Faculty and Staff Highlights: Belo, Carter, Ford, Hoover, Rothenbuhler, Schuster, Stiles

Webster University faculty and staff highlights offer a roundup of recent Webster faculty and staff activity and achievements.

Schuster Selected for EMAAS Membership

Webster University President Julian Schuster became a member of the Euro-Mediterranean Academy of Arts and Sciences Presidium (EMAAS) in July.

EMAAS is a worldwide academy, ensuring a high-quality research experience by ballot selected academicians that transform sciences for global and individual excellence. Members are elected for their outstanding contributions to the Sciences and the Arts, for their distinguished academic backgrounds and their esteemed standing in society. 

“I am deeply honored to accept this prestigious membership on behalf of Webster University,” said Schuster.

Belo Interviewed on Los Angeles Radio Station, Publishes Policy Paper 

Dani Belo, an assistant professor of international relations and security in the Department of History, Politics, and International Relations, was recently part of an interview with KNX Los Angeles about the North Korea-Russia Summit. 

The radio interview highlighted the growing challenges the U.S. faces from global powers like Russia and China. According to Belo, as traditional warfare becomes increasingly cost-prohibitive, the need for effective diplomacy and conflict management has never been more crucial. Additionally, he emphasized that the likelihood of the U.S. unilaterally resolving global challenges is diminishing, making multilateral cooperation essential for addressing complex international issues.

Belo also published a policy paper on Taiwan-China deterrence, titled, “Taiwan’s Deterrence Equation: Calculating Gray Zone Strategies to Address China’s Assertiveness.”

Belo’s paper explores contemporary international dynamics where major shifts in global power are increasingly shaped by non-military means rather than traditional military conquests. It examines recent failures of military interventions, such as those by the U.S. in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya, and Russia's intervention in Ukraine, highlighting the limited effectiveness of conventional military force in achieving broader geopolitical objectives. 

“Focusing specifically on China as well, the paper discusses various constraints in its military capabilities, including logistical challenges and the organizational complexities within the People's Liberation Army (PLA),” said Belo. “It underscores China's strategic pivot towards non-military strategies, particularly in the gray zone, where actions such as diplomatic isolation, economic coercion, cyber intrusions and information warfare are employed to achieve strategic goals without overtly triggering open warfare.”

Moreover, according to Belo, the paper advocates for a comprehensive deterrence strategy by the transatlantic community to address these gray zone threats effectively. “This strategy emphasizes the integration of military, diplomatic and civilian efforts to mitigate risks and maintain stability amid heightened geopolitical competition. Canada's role as a middle power is contextualized within this framework, emphasizing its diplomatic engagement, economic ties and support for democratic values as crucial elements in navigating relations with China and contributing to collective security efforts. By promoting robust bilateral and multilateral alliances, advocating for Taiwan's international presence and enhancing cybersecurity measures, Canada can play a significant role in bolstering deterrence against gray zone tactics while upholding liberal democratic principles in the face of emerging challenges to global stability.”

Carter Presents at Musical Theatre Educators Alliance Conference

Jeffrey Carter, professor of music and director of Music Direction for Musical Theatre, presented research in July at the international conference of the Musical Theatre Educators Alliance.

The conference, held at the Guildford School of the Arts (University of Surrey) outside of London, England, brought together musical theatre educators from around the globe for three days of sharing new approaches, examining biases and engaging in conversation about global perspectives in musical theatre education. Conference presenters represented Central America, Australia, Africa, Europe, Asia, the Asian Pacific Rim and North America.

Conference organizers invited Carter to present research on performers’ audition books. Carter chose a dozen case studies to illustrate how musical theatre performers craft their audition books to their own particular strengths and personalities. While in London, at the Westminster Music Library, Carter also furthered his continuing research into early musical theatre and its influences from operetta.

Webster University’s Bachelor of Music in Music Direction for Musical Theatre, a program in the Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts, is one of only two such undergraduate programs in the United States. The program is designed for students who wish to pursue a career as a professional music director for musical theatre. Extensive applied instruction and classes on technique, coaching and musical theatre performance styles, as well as ensemble experience, constitute the core of the curriculum.

Hoover Interviews with Poetry Northwest

Elizabeth Hoover, an English professor within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and published author, was recently interviewed by Poetry Northwest.

Hoover’s poetry collection, The Archive is All in Present Tense  (Barrow Street, 2022, winner of the 2021 Barrow Street Book Prize) served as the main topic of conversation.

Poetry Northwest is a publication that aims to give place and attention to each poem published, to serve as a gateway for emerging writers, to represent the vital corner of the continent to a broader audience and to attract and sustain readers with the promise of discovery. 

Rothenbuhler and Ford Speak at National Federation of Press Women Conference 

School of Communications Dean Eric Rothenbuhler and Communications and Journalism Department Chair Gary Ford spoke on a panel at the National Federation of Press Women conference in June in St. Louis, Missouri. Rothenbuhler and Ford discussed trends in journalism education at the conference.

According to Rothenbuhler, students must prepare to write for any media delivery platform today and know how to create content that is compelling on phones, computer screens, video channels, social media, podcasts, traditional print and broadcast.  

“Programs are increasingly emphasizing digital literacy, including skills in social media, data journalism, multimedia storytelling, and online content creation,” Rothenbuhler said.

According to Ford, courses on media ethics are more important now than ever. Addressing issues such as misinformation, fake news, trusted sources and the role of journalists in a democratic society are critical. 

“Journalism is no longer understood by the public. Social media is the source of choice for many,” Ford said. “If we expect the public to know better, future media professionals must also know better,” Ford added.

Others participating on the panel included Mitch Eden, 2015 national high school journalism teacher of the year; Amelia Hurley, graduate student at the University of Missouri School of Journalism; and Debbie Miller, journalism faculty, Northwest Arkansas Community College.

Stiles Presents at 2024 American Psychological Association Convention

Professor Emerita Deborah Stiles presented a paper at the 2024 convention of the American Psychological Association (APA) in Seattle, Washington. 

The paper was titled “Children, Adolescents, and Adults Impacted by Earthquakes: Cross-Cultural Perspectives from New Zealand, Ecuador, and Nepal.” The paper was part of the APA programming for Division 56 Trauma Psychology and included two student coauthors; Diana Carvajal Carlson and Elina Rai.

Stiles is a professor and coordinator of Applied Education Psychology in the Multidisciplinary Studies Department at Webster University. In addition to being named a Fulbright scholar, she is the author of one book and numerous articles that focus on cross-cultural psychology, adolescent gender roles, psychology in schools and children’s drawings.