Reynolds Community College is pleased to announce that Assistant Dean, School of Mathematics, Science and Engineering Dr. Richard Groover has published an ambitious reference book: The Environment Almanac of Virginia, 2nd edition.
The Environmental Almanac of Virginia, 2nd edition covers all major environmental topics relevant to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Chapters include natural resources, air quality, water quality, solid waste issues, toxics found in Virginia’s environmental, wildlife species of Virginia, and endangered species. Groover approached Frits van der Leeden, author of the first edition, to encourage him to write a second part, but the author instead encouraged Groover to take on the monumental task. Which he did.
This second edition reference book contains hundreds of pages packed with up-to-date information, more than 30 maps, charts and tables organized in a user-friendly format for quick access. Some information that is irretrievable for government sites, internet searches or current research has been distilled for the reader’s use. New topics since the first edition have been updated in this edition, such as energy strategies, Marcellus Shale deposits, uranium deposits, and alternative energy possibilities. Also new in the Second Edition is current climate change data for Virginia, information on invasive species, and updates on water quality, air pollution and environmental regulations.
According to a recent interview with Emory & Henry College, Groover’s alma mater, Groover enjoys being busy. Groover told E & H: “I’m worried about being bored. If I die tomorrow, I’ve had a really fun life!” In the course of his life he has been a scientist, a teacher, a field researcher, a government employee, a reserve deputy sheriff, a hostage negotiator, a documentary filmmaker, a National Park docent, a former member of the Governor’s Climate Change Commission for Virginia, and is a current member of the Board of Trustees for the Virginia Science Museum.
Dr. Richard S. Groover is an aquatic ecologist. He has a PhD in Environmental Science and Public Policy from George Mason University. In addition to being an Assistant Dean at Reynolds Community College, he is a Fellow of the Virginia Academy of Science, and was a member of the Governor’s Climate and Resiliency Commission, 2014 – 2015. He has published articles in journals and other media, and has produced a number of award-winning documentary and educational films.
Reynolds Community College is pleased to announce that School of Business Adjunct Faculty D. Pulane Lucas, PhD. has published her third book, God and the Self: Insights from Major Thinkers in the Western Philosophical Tradition.
In God and the Self Dr. Lucas explores the dynamic and complex notions of God and the self from a number of philosophical perspectives. This three-part volume examines the work of Kant, Coleridge, and Nietzsche before analyzing the views and influences of Descartes, Locke, Hume, and Schleiermacher on conceptions of God and the self. A final section on self-awareness investigates the self and draws upon the works of William James and George Herbert Mead. Each essay in the volume examines a fundamental way of conceptualizing and understanding the self with a historical and theoretical perspective.
Lucas had this to say about her latest book: “I would like readers to gain an appreciation for how the philosophers sought to liberate the mind from oppressive conditions and destructive forces, and how they understood the power of thought and imagination in transforming the human experience and helping individuals and communities recognize their genius.”
Dr. Lucas joined the Reynolds faculty in spring 2014. She teaches face-to-face, hybrid, and online courses. She enjoys integrating Harvard Business School case studies into her lesson plans. Her courses include Introduction to Business, Principles of Supervision I, Principles of Management, Organizational Behavior, and Ethical Issues in Management. She states that the case method approach helps students think critically about management, administrative, and leadership dilemmas and sharpens their analytical skills as they grapple with complex, real-world business issues.
Dr. Lucas has served on several Reynolds faculty committees, including the Meta-Majors and Guided Pathways Task Force, the Business Administration Advisory Committee, the School of Business Program Assessment Committee, and the Professional Development and Renewal Committee. She also has participated in the Faculty Learning Community (Strategies for Student Engagement). She is a member of the Harvard Business School Healthcare Alumni Association and Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management (APPAM) and has been a member of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA).
Dr. D. Pulane Lucas is a professor, author, motivational speaker and entrepreneur. She holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration (Health Policy Concentration) from Virginia Commonwealth University, a Master of Arts degree from Harvard University, a Master of Theological Studies degree from Harvard Divinity School, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Dr. Lucas completed her undergraduate studies at California State University, East Bay.
