News

SIUE Mourns Passing of CAS’ Alan Shiller

Alan Shiller, of O’Fallon, Mo., and an instructor in the Department of Speech Communication within SIUE’s College of Arts and Sciences, died Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013, of natural causes. He was 62.

For more than 30 years, Shiller taught speech communication courses at the university level. He earned a bachelor’s from Emerson College in Boston. After earning a master’s at Purdue University, he accepted a faculty appointment at the University of Georgia. In 1980, he accepted an offer as an assistant professor at Lindenwood College in St. Charles, Mo.

Schiller joined the SIUE faculty in 1999 teaching Oral Argumentation Skills, Nonverbal Communication, Interviewing, Strategies for Teaching Speech, Interpersonal Communication and Public Speaking. He received SIUE’s 2001 Outstanding Professor of the Year award.

Arrangements are being managed by The Baue Funeral and Memorial Center in St. Charles, Mo. Visitation at Baue will be held 4-9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014. Funeral service at Baue will be noon, Thursday, Jan. 2.

In lieu of flowers, please consider giving to the following organizations: Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership of Missouri; 974 Shadow Pine Dr., Fenton, MO, 63026; or the Adrienne Arsht Ailey Camp Miami Fund; 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL, 33132.

For a complete obituary, see the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Mandela Honored at EBR Writers Club Kwanzaa Celebration

During the Eugene B. Redmond Writers Club’s 27th Annual Kwanzaa Celebration Dec. 17 at the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus (ESLHEC), Nelson Mandela was remembered in poetry, visual presentations and by someone who visited him in prison.

The free event was hosted by Dr. Eugene B. Redmond, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville emeritus professor and co-founder of the Writers Club with Sherman L. Fowler and Darlene Roy (president).

“I met Mandela in jail in 1977 when four of us went to visit him,” said 78-year-old Reginald Petty, of East St. Louis. Petty served as a director of the U.S. Peace Corps from 1966-83. He also was the national director of the Peace Corps for four African countries: Kenya, Burkina Faso, Swazi Land and Senegal.

“My impression was that he had a lot more spirit and drive than I thought someone would have in his position,” Petty said. “At the time, I was working with the African National Conference (ANC) and Winnie (Mandela).”

All participants in the Kwanzaa program helped audience members to “collaborate with ancestors, recognize the importance of Kwanzaa and instill its valuable principles,” said Redmond.

The highlight of the evening was the Kwansaba Candle-Lighting Ritual, performed by the Soular Systems Ensemble, which included Susan “Spit-Fire” Lively, Roy, Roscoe “Ros” Crenshaw, Jaye P. Willis, Troy Swanson, Charlois Lumpkin (Mali Newman) and Redmond. Also on program was Sylvester “Sunshine” Lee’s drum troupe and dance company, the Community Performance Ensemble.

According to the Official Kwanzaa Website:

“Kwanzaa was created to introduce and reinforce seven basic values of African culture which contribute to building and reinforcing family, community and culture among African American people as well as Africans throughout the world African community. These values are called the Nguzo Saba which in Swahili means the Seven Principles. Developed by Dr. Maulana Karenga, the Nguzo Saba stand at the heart of the origin and meaning of Kwanzaa, for it is these values which are not only the building blocks for community, but also serve to reinforce and enhance them.”

The holiday is celebrated from Dec. 26-Jan.1.

The Seven Principles and the poets lighting the corresponding candle and reading a kwansaba included:

• Umoja (Unity) – Redmond

• Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) – Swanson

• Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) – Roy

• Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) – Lumpkin

• Nia (Purpose) – Crenshaw

• Kuumba (Creativity) – Lively

• Imani (Faith) – Willis

Lumpkin’s kwansaba follows:

Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)

We lend our hearts to share common

cause. We open our minds to create

worlds where none before existed, pooling our

assets to self finance dreams. We stand

united behind our vision of a co-op

economy to build wealth, sustain health, and

ensure the defense of the village nation.

The kwansaba, a poetic form invented by the EBR Writers Club in 1995, consists of seven lines of seven words each with no word containing more than seven letters. Exceptions to the seven-letter rule are proper nouns and foreign words. Both the name and the principles of the poetic device come from Kwanzaa.

The EBR Writers Club was chartered in 1986 and meets from 6-8 p.m. every first and third Tuesday at the ESLHEC. The Club’s trustees are Maya Angelou, Amiri Baraka, Avery Brooks, Haki R. Madhubuti, Walter Mosley, Quincy Troupe, Jerry Ward Jr. and Lena J. Weathers.

For more information about the Club and Redmond, visit eugenebredmond.com/home/, email eredmon@siue.edu or call (618) 650-3991.

The Kwanzaa celebration was co-sponsored by SIUE, Black River Writers Press, Drumvoices Revue and the East St. Louis Cultural Revival Campaign.

Photo Information:

SIUE Professer Emeritus Eugene  B. Redmond applauds during the Kwanzaa Candle-Lighting ceremony

School of Business Holds Management Case Competition

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s School of Business held its third Management Case Competition on Friday, Dec. 6. Hosted in Dunham Hall, the student competition consisted of four teams analyzing and presenting their findings of a Harvard Business Review case.

Instructor Katie Robberson said the competition was first held in the spring. Robberson created the competition with Associate Professor Mary Sue Love, Ph.D. and fellow Instructor Jenni Hunt, as part of their Managing Group Projects classes. The competition was open to 270 students in the class and took place during the semester. The final four teams competed last Friday.

“The students learn important team presentation skills, along with fine tuning the case analysis skills they have been working on during the semester,” said Robberson. “It is an excellent opportunity to learn how to respond to questions from professionals in the business world.”

Robberson and Hunt reached out to School of Business alumni Sarah K. Anderson BS ’02, and Bill Anderson BS ’98, MS ’00, to serve as judges for the competition.  Chair of the Department of Management and Marketing Edmund Hershberger, Ph.D. also sat on the judging panel.

At the end of the competition, Team Managerial Success was named the winner.  The winning team consisted of Martin Lamar, Alex Kniel, Nick Lombardo, and Kelsey Zobrist. For winning, each student earned 5-percent extra credit toward their final course grade.

Lombardo, a junior business administration major from Alton, found the competition to be a valuable experience that provided him with beneficial skills to take into his future.

“Having to combine minds with people you are initially unfamiliar with, learning to work together, developing relationships with them, communicating and ultimately presenting our work were all things I know will be valuable experiences down the road when we fall into our subsequent careers,” added Lombardo.

Photo: SIUE Sophomore finance major Michael Liedtke participated in the third School of Business Management Case Study Competition.

SIUE School of Engineering Hosts Training Program for Chinese Visitors

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering hosted visitors from China this week for a Sustainable Solid Waste Management training program. The training offered the Chinese guests insights as to best practices and management efforts currently used in the United States for the collection, separation, sorting, transporting, and development and implementation of solid waste programs for the public.

The 21 managers and engineers were from the City of Ningbo in Zhejiang Province, China.  Ningbo has an urban population of 3.5 million and produces 1.2 million tons of municipal solid waste annually.

“The city aims to develop a sustainable solid waste management program through source separation and collection, waste minimization and efficient management, and recycling materials,” said Dr. Jianpeng (Jim) Zhou, SIUE associate professor and chair of the Civil Engineering Department in the School of Engineering. “The city also plans to develop institutional and management structures, and programs at various levels for the public’s participation in the solid waste management.”

During the training program, the guests attended presentations and site visits, and engaged in interactive discussions with solid waste management experts. The discussed topics included:

• Principles and practice of sustainable solid waste management
• The perspectives, organization, planning and operation aspects of solid waste management public agency and local municipalities
• An engineer’s perspectives on practical applications and solutions

“The training program brings together high quality professionals and experts, including a world-class speaker Mr. N. C. Vasuki, P.E., BCEE, the former chief executive officer of Delaware (U.S.) Solid Waste Authority,” Zhou said.

