Quicknotes | february 2023

Southern Adventist University’s School of Education and Psychology hosted two distinguished delegates from Ukraine in early February. The campus and community welcomed Valeriia Palii, PhD, president of the National Psychological Association of Ukraine (NPAU), and Olena Vladovska, chief operating officer of Angelia Medical Center, a Ukrainian Seventh-day Adventist clinic dedicated to providing support for youth and families affected by the devastation in their country. The two women spoke with students about serving their nation on the frontlines of war.

Palii and Vladovska were invited to the area by the City of Chattanooga and visited several local institutions, including Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital and Hamilton County Department of Education. Angelika Riano, ’00, helped coordinate their visit and translated for Vladovska during her presentation at the university.

Vladovska and Riano explained how the Angelia Medical Center uses a holistic, person-oriented approach to medical treatment that helps individuals physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually—a method adopted by employees who believe Christ works through them to touch society. According to the duo, Russian forces have destroyed more than 1,100 clinics and hospitals, but Angelia has remained operational. The center provides humanitarian aid by sending mobile field clinics to refugee camps.

“What helps us to do this work?” Vladovska asked. “It’s understanding, it’s faith in God, and it’s our unity. United, we can help others.”

Palii described NPAU’s core mission as improving mental health legislation and ethical standards in the field of psychology in Ukraine. The association encourages psychologists to use an evidence-based approach in their treatments. When the war started, NPAU was forced to shift its priorities.

“Ukrainiansare working and living in very difficult conditions,” Palii said. “They experience bombing, shelling, shooting—it really is complicated to provide psychological support in this environment.”

The organization now focuses on supporting government initiatives and developing a psychological support hotline already available in 19 different European countries, including Ukraine.

“I enjoyed hearing the speakers share their personal experiences of how life and the practice of medicine have changed since the invasion of Ukraine,” said Maddie Chant, senior psychology major. “I was moved by their passion for using their careers to make a positive impact on their people, even amid war.”

Both Palii and Vladovska praised Southern during their visit. Palii admires Tennessean culture, and Vladovska appreciates the strong Seventh-day Adventist roots prevalent on campus.

“Observing the students, you can tell what is taught at Southern,” Vladovska said. “I do what I do in Ukraine because of my Seventh-day Adventist beliefs, and here at Southern, it feels as if one can almost touch the history of Adventist ministry.”

–by Amanda Blake, senior journalism major

For sophomore Anna Lewis, the new Job Shadow Program at Southern Adventist University caught her attention for several reasons.

“I want to explore other options outside of my major,” said Lewis, a nursing major who has career interests in teaching and music as well. “Plus, this is a great opportunity to ask professionals about their jobs.”

The Job Shadow Program is facilitated by Southern’s Life Calling and Career Services office. The program connects sophomores and second-year freshmen with employers, community partners, and alumni for a half-day opportunity in order to experience a professional work environment, explore career paths and options, and observe skills and job tasks while connecting with professionals.

“There is tremendous value in job shadowing,” said Daniel Olson, ’02 and ’10, the employer relations and internship coordinator at Southern. “Students are able to observe many facets of workplace experiences, including learning about culture, tasks, and skills requirements. Plus, students will be able to expand their network in potential areas of interest.”

To date, 15 students have applied to participate in the Job Shadow Program and completed their orientation. Students signed up for a variety of reasons.

“I want to learn about different career fields that best suit my interests and values,” said Alyssa Bullon, a sophomore biology major who has interests in environmental sustainability but is currently undecided regarding her career path.

The Job Shadow Program at Southern is made possible by a program development grant from NetVUE (Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education), a nationwide network of colleges and universities formed to enrich the intellectual and theological exploration of vocation among undergraduate students. The grant includes four separate vocational exploration activities with goals that include increasing employee and student understanding of calling and career choices.

The program requirements include completing three half-day job shadow experiences, writing a one-page reflection paper, and responding to a survey about the program’s learning objectives and effectiveness.

