make APSU a more supportive place for first-gen students!

Health and Counseling is available to provide presentations on various topics for your class. Presentations cover a range of topics, including stress management, physical and mental well-being, and bystander training.  

To request a presentation, please complete the form at https://www.apsu.edu/wellness/. 

For questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Quianda Harris at harrisq@apsu.edu or Jill de Graauw at degraauwj@apsu.edu. 

A huge thanks to all our presenters and attendees who participated in our January Professional Development Day
“From Barriers to Bridges: Accessibility in Practice” featuring Keynote Speaker Mike Hess! 

CAFE hopes you have a great start to the semester!

To help us assess this offering and plan future programming, please take a moment to fill out our survey.

Have you bookmarked the CAFE Calendar yet?  We’re constantly adding new events!  Stay up to date with all CAFE-affiliated programming happening across campus.  Don’t forget - you can easily add any event directly to your Outlook calendar with a click! 

Do you have an event that you would like promoted in CAFE's bi-monthly newsletter?

Feel free to email us at cafe-fac@apsu.edu with the information. We will review it and inform you if the request is appropriate for the CAFE audience.