The guests also visited SIUE’s Environmental Resources Training Center, which is part of the School of Engineering.

Photo: SIUE’s Jim Zhou (standing, center), associate professor and chair of the Civil Engineering Department, addresses a delegation of visiting Chinese engineers in a School of Engineering classroom.

SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School Student Receives State Award

Starr Gibson, a senior at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St Louis Charter High School (CHS), recently received a 2013 Charter Excellence Award from the Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS).

The 17-year-old was one of five charter high school seniors honored in the state at the INCS convention Dec. 2 and 3. The award also came with $1,000.

“I wasn’t sure if I’d get the award because there are a lot of charter schools in Illinois,” said Gibson, who has a 4.0 grade point average. “But I do work hard. Grades don’t come easy. I study about two hours every day after school.” Gibson added that she is working to be the class valedictorian.

“Starr is the absolute model of everything I think a student should be,” said Colin Neumeyer, CHS language arts teacher. “She has the greatest work ethic of any student I’ve been around. She’s thorough; and she really engages the activities.”

Bridget Nelson, teacher of English IV and women and literature, gave an assignment to her class. Students were instructed to write an essay about the book, “Things Fall Apart” by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe.

“Starr sent an email before the assignment was due,” Nelson said. “She said, ‘I’m attaching the beginning of two essays.’ And she asked me my opinion on which one to pursue.

“I never had a student do that before.”

Gibson has truly developed as a student and learner, Neumeyer said. “She’s not just working for a grade. She’s focused on learning and the process of learning.”

Gibson’s courses this semester include: pre-calculus and introduction to engineering and design, college and career readiness, honors English IV, women in literature and physical education. Some of Starr’s school activities include serving on the Principal’s Advisory Council and CHS Student Council. She is also senior class vice president and a member of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Club at CHS.

When Gibson came to the school as a freshman, a few students called her an “overachiever.” “But I didn’t let it bother me,” she said. “Hard work will pay off.”

Gibson, who has an ACT score of 21, has been accepted to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Tennessee State in Nashville, Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Lincoln University (Mo.) in Jefferson City and SIUE. The high school senior, who wants to be a dietician, has not made any final decisions as to which college she will attend.

“Starr is a prime example of a CHS student,” said Gina Washington, CHS director. “Her academics and 4.0 GPA speak for themselves. I also am impressed with her community service and church involvement.

Washington continued by using a CHS slogan: “I can truly say that ‘failure is NOT an option’ for Starr!”

The mission of the SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School is to prepare students who are career-and college – ready upon graduation. To achieve this mission, the school and its staff will positively impact the educational and economic lives of East St. Louis youth through individualized instruction in core academic subjects, exploration of career interests and aptitudes, assistance in realizing students’ talents, high academic goals and expectations that graduates will become competitive employees for the 21st Century.

Photo Information:

Pictured is Starr Gibson, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center Charter High School senior.

SIUE School of Pharmacy’s Kerr Receives ADA’s Outreach Award

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Dr. Jessica Kerr, associate professor and assistant chair in the Department of Pharmacy Practice in the School of Pharmacy (SOP), received the American Diabetes Association (ADA) LEARN Outreach Award on  Dec. 5.

The annual award is presented to a volunteer who has demonstrated a significant and ongoing commitment to those affected by diabetes by organizing, conducting and facilitating ADA programs and activities that provide education, raise awareness and deliver services in their community.

Kerr became involved with the ADA in 2007. She and colleague Dr. Chris Lynch, director of clinical programs and professor of pharmacy practice in SIUE’s SOP, held a diabetes patient education day on the SIUE campus. They reached out to 15 patients.

Over the past seven years, that program has grown to be the largest ADA program in the Metro-East and helps provide patient education to over 150 patient and caregiver participants.

Over the years, Kerr has coordinated with the ADA Leadership Council, SIUE SOP students organizations and other Madison County Leadership Council members to make sure these education programs are provided free of charge to all participants.

In addition to her volunteer time with the ADA, Kerr is a clinical pharmacist and certified diabetes educator. She provides cardiovascular risk education and diabetes management to central and southern Illinois veterans through the Belleville Community Based Outpatient Clinic associated with the St. Louis Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

She continues to serve as a consultant to many area schools providing education to faculty and staff to ensure safe practices when assisting kindergarten-12th grade students with diabetes.

Kerr’s family history drove her passion about diabetes. “It has to do with my grandfather, Donald Hamner, and his diagnosis with type 2 diabetes,” she said. “I admired his drive to not let a chronic disease hold him back. His example encouraged me to help patients manage their diabetes.”

Kerr’s mission is to empower patients to take care of themselves and minimize the impact of their diabetes. She is grateful for all of the valuable professional relationships from which she and her patients have benefitted through the ADA. She is extremely proud to be making meaningful contributions.

SIUE School of Nursing’s DNP Program Receives CCNE Accreditation

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) has accredited Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s School of Nursing for its Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program through December 2018.

The accreditation is effective as of April 3, 2013, which was the first day of the program’s CCNE on-site evaluation. CCNE is the leading accrediting agency for baccalaureate and graduate degree programs in the U.S.

“The site visit was successfully completed with no compliance concerns and official notice of the maximum five-year accreditation was awarded,” said Dr. Anne Perry, interim dean of the SIUE School of Nursing.” We are so proud of our faculty, staff and students and this is a reflection of their outstanding commitment and service.”

In a move to address the future needs of the nursing profession, the School began offering the online post-master’s DNP degree program in August 2011. The degree, a five-semester curriculum, was designed to address the essentials for doctoral education developed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Currently, SIUE is one of five accredited DNP programs in the state of Illinois.

Building on their specialty practice, DNP graduates design new models of care, use evidence to improve practice and evaluate outcomes along with identifying and managing the health care needs of individuals, communities and populations. They also use technology and information systems to improve health outcomes. As a terminal professional degree, it prepares graduates to practice at the highest level in their specialty area.

In May 2013, the first 10 DNP students completed the program. “Our first DNP cohort graduated with enhanced leadership and policy analysis skills and improved abilities to translate existing knowledge, including the project management skills to improve health care outcomes,” said Dr. Kathy Ketchum, assistant dean for graduate programs. “Our DNP program excels in preparing nursing leaders for the 21^st century.”

Photo: SIUE School of Nursing Interim Dean Dr. Anne Perry.

Entrepreneurs were Focus of SIUE Alumni Association’s Speaker Event

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Alumni Speaker Series presented “From Point A to Point B: How to Start a Business,” Monday, Dec. 16, in the B. Bernard Birger Hall Special Events room on the SIUE campus. The event was hosted by the Offices of Alumni Affairs and Educational Outreach.

Steps for starting a business were discussed during the event, according to Laura Hopping, assistant director of Alumni Affairs.

“In the beginning of the program, everyone was asked to share why they came to this event,” Hopping said. A wide range of answers were given, from individuals wanting to create a business to sell an invention to wanting to grow an antiques business, she said.

Guest speakers Patrick McKeehan, director of the Illinois Small Business Development Center, SIUE School of Business, and SIUE alum Jeffry Harrison, chief operating officer at Rover Enterprises LLC, will guide guests through the path normally traveled between idea and profitability, using proven techniques and a wealth of available resources.

The session included a business plan outline, a brochure on SIUE’s Small Business Development Center and real life examples of entrepreneurial successes and setbacks. Guests were given the opportunity to discuss their business idea and interact with the presenters.

“The Alumni Speaker Series grew out of a desire of our alumni engagement committee to create more opportunities to have alumni engage with alumni and students in the presentation of lifelong learning,” said Steve Jankowski, director of Alumni Affairs at SIUE. “The series was designed to recruit alumni speakers with expertise in a wide-range of subject areas and offer that expertise to alumni and the greater SIUE community.”

