Virginia Castleman launched her novel "Sarah Lost and Found" with a book signing event at Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Inc. in Reno, on Mar. 12.
In addition to the novels, textbooks and historical monographs by Truckee Meadows Community College faculty, many professors and instructors have also published non-fiction works, scientific articles and presented their work at regional and national conferences. Part Two of this series showcased authors Lindsay Wilson, Jen Huntley, Brad Summerhill, Greg Ellis, Ben Scheible and Eric Neuenfeldt.
Read more about other accomplished TMCC authors, including Virginia Castleman »
This month, the work of John Trentalange, Melissa Deadmond and Olga Katkova are highlighted.
John Trentalange, Non-fiction Books are Published
John Trentalange, Psychology Instructor, has written the book "Transformational Living" covering the topic of healing from trauma and furthering self-identity. It includes information about what psychologists call attachment. Attachment is a term describing how the initial relationship formed with caregivers the first three years of life affects humans’ later relationships as a kind of internal foundation, or blueprint.
"When we have a secure base attachment, we are likely to explore our learning and emotional environments with confidence; while when we have an insecure base attachment, we struggle with confidence and self-esteem and often do not achieve our fullest potential," he said.
The book is published by Tate Publishing and Enterprises, LLC.
"'Transformational Living' can be used as a guide to heal from one’s own trauma, as a parenting guide to help raise happy children with strong self-esteem, or as a handbook to understand the relationship between attachment issues and child development," Trentalange said.
Trentalange has also created Journey of Adoption, a multi-session training for families who have adopted children. Journey of Adoption includes a handbook, videotapes, and training for facilitators. Contact Trentalange for further information on the series.
Melissa Deadmond Co-authors Epidemiological Research Paper
Melissa Deadmond, PhD, Associate Dean of Assessment and Planning, has co-authored a scientific paper with Julie Smith-Gagen, Assistant Professor and Epidemiologist at UNR. The Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology published their work in April 2015, "Changing incidence of myeloproliferative neoplasms: trends and subgroup risk profiles in the USA, 1973-2011."
The article's abstract is included in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) PubMed online database, where works are searchable by topic or author.
Epidemiology is the study of disease at the population level—as opposed to on an individual basis—and is the analysis of trends of illness in groups of people or across time periods. Deadmond is studying toward an additional Master’s of Public Health in Epidemiology, and wanted to start doing new research by completing a population study of people with blood cancers.
"It’s my first public health publication, and I was able to blend my knowledge in cell and molecular biology with new expertise in epidemiology," she said. "This study might help to inform at the population level. By seeing trends, we know better where to devote our diagnosis and treatment resources."
The group they looked at is a large population database, a cancer registry of 20,000 people known as the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database created by the National Cancer Institute. They studied how a certain category of cancers, non-chronic myelogenous leukemia, has been diagnosed, and how historical developments have changed the percentage of people diagnosed with three types of blood cancer.
The World Health Organization (WHO) changed their diagnostic criteria in 2001, Deadmond said. In 2005, scientists identified a mutation in only one of the three related types of blood cancer, Primary myelofibrosis (PMF). Three types of non-chronic myelogenous leukemia are:
- PMF (Primary myelofibrosis)
- ET (Essential thrombocythemia)
- PV (Polycythemia vera)
The mutation was not present in ET and PV—the other two types—so it was a better way to provide a correct diagnosis of PMF, the cancer in this category that is the most difficult to treat. Then, in 2008, WHO officially established that testing for the new mutation was to be a standard diagnostic tool. These developments affect how many people in various gender, age and ethnic groups were diagnosed with the three types of myelogenous leukemia.
Deadmond and Smith-Gagen found that younger women and black women were diagnosed more often, and therefore more diagnostic and treatment resources would benefit these populations.
Olga Katkova Presents her Work "Reflective Journals in Chemistry Classes"
Olga Katkova, Chemistry Instructor, has presented her work, "Reflective Journals in Chemistry Classes" at the 209th Two-year College Chemistry Consortium (2YC3) in 2015, and the 213th 2YC3 Conference in March 2016.
"I am an active member and facilitator in the 2YC3, which is a branch organization of American Chemical Society (ACS)," she said. "It provides a forum for chemistry educators to enhance student learning through the professional development conferences."
Katkova said that she was happy to receive positive feedback on her presentation, and faculty expressed that they were interested in implementing her curiosity questions approach into their class curriculum.
"I was proud to represent TMCC at this national-level conference," she said. "Also, I was invited to present at the 210th 2YC3 conference."
Some written comments from the 209th Conference came from professors at Stark State College in Ohio, and Scottsdale Community College, in Arizona.
"This was the best thing I learned in five days of attending the 2YC3 and national ACS," wrote Amy Jo, PhD, Physical Science Coordinator for Stark State College. "I am very excited to share it with my colleagues."
Relindis Mawo, PhD, Department of Physical Science, Scottsdale Community College agrees.
"What I like about the 'Reflective Journals' is that it got your students thinking critically and the curiosity questions helped them to appreciate the practical application of chemistry in everyday life," Mawo wrote. "I would also like to mention that the positive energy and excitement you showed during your presentation captured my interest."
TMCC Writers' Conference
TMCC holds their annual conference by and for authors on Saturday, April 16. For more information about the TMCC Writers' Conference, please contact Workforce Development and Community Education.
Upcoming Authors in the Series
- Chief Darryl Cleveland’s work appears in a Naval Postgraduate School manual
- Fred Lokken drafts the ITC Annual National Distance Education Survey
- Brian Addington, Logistics Instructor, is a presenter at regional APICS conference
Additional contributions are welcome. To submit faculty literary projects and publications for future recognition, please contact the Marketing and Communications Office.