Six faculty members were awarded Faculty Research and Creative Activity Fellowships. All recipients will be relieved from their teaching duties and given up to $3,000 to assist them with their projects.
Dr. David Chou, a computer information systems professor, won the award for his submission of “Developing an Innovative Change Auditing Methodology.”
“I appreciate the research support granted by EMU administration,” Chou said. “The teaching release offering allows me to spend more time to developing my research project.”
Chou believes his project will have a positive effect on the campus community.
“An improved research effort in the University may generate better knowledge for advancing teaching effects. This is also a way to enhance the reputation of the university,” Chou said.
According to Chou, Information System consulting is a key section in the IS industry.
“IS consulting projects may face unexpected demand for changes during project periods,” Chou said. “Managing project changes can make a vital impact to IS consulting practice. Change management in consulting practice also involves risk and uncertainty.”
Chou’s project demonstrates ways to handle project changes.
“One way of managing project change, is through the auditing work,” Chou said. “This research intends to develop an innovative change to auditing methodology for enhancing the quality of IS consulting practice.”
Chou will receive help with his project from a graduate student. He plans to present his research results at a national conference and present his paper to a journal.
Dr. Christine Tracy, an English Language and Literature professor, won for her proposal of “news@you.com.”
Tracy heard about the fellowship from her department chair, Becky Sipe, who encouraged her to apply.
Her project will feature the story of AnnArbor.com, an “industry innovator.”
News@you.com is under contract with Peter Lang Publishing and is scheduled to start in the spring of 2011.
Tracy believes her project will “pioneer and argue for an ecological approach to news that links production and consumption.”
Tracy’s project focuses on the changes journalism has undergone.
“In the best tradition of quality journalism, it explains in an accessible, yet informed way, the shifts in the news environment precipitated by digital technologies, how industry leaders are responding, and most importantly, the changing role and responsibility of news audiences,” Tracy said. “It does what journalists do best — it tells a story.”
Tracy also discusses the transition print journalism has made to digital journalism.
“The story is the death of The Ann Arbor News on Thursday, July 23, 2009 and the birth of AnnArbor.com the next day,” Tracy said. “It is truly the best of times and the worst of times in the news industry. However, news@you.com delivers more than a historical accounting of industry changes and shifts in trends.”
According to Tracy, news@you.com will look at the history and future of journalism.
“It explains these changes within an historical frame and theoretical context informed by the 15 years I have been researching and studying emergent media and the changes it precipitated in the delivery of news,” Tracy said.
Tracy is hopeful her project will interest a vast audience.
“I broaden the responsibility for studying journalism and inspire journalism professors and engaged citizens alike to consciously consume and produce news and information of value,” she said.
Other winners of the fellowship include Dr. Paul Leighton, who teaches sociology and other areas of study. He was awarded for his proposal of “Violence and Nonviolence.”
Dr. Paul Chao, a marketing professor, was granted a fellowship for his proposal of “The Moderating Role of Brand Name Translation on Country-of-Origin Effects.”
Dr. Thomas Schmitt, a psychology professor, won for his entry of “The Validity of Ability Estimation under Conditions of Test Speediness within a Computer Adaptive Testing Environment.”
Dr. Weidian Shen, a professor of physics and astronomy, won for his submission of the project “Developing a Reliable and Efficient Corrosion Resistance Characterization Technique for Magnesium Alloys Used in Automotive and Other Manufacturing Industries.”