Working closely with the SIUE Office of Educational Outreach, the Alumni Association Speaker Series has included topics such as changing careers and grant writing.

Alumni Affairs again will partner with Educational Outreach to bring “Getting Fiscally Fit,” a presentation that will take place from 6-8:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13, in the B. Bernard Birger Hall Special Events Room. The cost is $20 for general admission; free for SIUE students. Registration is available at www.siue.edu/alumni.

“We deeply value the relationship we have with the Office of Educational Outreach as we work together to ensure our alumni know SIUE is their place for lifelong learning,” Jankowski said. “We want our programs to be responsive to the needs and interests of our graduates who may want to learn a new language, become better photographers, or make a dramatic change in their lives or careers.”

This Holiday Season SIUE Charter High School Finds Giving Opportunities among its Own

On Friday, a select number of students at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) will go home with an armfull of wrapped presents.

“I saw a need among some of our students,” said Staccy Lampkin, CHS counselor, who organized and coordinates the CHS Holiday Gift Giving project. This is the second year the counselor has spearheaded the school’s effort to gift some of its students with both items of need and want.

“We give them two pairs of khaki pants and two white shirts, which make up their school uniform and socks, tennis shoes, a pullover or sweat shirt and one item of request,” Lampkin said.

Last year, CHS gave out five holiday baskets. This year, the school has selected 15 students.

“Donations have been pouring in,” Lampkin said. “We may be able to give out more holiday baskets this year.”

The SIUE School of Education, which is the administrator for the CHS, contributed a host of gifts for students. “We sent them about 60 gift suggestions and they bought all of them, plus some more,” said Lampkin.

The SIUE School of Education welcomed the opportunity to participate, said SOE Dean Bette Bergeron.

“The response from SOE faculty and staff was overwhelming,” Bergeron said. “It clearly reflected the School’s support of the Charter High School and its students.

“It is wonderful to have the opportunity to let the CHS students know how much they are valued, and how proud we all are of their incredible successes.”

Several SIUE senior administrators also contributed generously to the project, Bergeron said.

Some additional contributors to the CHS Holiday Gift Giving project included:

• SIUE Office of the Chancellor

• SIUE East St. Louis Center Director’s Office

• Kappa Alpha Psi Edwardsville/Collinsville chapter

• Officer Funeral Home in East St. Louis

• CHS Art Therapy group

• Patricia Thornton, CHS substitute teacher

“It’s amazing that this effort is fulfilling dreams a student otherwise would not have had

filled,” said Gina Washington, CHS director.

Lampkin said she arrived at the idea after observing CHS’ Thanksgiving basket giveaway, spearheaded by Shawn Roundtree Sr., CHS social worker.

“I figured that the students whom Mr. Roundtree was helping at Thanksgiving would also need help for the holidays,” Lampkin said. “As a social worker and school counselor, we work closely with students and come to know some of their needs.”

Parents and guardians of students selected have been notified to come after school Friday to pick up their holiday items, the school counselor said. “Or we will deliver some of the baskets to their homes.

“It’s a delicate situation,” Lampkin said. “We want to be mindful of people’s feelings, while trying to meet their needs.”

 SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School: The mission of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School is to prepare students who are career-and college – ready upon graduation. To achieve this mission, the school and its staff will positively impact the educational and economic lives of East St. Louis youth through individualized instruction in core academic subjects, exploration of career interests and aptitudes, assistance in realizing students’ talents, high academic goals and expectations that graduates will become competitive employees for the 21st Century.

Photo Information:

Staccy Lampkin, counselor for SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School, has coordinated the school’s Holiday Gift Giving project, for the past two years.

SIUE EUE Class Assists Spanish-Speakers in the Area

A Southern Illinois University Edwardsville service-learning project made possible through Excellence in Undergraduate Education (EUE) funding allowed students to help the area’s Spanish-speaking population during the fall semester.

A total of 14 students from a Spanish course spent their time in the Fairmont City Public Library, Casa de la Salud, St. Francis Cabrini, Our Lady of Guadalupe School, Kingdom House, Youth in Need and Grace Settlement, and U.S. Legal Solutions. Students engaged in tutoring the area’s Spanish-speaking youth, translating for Spanish-speaking parents during parent-teacher conferences at schools, and providing members of the community with assistance in gaining access to health and preventive care, and legal options.

“This started as a need to expose students learning Spanish to the resources in Illinois and Missouri,” said Dr. Carolina Rocha, associate professor and Spanish study abroad advisor for the SIUE Department of Foreign Languages and Literature. The department is housed in the College of Arts and Sciences.

“As many students cannot travel abroad to be immersed in a Spanish-speaking milieu, this experiential class was an opportunity to learn from the Spanish-speaking members of our community,” Rocha said.

“In addition, students develop citizenship skills by learning from the local needs. Setting up community partners was a very time-intensive task, because it involved contacting many organizations and identifying needs in which students could help.”

Rocha noted the EUE funds from SIUE allowed establishment of critical partnerships. She worked closely with Sara Laux, assistant director of civic engagement from the SIUE Kimmel Student Involvement Center, and Lisa Thompson-Gibson from the Office of Student Affairs.

“The students who volunteered at Fairmont Public Library were surprised to learn that in a community where 30 percent of its members live below the poverty line, internet providers are not available, so the library is the place where children have access to the internet.”

Students, who worked at the U.S. Legal Solutions law firm, translated documents and called clients. Pharmacy student Matthew Ehrhardt worked at Casa de la Salud educating individuals about healthy eating.

Each student took part in a poster presentation highlighting their experiences in the community.

“This type of experiential learning allows students to take content taught in the classroom outside the university and bring the issues affecting the community to the classroom, as they reflect and problem-solve about them,” said Rocha.

“From the beginning, I urged students to relate their volunteering to their own career goals. But it was in their final reflections that it became evident how much they have benefitted from their service, not only improving their language skills, but also developing meaningful ties with the communities.

“For those students who worked with young children, saying goodbye was hard and emotional. Many of the SIUE students promised to return even though the class came to an end. For some others, this was their first experience as volunteers, but one that prompted other service learning experiences.”

Rocha said an example was the SIUE Hispanic Association organizing College Ya!, a fair to reach out to Hispanic families. Many of her students volunteered their free time to serve as interpreters for SIUE.

SIUE Awards 924 Degrees During Fall Commencement

Commencement Videos - 9 a.m. | 1 p.m.

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus awarded degrees to 924 graduates today during 2013 fall commencement exercises at the Vadalabene Center on the SIUE campus.

During her remarks to the graduates, SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe referenced the passing of Nobel Prize winner Nelson Mandela, anti-apartheid revolutionary and former South Africa president, and the value of inclusion.

“As Mr. Mandela knew, and as we here at SIUE have worked to impart, inclusion is a commitment,” Furst-Bowe said. “Inclusion is a responsibility. Inclusion is strength.

“Think back on one person you’ve encountered while here at the University who, by the very fact that they differed from you in significant ways, expanded your world and left you changed forever … and for the better.”

The morning ceremony celebrated the matriculation of undergraduate and graduate students from the Schools of Business, Education and Nursing. The student speaker was Candi LeDuc, who earned a bachelor’s in nursing at SIUE and chose to return to her alma mater to achieve a master’s in nursing with a family nurse practitioner specialization.

During her speech, LeDuc recalled insight from a professor. “I remember a professor telling me during nursing school that long after I graduate and I am in my nursing career, I would have these ‘ah ha’ moments occur—moments that may seem to test my patience at the time, but moments that I would look back on and realize that it was a moment that defined me and who I am as a person,” she said.

Caring for an infant who was born with a rare disease and airlifted to the hospital where she worked on Thanksgiving night, and nurturing that child through three months in the hospital provided her with an “ah-ha” moment that would lead her back to graduate school.