“While we are excited about the potential for this program, the biggest challenge is recruiting employers, especially from industries that match the students’ interest areas,” Olson said. “However, students are also welcome to pursue job shadowing opportunities on their own while we seek to grow the number of workplace participants.”

Employers in the greater Chattanooga area who are interested in participating can call the Life Calling and Career Services office at 423.236.2069 or complete a Host Interest Form on the Job Shadow Program webpage.

–Staff Report

Southern celebrates Ethan David, junior health services and senior living administration major, who was awarded the 2023-2024 Morning Pointe Scholars Endowment Scholarship this month. Southern alumni Franklin Farrow, ’93, co-founder and chief executive officer, and Scott Edens, ’91, vice president for professional development, both of Morning Pointe Senior Living, presented the scholarship during an event hosted by the university’s School of Business. 

“I’m passionate about the administration of health services and senior living because I believe it significantly impacts society, particularly as the population ages,” David said. “Southern’s program provides a distinct fusion of business and healthcare while specifically teaching the operational and financial aspects of services for seniors.”

Established in 2017, the scholarship supports the education of future caregivers and healthcare administrators while increasing awareness of occupations within senior living communities. Southern’s academic program parallels Morning Pointe’s mission of providing affordable, compassionate senior care throughout the Southeast. 

“Ethan David provides an enthusiastic view toward life, education, and his potential career,” Farrow said. “This, coupled with the desire to be of service, is a match that impressed Morning Pointe when reviewing the candidates, and we are pleased that we can award David with a scholarship.”

Southern remains a leader in preparing competent young professionals to enter the industry by exposing students to every facet of the field through in-depth courses on administration, finance, human resources, and marketing that are specific to the health services environment. Students also each complete 1,000 internship hours, split between the different areas of care. 

The School of Business at Southern offers the longest-running program accredited by the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards and the only Health Services Executive accredited program in the state of Tennessee. This year marked the 38^th Annual Health Services and Senior Living Professionals Banquet on campus, which the school coordinates.

–by Tina Smith, ’89, Communications Manager

Southern’s Symphony Orchestra received emphatic applause from a crowd of talented musicians and professional conductors in late January. The 75-member troupe rose, soaking up what director Laurie Redmer Cadwallader described as a “wonderful buzz in the audience.”

“When you get an instantaneous standing ovation from a room full of conductors from across the country, you know you’ve made a good impression,” Cadwallader said. “Clapping was prolonged and very enthusiastic. People approached over the next couple days to say how great our orchestra was.”

The group performed at the National Conference of the College Orchestra Directors Association, hosted this year by Jacksonville University in Florida. Cadwallader applied for the event last spring, unsure of what to expect, as the school had never attended a national conference before.

“I knew the competition would be fierce, so I was thrilled to learn we had been chosen,” she said. “It was an honor to showcase our students in such a public way.”

The students were equally elated, especially at the opportunity to play in an actual concert hall.

“The acoustics were awesome, and it was fun to look out at the audience and see how engaged the conductors were with the music,” said Corbin Weiss, a sophomore mathematics major and cello player. “Between movements, I could feel the support and appreciation for our work, because the directors in the audience know what it takes to put a symphony together.”

The Symphony Orchestra also played at Jacksonville’s Seventh-day Adventist LifePoint Academy and LifePoint Christian Fellowship and enjoyed a celebratory beach afternoon, thanks to a member of Southern’s Board of Trustees who helped secure a hotel for the group near the ocean. The students also devoured homemade cookies delivered by Southern’s First Lady Ann Shaw and President Ken Shaw, who drove to Florida to watch the ensemble play.

Cadwallader described the orchestra’s superb performance as a manifestation of their pursuit of excellence.

“It is rare for a school our size to have the opportunity to attend and perform at a national-level conference. The students recognized this honor and rose to the occasion,” she said. “When you challenge yourself to strive for something new, it makes you better. The students sound different now, more confident. I am very proud of each member.”

–by Amanda Blake, senior journalism major