Dear Colleagues,

Spring has returned to the SIUE campuses, drawing our attention to the blooming flowers, the honking geese, and the rapidly approaching end of the academic year. Spring commencement ceremonies are only five weeks away! And yet, many of us continue to find our attention drawn to the humanitarian crisis caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

I want to thank all members of the SIUE community who have donated to organizations that provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine and who have worked to educate themselves and others about the war in Ukraine. Such efforts reflect the College of Arts and Sciences’ mission to encourage participation in the local, national and global community, sensitivity to the welfare of others, and an appreciation of democratic values. 

Read Dean Leonard's full letter.

SIUE Deputy Athletic Director and CAS alumna Jaci DeClue, BLS '97, has been named a recipient of the 2022 Ohio Valley Conference Thurston Banks Award for Distinguished Academic Service.

The award, selected by the OVC Faculty Athletics Representatives, was established in 2013 to recognize individuals (e.g. academic advisor, professor, tutor, etc.), with at least five years of service at one or more OVC member institutions, for their outstanding contributions to OVC student-athletes' academic success, learning and development as well for his or her overall commitment to the institution's athletics program.

DeClue has been a member of the SIUE Athletics team since 2004 and has been an Associate Athletic Director since 2012. She also served as Interim Director of Athletics in 2019 prior to the appointment of Tim Hall.

Read the article. 

SIUE has received $1.5 million in funding from the National Science Foundation in support of a novel model for graduate education that removes financial barriers and increases diversity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics  disciplines.

The project, “At the Confluence: Supporting Critical Transitions for Graduate Students in Sustainable Watersheds Research,” is led by principal investigator Adriana E. Martinez, PhD, associate professor in the Departments of Environmental Sciences and Geography and Geographic Information Sciences (GIS).

Read the article.

The Department of Physics is partnering with the Arts & Issues series to present the annual William C. Shaw Lecture featuring Brian Greene, PhD, professor of physics and mathematics at Columbia University.

The lecture entitled “Revealing the Universe - A Journey to the Frontier of Understanding” will take place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 14 in the Morris University Center’s Meridian Ballroom, with a book signing following the event in the Goshen Lounge. 

Read the article.

SIUE offers a variety of summer camps, such as Summer Arts Camp, Cougar Theater Camp, and Odyssey Science Camp, where students of all ages can explore sciences, academics and the arts. Browse the lists of available camps here.

Segue is a 30 minute radio program airing on WSIE 88.7 The Sound on Sundays at 9 a.m. and is hosted by Kevin Leonard, PhD, CAS dean. This show features interviews showcasing campus and community leaders and discussions about issues and ideas on the SIUE campus and within the College of Arts and Sciences.

Tune in THIS Sunday to hear Brian Greene, PhD, discuss his career as a physicist and his upcoming William C. Shaw Lecture, “Revealing the Universe - A Journey to the Frontier of Understanding” on April 14.

Some recent guests include: 

• Michael Stumbras, assistant professor in the Department of Art & Design
• Kwaku Baryeh, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry

Listen live at siue.edu/wsie. 
Listen to past episodes at siue.edu/segue.

Do you have any neat projects, important research, department updates, and/or student news/awards/projects? If so and you'd like the story to be featured in a future publication, CAS news, and/or social media, please submit it via email for consideration: cascommunications@siue.edu