Kay Gaehle, associate professor for primary care and health systems in the School of Nursing, was the morning speaker. She received the 2013 Teaching Excellence Award, the most prestigious teaching award available to SIUE faculty members.

Gaehle urged the graduates to “build bridges for your future.” She related a number of professional relationships that unexpectedly came to benefit her career along the way.

“You never know who you may meet in your future that you made an impression upon in your past,” Gaehle said. “As you deal with people and the complex world in which we live, be sure to build bridges for your future.”

The afternoon ceremony included undergraduate and graduate candidates from the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences, as well as the School of Engineering. Elizabeth H. Littmann, who earned a bachelor’s in computer science in the School of Engineering, was the student speaker.

Littmann originally earned a bachelor’s in nursing but decided it was not the best fit. After revisiting her childhood memories to determine what gave her joy, she made the choice to pursue a new direction at SIUE.

“The wonderful part about my experience at SIUE is the support I felt from both classmates and faculty,” Littmann said. “When I arrived here, I no longer felt like a number in a sea of students. I was valued for my individual contributions to the school.

“True to its mission, SIUE really is a student-centered educational community that is dedicated to communicating, expanding and integrating knowledge. The spirit of collaboration here is enriched by diverse ideas. This institution really does develop professionals, scholars and leaders who shape a changing world.”

Jeff Skoblow, associate professor of English language and literature in the College of Arts and Sciences, spoke during the afternoon ceremony as the recipient of the 2013 Great Teacher Award. Skoblow was honored with the designation by the SIUE Alumni Association and was nominated by his students.

Skoblow encouraged the graduates to continue to read literature. “The most fundamental training and preparation is the most important kind, and to me, that means preparation in thinking, which to me means reading and writing … and that means literature,” he said. “Be a continuing student of your reading and writing. You will have to want to do it and work at doing it, because the world won’t help you as much as we (SIUE) have helped you. That’s the way forward

“Read (William) Morris, (Franz) Kafka and (William) Blake, and keep going. Keep your mind alive.”

Photo: Candi LeDuc addressed SIUE’s morning commencement session in the Vadalabene Center on Saturday, Dec. 14.

SIUE’s Bentley among Ten St. Louis-Area Artists Awarded $20K RAC Fellowship

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Kathryn Bentley, an associate professor of theater and dance in the College of Arts and Sciences, was one of 10 St. Louis-area artists awarded a $20,000 Regional Arts Commission fellowship.

To read more about this exciting news, visit NPR’s St. Louis Public Radio affiliate site, which is part of the NPR digital network.

SIU BOT Approves SIUE ITS Renovations and General Contractors

The Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees today at its regularly scheduled meeting on the Carbondale campus approved renovations of the Information Technology Services (ITS) computer room in Dunham Hall on the SIU Edwardsville campus. The Board also approved retention of four area general contractors to manage various small projects at SIUE.

The $1.6 million computer room renovation will be funded by ITS fees ($600,000) and University plant fees ($1 million). Mechanical and electrical systems will be modified by replacing the heat exchangers, reconfiguring or replacing server racks, and replacing the electrical distribution and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) in the room. The current room configuration was designed for the mainframe which was decommissioned in 2009. The work will be phased to maintain network operations. A qualifications based selection (QBS) process was used to select BRiC Partnership of Belleville as the project designer.

The Board established open service contracts for general contractor services to:

• Interior Construction Services of St. Louis
• Plocher Construction of Highland
• L. Wolf Co. of Granite City
• Limbaugh Construction of Granite City

As maintenance, repairs and renovation work are necessary on the SIUE campus, the approved contractors will bid to furnish all labor, equipment, tools and materials for small general construction projects. The individual projects will not exceed the formal bid limit of $76,600. The work will be funded from the project budget requiring the services.

SIUE Art & Design Building Receives AIA Architecture Award

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Art and Design annex – certified by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold building – has captured a notable design award from the American Institute of Architects.

The $9 million, 29,000-square-foot addition, adjacent to the original facility and completed in Fall 2012, is the recipient of an AIA Central States Citation Award of Excellence in the commercial architecture category. The AIA region includes five states—Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma. St. Louis-based Trivers Associates was the project architect.

Certified by the USGBC as a LEED Gold building in September, SIUE’s Art and Design Building was awarded the AIA honor in late October. LEED’s detailed credentialing system recognizes the owner and architect’s commitment to understand and practice green building practices. To achieve certification at the Gold level, the Art and Design Building surpassed the total number of design points (60) required in these categories: sustainable sites; water efficiency; energy and atmosphere; material resources; indoor environmental quality; and designing a building that has a high level of safety and health for occupants.

This is SIUE’s first building to receive LEED Gold certification, but not the first time the AIA has honored the campus’ design. In 2007, the AIA Illinois Council featured the University’s buildings among the top 150 Illinois Great Places. According to the AIA, SIUE design ranks with such popular structures as the Illinois State Capitol, the Old State Capitol, the Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower), Wrigley Field, the home of Abraham Lincoln and locally Cahokia Mounds.

“SIUE is committed to environmental stability both inside and outside the classroom, and the Art and Design Building is testament to that,” said SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe. “We’re grateful to the AIA for this select honor.”

Trivers Associate Joel Fuoss, AIA LEED AP and lead designer on the SIUE project, said both the University and design firm were committed to creating a sustainable building with the utmost provisions for both health and safety.

“Safety was a huge priority for all of us,” said Fuoss, adding that a special consultant was enlisted to protect the building’s occupants – particularly those teaching and learning art-related substances – of any potential environmental impact. “There is off-gassing (evaporation of volatile chemicals) and other substances utilized in art creation, and they’re not to be dealt with lightly,” he said. “As the design team, we were committed to recognizing and exemplifying the University’s goals and approach to a sustainable environment. To be recognized by the AIA for this project is truly exciting.”

The two-story building’s positioning of the drawing and painting studios on the north side of the upper floor offers artists many options for use of natural light. “The Art and Design Building, from the core, lauds the wonderful and extensive natural environment that surrounds the SIUE campus,” Fuoss said.

The new building’s second floor also houses the art education and faculty offices, with the university’s art gallery and art history auditorium on the ground level.

More than 95 percent of the construction debris from the project was recycled or reused, according to Fuoss. Eighty-four percent of locally sourced materials also contributed to the project’s AIA commendation. “Even the limestone for the facade was sourced within 500 miles of Edwardsville,” he said.

Incorporating the building addition’s design to complement and enhance the adjacent, original 47,000-square-foot Art and Design facility was a key design objective. “Making the addition highly visible to engage both the campus and the community with the arts was extremely important to the University,” said Fuoss. “The general design concept was to link to the rivers and bluffs that are prevalent in our area,” he said. “The pedestrian flow on the addition’s western side is metaphorical to the river flows.”

SIUE’s award-winning building uses 40 percent less water than a comparable facility that is not designed according to LEED Gold standards. Additional sustainable features include: the state-of-the art heating and air conditioning systems to reduce overall energy consumption by 26 percent; the use of prairie grass in landscaping to eliminate irrigation and set aside green space for the building; and occupancy sensors to regulate lighting when spaces are not in use.

Softball HC Montgomery Contributes to NFCA Book

SIUE softball Head Coach Sandy Montgomery is featured in The Softball Coaching Bible Volume II, a new book recently published by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).

The book features 26 other collegiate softball coaches. It is broken up into six parts with each emphasizing a different aspect of being a head coach for an NCAA program.

Former Iowa head coach and NFCA Hall of Fame member Gayle Blevins put the book together and reached out to Montgomery to contribute.

“The first volume of this book was a pretty good seller in the softball world,” Montgomery said.  “I was honored that someone of Gayle’s stature asked me to contribute.”

The Cougars head coach is the author of Chapter 23, titled “Developing Student-Athletes off the Field.”  Montgomery shares her insight on attributes that winning players should possess, such as accountability, responsibility and work ethic.

Montgomery wrote the chapter shortly after the Cougars won the 2007 NCAA Division II National Championship.  She said that while that championship team wasn’t her most talented squad, it was made up of players who were accountable, disciplined and put the team first.

“You need total players and a culture established within your program,” Montgomery said.
That’s a really important concept for me, and I think it’s instrumental in winning.  You need players with good character, good values and a belief in what you’re trying to do as a program.”

Quotes from former SIUE players Samantha Stanicek (2010-2013) and Kasey (Schlafke) Griffith (2008-2011) also are included as the two share their experiences under Montgomery’s tutelage.

In the book, Montgomery also discussed the importance of coaches being educators and developing student-athletes not only as players, but also as people.

“The culture we’ve established is a big reason why we don’t have many kids leave our program,” Montgomery added.  “You get sustained success with players who contribute both on and off the field.  If you don’t have the foundation for your team to keep being successful together, then you’re not going to win consistently.”

The Softball Coaching Bible Volume II is available for purchase here.

Montgomery and the Cougars kick off the 2014 regular season when they travel to Baton Rouge, La., for the LSU Tournament Feb. 7-8.

SIUE Student Group Continues to Help the Homeless During the Holiday Season

For two Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students, their volunteer work has been an up-close look at the homeless not seen in the news.

“I grew up in O’Fallon, Illinois,” said Amanda Lands, a senior majoring in biological sciences. Lands is the events coordinator for SIUE’s Alliance of Students Against Poverty (ASAP). “Being a part of ASAP has shown me homelessness from another perspective. It has made me realize how similar we all are. We all can get knocked down.”

ASAP is the result of an effort started in 2010 by two former University students. Jairris Vermeire and Michelle Schauf founded the SIUE Homeless Program. It began as a student service group’s effort to provide some relief for the homeless in East St. Louis, said Ray Jhala, ASAP president and second-year pharmacy student.

“Our founding principle is everyone deserves to eat,” he said. “Everyone deserves dignity.”

Now more than 45 students from a wide range of disciplines participate in ASAP’s monthly community service work. One Friday a month, students meet in the Kimmel Student Involvement Center to prepare and package food, water, toiletries and other donated items.

“We have meat-based sandwich items, fresh fruit and a dry product such as granola or chips,” Lands said. “We also get help from Students of Sustainability (SOS). In my opinion, one of the amazing things about the University is the way the various campus organizations all work together to meet needs.”

Seasonal items are also given away, such as blankets and scarves. The following day (one Saturday a month), about 14 students load into two SIUE vans and go in search of the homeless in East St. Louis and downtown St. Louis. The students then give away about 40 lunches and other items from the back of the vans. This month’s ASAP food distribution occurred Dec. 7.

“The Alliance of Students Against Poverty is a group of compassionate students dedicated to raising awareness on the issues of homelessness and poverty in the St. Louis Metropolitan Area,” said Sarah Laux, assistant director, Civic Engagement for the Kimmel Student Involvement Center. “The group strives to assist individuals facing chronic homelessness by providing them with prepared meals, clothing and personal hygiene items.”

When the students take their food to the streets, they are typically out for about three hours or until the food is gone, according to Jhala. “The colder it gets, the harder it is to find the people,” he added.

Jhala has been actively involved in ASAP for the past two years, but confesses he started out with somewhat selfish motives.

“I came into this looking to see what I could get out of it, like how it would look on my resume,” Jhala said. “But now I see the great need and opportunity it provides to help people.

“I recall my first few outings,” he continued. “I remember seeing this burned down building, and there were no other buildings around. There was some shrubbery and a little tent.

“There were two or three people living there with a camp fire. And they were there in the winter temperatures. How do you survive like that? I’ve seen this case over and over again.”

For the most part, Lands continued, people are trained not to stare at others, particularly those who are disabled or different.

“But we don’t want the students to look through the homeless either,” she said. “We tell people not to stare. They are not going to the zoo. We want the students to really see the homeless. We want them to see that they are people. They are people who need help.”

Photo Information:

SIUE students, Tene Brink, left, and Amber Blacke, right, bagged snacks for ASAP’s recent outing.

SIUE students Nicole Hoch (right) and Danica Balbach (left) prepared sandwiches for the ASAP’s food giveaway to the homeless.

NCERC’s Caupert Testifies at EPA Public Hearing

The NCERC at SIUE Director John Caupert testified against proposed cuts to the Renewable Fuel Standard during an Environmental Protection Agency hearing last week in Arlington, Va.

As director of the NCERC, a biofuels research center that conducts contractual research services for the public and private sectors, Caupert testified about the proposal’s impact on investment in biofuels research and development.

“This proposal has already created uncertainty in the marketplace, resulting in the postponement of millions of dollars of biofuels research projects,” Caupert said. “If the proposed levels are finalized, the results will be financially devastating to many sectors of the U.S. economy. Investment in research, development and commercialization won’t be postponed or slowed down – it will stop.”

Caupert was joined at the hearing by representatives from the Illinois Corn Growers Association, National Corn Growers Association and hundreds of biofuels advocates from across the country. The hearing allowed stakeholders to issue oral comments in response to the EPA’s proposed Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for 2014, which drastically slashed the biofuels requirements outlined in the Renewable Fuel Standard.

The 2014 RVO proposal will remain on the Federal Register for public comments for 60 days before the EPA issues a final ruling.

Photo: The NCERC at SIUE Director John Caupert testifies during an EPA public hearing in Arlington, Va., on Dec. 5.

SIUE Fall Commencement Set for Saturday, Dec. 14

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus will award degrees to 924 graduates when 2013 fall commencement exercises occur at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. Commencement will take place in the Vadalabene Center on SIUE campus.

The 9 a.m. ceremony will celebrate the matriculation of undergraduate and graduate students from the Schools of Business, Education and Nursing. Candi LeDuc who is earning a master’s in nursing, will be the student speaker during the ceremony.

Kay Gaehle, associate professor for primary care and health systems in the School of Nursing, is the morning speaker. She received the 2013 Teaching Excellence Award, the most prestigious teaching award available to SIUE faculty members.

The afternoon ceremony will include undergraduate and graduate candidates from the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences, as well as the School of Engineering. Elizabeth H. Littmann, who is earning a bachelor’s in computer science in the School of Engineering, will be the student speaker.

Jeff Skoblow, associate professor of English language and literature in the College of Arts and Sciences, will speak at the afternoon ceremony as the recipient of the 2013 Great Teacher Award. Skoblow was honored with the designation by the SIUE Alumni Association and was nominated by his students.

With questions about ceremonies, contact the SIUE commencement staff, commencement@siue.edu or call (618) 650-2252.

Photo: SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe.

Alumni Speaker Series Presents: “From Point A to Point B: How to Start a Business”

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Alumni Speaker Series will present “From Point A to Point B: How to Start a Business,” from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16 in the B. Birger Hall Special Events room on the SIUE campus. The event is hosted by the Offices of Alumni Affairs and Educational Outreach.

“During the event, we will discuss the steps for starting a business,” said Laura Hopping, assistant director of Alumni Affairs.

Guest speakers Patrick McKeehan, director of the Illinois Small Business Development Center, SIUE School of Business, and SIUE alum Jeffry Harrison, chief operating officer at Rover Enterprises LLC, will guide guests through the path normally traveled between idea and profitability, using proven techniques and a wealth of available resources.

The session will include a business plan outline, a brochure on SIUE’s Small Business Development Center and real life examples of entrepreneurial success and setbacks. Guests will be given the opportunity to discuss their business idea and interact with presenters.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their lunch to the session. Those planning to attend can register online. For more information, contact Hopping at 618-650-2762 or lhoppin@siue.edu. The event is free for students and $10 for general admission. The attire is business casual. A campus map is available online.

SIUE Computer Science Faculty Upgrade Classroom Experience

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Igor Crk and Mark McKenney attended the International Conference for High Performance Computing, Networking and Storage Analysis (SC13) held in Denver during late November. The SIUE computer science faculty members returned to campus with a LittleFe computing mini-cluster to enhance classroom experiences.

Crk and McKenney are both assistant professors of computer science in SIUE’s School of Engineering. At SC13, they participated in a build-out event and brought back one LittleFe mini-cluster to SIUE. During the workshop, they assembled and configured the hardware, and discussed and tested existing and potential educational modules for classroom use with the LittleFe.

“The mini-cluster is largely intended for use in instructional activity involving high performance computing (HPC), parallel programming, and computational and data-driven science,” Crk said. “Its portability, due to its small size, makes it ideal for classroom demonstrations.

“LittleFe is a welcome addition to the computer science department, where it will be a valuable resource for teaching distributed computing concepts that today’s data scientists in both the industry and academia find essential.”

According to its website, LittleFe originated in 2005 as an idea by Paul Gray from the University of Northern Iowa, Kean University’s Dave Joiner, Tom Murphy of Contra Costa College and Earlham College’s Charlie Peck. While the faculty members were teaching computational science education, they realized their curricula depended on local computing resources that were not always present.

During November 2010, the LittleFe project was awarded a grant from Intel. The grant’s purpose was to build 25 clusters to be given to faculty members across the United States. These computational science educators, would use their LittleFe clusters to improve or develop curricula for their students, and ultimately for such globally available resources as HPC University (HPCU) and the Computational Science Education Reference Desk (CSERD).

Crk and McKenney are currently developing learning modules to be used as classroom projects involving cluster computing both at SIUE and within the LittleFe community.

They received support from the SC13 HPC Educators Program and the LittleFe Project to attend the conference.

Photos:  Igor Crk (upper right) and Mark McKenney (lower right).

SIU SDM Dedicates $9.5-Million Markarian Simulation Lab

Simulation Lab Press Conference Video

Southern Illinois University President Glenn W. Poshard, SIU Edwardsville Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe and SIU School of Dental Medicine Dean Bruce Rotter today christened the SDM’s $9.5 million John and Anna Markarian Multidisciplinary Simulation Laboratory. The event at the SIU SDM’s Alton campus also featured a variety of dignitaries.

“This addition to the School of Dental Medicine is not only a commitment to the University, but also a commitment to Southern Illinois,” Poshard said. “These types of investments in our students and schools also are an investment in our communities. This project and others within the SIU system provide construction jobs, permanent jobs and a place that will draw visitors to our neighborhoods and contribute to economic well-being.”

Furst-Bowe talked about the significance of this latest building to the SDM, and SIUE’s continued commitment to improving infrastructure for its students. “The state-of-the-art technology offered within the new simulation lab will significantly benefit the preclinical education program offered to our dental students,” Furst-Bowe said. “This will provide our students with all the tools, technology and confidence they need to offer the best possible care for patients.”

John and the late Anna Markarian are the parents of three successful SDM alumni – Drs. John, Ronald and Randall Markarian.

“The (Markarian) brothers stepped up early in the process and provided a lead gift to help equip the new simulation lab,” Rotter stated. “In honor of John and Anna, and to demonstrate our appreciation for the generosity, kindness and loyalty of the Markarian family, the new laboratory space is dedicated in their name.”

“I am so proud to be a SIU School of Dental Medicine graduate,” said Randall Markarian, who spoke on behalf of the family. “My parents always stressed education for us, and my father admired dentists. He prodded us toward dentistry as a career. We are grateful for the lives that dentistry has provided for us.

Rotter also acknowledged Dr. Neal Roller and his wife, Marilyn, who also provided a generous lead gift to the project.

“The new simulation units are a marked technological advancement for our educational program,” Rotter said. “We are excited by the opportunity to offer our students a more authentic simulation of a genuine patient treatment experience.”

Allen Mayer, deputy general counsel for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, represented Governor Pat Quinn. State Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-113^th District) was on hand along with Illinois Sen. Bill Haine (D-Alton) and Alton Mayor Brant Walker.

Third-year dental student Erin Syzdek spoke on behalf of the students. The president of the SDM student council, she described the improved laboratory learning environment as a major step forward.

Construction of the structure began in October 2012. The School of Dental Medicine received $4.1 million for the project from the state when Illinois Gov. Patrick Quinn signed legislation in 2009 that created the $31 billion “Illinois Jobs Now!” plan.

The lab will be a primary site of instruction for 100 pre-doctoral students in Year I and Year II. It contains 60 simulation units. The 18,000-square-foot addition also will include a ceramic reconstruction room, x-ray room, casting and dispensing areas.

The project also included a new fitness center in the facility’s lower level.

Photo: SIU School of Dental Medicine third-year student Erin Syzdek (with scissors) cuts the ribbon for the John and Anna Markarian Multidisciplinary Simulation Laboratory. From left to right, Deputy General Counsel for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Allen Mayer, Alton Mayor Brant Walker, State Rep. Jay Hoffman, Illinois Sen. Bill Haine, SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe, Syzdek, John Markarian (partially hidden), Randall Markarian, SDM Dean Bruce Rotter, SIU President Glenn Poshard, Ronald Markarian and John Markarian.

SIUE’s Luesse Collaborates with Ohio U on NASA Grant

How do plants react to a lack of gravity and why? Professors from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Ohio University want to find out. Thanks to a roughly $383,000 NASA grant to Ohio University, important work in this area of research will take place.

SIUE Professor of Biological Sciences Dr. Darron Luesse and Ohio University Professor of Molecular Biology/Genomics Dr. Sarah Wyatt will focus on how plant life senses gravity and reacts to it. The research, according to Luesse, will aid in the understanding of basic biology.

SIUE’s portion of the grant is $120,926, which will be utilized during a two-year period. The first year of research of the grant will consist of setting up the experiment and refining methods. By the end of the first year, Luesse said the hope is to send their experiment to the International Space Station.

According to the SIUE Graduate School, a graduate assistant will be hired to work closely with Luesse on research, helping to gather data and analyze results.

“This is a unique opportunity for SIUE to participate in a NASA-funded study of the effects of gravity on plant growth, development and physiological processes—raising SIUE’s profile as an institution that can study plant protein expression in the most extreme environments, including space flight,” said Jerry Weinberg, dean of the Graduate School.

Arabidopsis thaliana, the specific plant being studied, is “the number one model organism for plants,” Luesse said, adding, “Arabidopsis is to plants what the fruit fly is to animals.”

While he noted the plant has no agricultural value, its relative small size and completely sequenced genome have allowed the development of many beneficial molecular biology tools for the Arabidopsis research community.

Luesse said while experiments like this have been conducted on Earth for many years, conducting the experiment in space will allow for a “no-gravity control” environment.”

Luesse and Wyatt will place nearly 1,300 Arabidopsis seeds into a small set of petri dishes that will be stacked and secured within a Biological Research in Canisters (BRIC) module, designed to fit aboard the International Space Station. Each seed is about the size of a grain of sand. The plan is to transport the seeds into outer space, where they will germinate and grow inside the petri dishes.

“When they arrive at the Space Station, the crew will add some fixative after they’ve grown for about five days; essentially freezing them in time,” Luesse said. “Then the plants will be placed in a freezer and remain there until they are brought back to Earth.”

Upon their return to Earth, the protein will be extracted from the plants and sent for sequencing. Identical control plants will be grown on Earth in tandem with the space flight experiment. These methods will allow detection and quantification of all proteins produced in these different conditions, Luesse said.

“By determining differences between the ground and space flight samples, we gain information about which proteins plants make more of in space, and which ones they stop producing,” he said. “He added these advanced proteomic and genomic techniques allow the study of global changes in growth and development at the molecular level.

Luesse said the researchers will use bioinformatics, the process of using computers to analyze biological data, to make gene networks.

“Using computers to analyze these data sets allows the comparison of thousands of proteins between the two samples,” he noted. “In addition, the bioinformatics programs can integrate existing gene expression data to help increase the relevance of the results.

“In the end, we have an ordered list of proteins that are turned on or off during space flight, and in many cases, a rough idea of their biological function.”

This list of proteins will be used to identify candidates for further study, Luesse added. Future experiments will attempt to determine the specific function of these proteins, figure out why they are turned on or off during space flight, and seek to make use of this information in a relevant way.

This might include recommendations for alternatives to existing agricultural practices, identifying specific proteins that can be targets for genetic engineering or the development of further questions that could be answered by future space-flight experiments.

The research could have a significant impact on the approach to long-term space travel, Luesse said. People currently live on the International Space Station, he added, but the researchers’ work is important, because it looks into the future. In order for individuals to live on other planets, or travel through space for any extended period of time, it will be critical to determine appropriate plant life that can be taken with them to supply oxygen and food.

Kalish Resigns as SIUE Men’s Soccer Head Coach

SIUE men’s soccer Head Coach Kevin Kalish will step down from his current role at the end of the calendar year, SIUE Director of Athletics Dr. Brad Hewitt announced Friday.

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce my resignation as head coach of this prestigious program to go in a different direction with my career,” Kalish said.  “My relationships with our players, coaches, alumni, faculty and staff at SIUE will last a lifetime.

“My family and I will always have a special place in our hearts for SIUE.  It is never easy to walk away from something that you love, but I am looking forward to starting a new chapter in my life.”

Kalish will transition to working on a full-time basis as the Technical Director for Missouri Boys at St. Louis Scott Gallagher Soccer Club.  With a great desire to spend more time with his wife and four young children, Kalish chose to make a change.

“We can’t thank Kevin enough for helping us through the process of becoming an NCAA Division I program,” Hewitt said.  “We thank him for following our vision of having quality student-athletes who graduate from this University.  Kevin has always been a first class gentleman and has always focused on the safety, health and welfare of his student-athletes.”

Kalish has been a member of the SIUE coaching staff for the past 14 seasons, including serving as head coach for the last six years.  Before being promoted to head coach in 2008, Kalish was an assistant coach under Ed Huneke.

“I would like to personally thank SIUE, Dr. Hewitt and Coach Huneke for providing the opportunity to lead the SIUE men’s soccer program and be a part of the Cougar soccer family for the last 14 years,” Kalish said.  “I also want to offer a special thanks to all of the players that I have had the pleasure of working with during my time at SIUE.  Our shared experiences have helped shape me both as a coach and a person.”

During his six seasons as head coach, Kalish posted an overall record of 49-46-16 (.514).  He oversaw the program’s return to NCAA Division I status while becoming a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.

SIUE has qualified for the MVC Tournament in every season since joining the league in 2010 and appeared in both the 2010 and 2012 MVC Championship Games.

During 2012, Kalish was named Midwest Region Coach of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) while he and his staff also were named MVC Coaching Staff of the Year.

As head coach, Kalish oversaw the development of 24 MVC All-Conference performers and six NSCAA Midwest All-Region honorees.  Kalish was instrumental in the development of defender Mike Jones, who was selected 28^th overall by Sporting Kansas City in the 2011 Major League Soccer (MLS) Supplemental Draft.

Kalish’s student-athletes also were proficient in the classroom, with nine players being named to the MVC Scholar-Athlete Team during the past four seasons.  Midfielder Ryan Bauer was named to the 2012 NSCAA Scholar All-America Team.

Associate Head Coach Scott Donnelly will succeed Kalish as head coach in January.  Donnelly joined the SIUE coaching staff prior to the 2012 season.

“”First and foremost, I’d like to thank Dr. Hewitt and Chancellor Dr. Julie Furst-Bowe for the opportunity to serve as the next head coach,” Donnelly said.  “I’m honored to lead this program forward and continue the men’s soccer legacy here at SIUE.

“I have been fortunate to work alongside a coach of Kevin’s caliber and wish him the absolute best as he moves to a new stage of his career.  As a program, everything is in place for sustained success, and our expectations for the future are significant.”

Both Hewitt and Kalish reiterated their faith in Donnelly as he becomes the fourth head coach in program history.

“Scott is the best fit that we could hope to find in a search process,” Hewitt said.  “For the past two seasons, he has demonstrated tremendous skill sets, a commitment to SIUE values and is highly respected by our student-athletes.  The administrative staff never hesitated in its complete support of Scott as the leader chosen to continue the success and tradition of SIUE men’s soccer.”

“This program is in great shape, and it’s poised to have continued success under the leadership of Scott Donnelly and the rest of our staff,” Kalish added.  “The appreciation that I have for SIUE is immeasurable, and I wish all of SIUE the best of luck in the future.”

SIUE’s CLI Approved for AIA Continuing Ed Credits

SIUE is pleased to announce that its premier continuing education program for the building industry, the Construction Leadership Institute (CLI), has been recognized by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) as an approved program eligible for continuing education credit.

“In addition to architects, many in the building industry such as professional engineers regard AIA Continuing Education certification as a stamp of approval for continuing education to maintain their certifications and licensure,” noted Chris Gordon, co-director of the CLI and chair of the Department of Construction in SIUE’s School of Engineering.

Registration is in progress for the 2014 session of the CLI scheduled to begin in early January.

The curriculum is designed to develop and hone leadership, as well as effective communications skills.  Other segments focus on crucial professional skills such as strategic thinking, networking, negotiation, finance, the creation of construction contracts, insurance and bonding, risk management and conflict management. The instructional team includes building industry professionals and subject matter experts.

“This program builds knowledge and skills that would otherwise take years of experience to develop,” said Sandra Hindelang, co-director of the CLI and director of Executive Education in SIUE’s School of Business.

To register, call Hindelang at (618) 650-2668 or visit siue.edu/business/cli.

About SIUE School of Business and the Department of Construction in the School of Engineering

U.S.News & World Report Best Colleges of 2014 lists SIUE among the best Regional Universities Midwest for the 10^th consecutive year and among the top 10 public universities in that category. The SIUE School of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International, representing the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide.  The Princeton Review lists the SIUE School of Business as one of the top 294 business schools in the U.S. and abroad.  The SIUE Department of Construction is accredited by the American Council for Construction Education, a leading advocate for quality construction education.

Photo:  Attendees at a 2013 CLI session.

SIUE Photographers Tour of Cuba Set for March 2014

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Photographers Tour of Cuba is scheduled for March 9-15, 2014. It is the first tour to Cuba available to people in the greater St. Louis area.

Travelers will experience a rare opportunity to explore Cuba from a photographer’s perspective. The tour is designed for amateurs, professionals and anyone interested in photographing the sites of the country. The small group of 24 individuals also will meet with professional Cuban photographers.

A tour guide and translator will lead the group, who will be among the first Americans to travel to Cuba legally under the new licensing program established by the U.S. government.

Some of the highlights of the six-day excursion will be:

• Staying at the historical Hotel Plaza in Old Havana and touring the city
• Exploring the sites of modern Havana and the ancient Morro-Cabañas complex
• Traveling to Ernest Hemingway´s picturesque fishing town of Cojimar
• Traveling to the town of Regla and visiting the Church of the Black Virgin
• Visiting the Fototeca, the Cuban photo archives
• Meeting Cuban artists and historians

More information is available at siue.edu/cubatrip.

Prices are based on a Miami departure. It is the individual traveler’s responsibility to purchase and make flight arrangements to Miami in time for the scheduled flight to Havana on March 9 at 1 p.m. Recommended arrival in Miami is the night before the flight to Havana. Recommended lodging is the Miami International Airport Hotel.

All prices are based on double occupancy: $3,000 for general community members; $2,800 for SIUE alumni basic members or SIUE faculty/staff; and $2,600 for SIUE alumni premium members or SIUE students.

A $500 nonrefundable deposit is due Jan. 9, 2014 to reserve a spot. Final payment is due Feb. 7. Payment should be made to SIUE Office of Educational Outreach. The trip is restricted to those 18 years old and older.

The trip is offered through a partnership between the SIUE Alumni Association and the SIUE Office of Educational Outreach.

For more information contact Cathy McNeese (cmcnees@siue.edu) at 618-650-3208 in the SIUE Office of Educational Outreach or Photographers Tour of Cuba Coordinator C. Otis Sweezey (osweeze@siue.edu) at 618-650-2360.

Photo:  Cathedral de la Habana.

42nd Annual Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair Features Talent and Merchandise

Local artists and vendors are displaying their work today and tomorrow during at the 42^nd Annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair.

A variety of jewelry, clothing, stained glass and more are for sale until 5 p.m. today and from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, in the Morris University Center Goshen Lounge.

SETO Presents Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Student Experimental Theater Organization (SETO) presents Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde tonight through Dec. 8.

Based on the novella Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher, SIUE students from the Department of Theater and Dance are taking the stage for performances tonight through Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m., and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8.

The show will take place in the Metcalf Theater on the SIUE campus. For more information, or for ticket information, call the Fine Arts Box Office at 618-650-2774, or toll-free, 1-888-5168, ext. 2774. Complimentary tickets are available for SIUE students.

SIUE & WashU Collaborate on NSF Optimal Control Theory Research Grant

Faculty members from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Washington University in St. Louis are collaborating on a National Science Foundation (NSF) research grant, examining ways to control cancer treatments and the spread of infectious diseases.

SIUE Professor of Mathematics and Statistics Dr. Urszula Ledzewicz and Wash U. Associate Professor Heinz Schaettler, from the Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, recently were awarded the grant—as principal investigators from their respective institutions—to focus on applications of optimal control theory, a field bridging mathematics and engineering to address problems arising in biomedicine.

Ledzewicz, an SIUE distinguished research professor, received approximately $202,000 for SIUE’s portion of the project. She has worked with Schaettler, her husband, on projects for many years. In their past research they have focused their research on mathematical models for various types of cancer treatments. This work will continue under the new grant, aiming at more insights on cancer therapies, especially for combinations of traditional and novel approaches.

These treatments include chemotherapy or radiotherapy targeting cancer cells; immunotherapy, which bolsters the immune response to fighting cancer cells, and anti-angiogenic therapy, responsible for blocking cancer blood vessel growth, thus incapacitating tumors. Through optimal control, the two will analyze the effectiveness of various protocols for combination therapies in the fight against cancer.

“Dr. Ledzewicz is an internationally renowned scholar in the applications of optimal control,” said Dr. Adam Weyhaupt, an associate professor and chair of the SIUE Department of Mathematics and Statistics. “Her work advances the current state of the art in optimal control, while her continued work with graduate students at SIUE will impact the field for years to come.”

Dr. Jerry Weinberg, dean of the SIUE Graduate School, said the project allows for the dissemination of knowledge on optimal control theory to graduate and undergraduate students in mathematics and engineering.

“The work of SIUE’s Dr. Ledzewicz and Dr. Schaettler at Washington University is a key collaboration between our two institutions,” Weinberg added. “Their research contributes to cutting-edge cancer studies and seeks to optimize cancer treatments.”

One of the specific topics under investigation in the project will be metronomic chemotherapy. This is a way of administering chemotherapy at a lower dose—varying or constant—over prolonged periods that has been found to be very effective in several aspects.

“This kind of protocol not only kills cancer cells, but has an anti-angiogenic effect and provides a boost to the immune system,” Ledzewicz said. “It’s like killing three birds with one stone.

“There is growing evidence that indicates more is not necessarily better, but a properly calibrated biographically optimal dose (BOD) can lead to better outcomes.”

This is a topic on which Ledzewicz and Schaettler plan to collaborate with researchers at the Center of Cancer System Biology of Tufts University School of Medicine to use methods of optimal control theory on numerous types of cancer treatments.

Ledzewicz said problems and results of the analysis also can apply to other fields in biomedicine. A second new direction to be pursued under the grant concerns epidemiology—the branch of medicine that focuses on the incidence and spread of infectious diseases in large populations. The two collaborators intend to analyze mathematical models for the spread of infectious diseases from the point of view how to apply vaccinations, treatment and sanitation with the goal to minimize the number of infected individuals, while at the same time controlling the cost.

Ledzewicz has had her research supported by NSF grants for nearly 25 years, but in the current time of tight federal budgets, she said she is “happy that the NSF decided to continue this support.”

Lessons in History, the Holidays and Volunteerism Close Learning Season

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Office of Educational Outreach presents lessons in history, the holidays and volunteerism this week and next to close the Lifelong Learning

Two programs are planned for today:

• 10:30-11:45 a.m., “A New Look at an Old Foe: Admiral Yamamoto and Pearl Harbor,” featuring community member Walter Hall.

“Since Pearl Harbor there have been many investigations to establish responsibility,” said Cheryl Brunsmann, SIUE’s assistant director of Educational Outreach. “The one factor ignored by all these investigations was the Japanese themselves, and Admiral Yamamoto himself.”

The presentation will focus on Yamamoto, himself, who planned and ordered the attack at Pearl Harbor.

• 1:15-2:30 p.m., “Celebrating Christmas, New Year’s and the Twelfth Night in Southern Illinois,” with John Dunphy, owner of Second Reading Bookshop.

Dunphy will share his stories of holiday customs, legends and tales of Southern Illinois, including an examination of the residents of Prairie du Rocher celebrating La Guiannee on New Year’s Eve and hosting a King’s Ball on Jan. 6. He will also talk about old-time Irish and German methods of celebrating the holidays.

The cost to attend each of the programs is $2 for members and $5 for non-members. Those who attend either of these events can park for free in Lot P, which is located behind 200 University Park. Upon parking, enter the first set of double doors and room 1127 is immediately inside. Check out campus maps here: www.siue.edu/maps.

The final Lifelong Learning program of the semester will take place Tuesday, Dec. 10:

• 10 a.m. “The Value of Volunteering,” presented by Dr. Aminato Cairo, SIUE assistant professor of Anthropology, will focus on how students from one of her courses, titled “Ethnographic Fieldwork” learned about real life anthropological skills through engaging volunteer organizations.

“Students had the task to learn about the value of volunteering through participating in volunteer activities and engaging their subjects through interviews, participant observation, surveys and other techniques,” Brunsmann said. “Students will share what they have learned about the value of volunteering with the community.”

The event will take place at Main Street Community Center, 1003 N. Main St. in Edwardsville. There is no cost to attend and no advanced registration is required.

Educational Outreach offers a full array of exciting, intriguing and insightful programs throughout the academic year. Along with Lifelong Learning programming, the office provides Leisure Learning classes and workshops. To register, visit https://aceweb.siue.edu/WConnect/ace/. Learn more by visiting the Educational Outreach website, or contact Cheryl Brunsmann, assistant director of community education programs, cbrunsm@siue.edu, 618-650-3209. If leaving a message or sending an email, provide name, daytime phone number and email address.

SIUE Pharmacy Students Participate in Great American Smoke-Out

SIUE School of Pharmacy students participated in the Great American Smoke-Out Thu., Nov. 21 at Places for People in St. Louis, a non-profit mental health clinic. Six pharmacy students helped educate Places for People clients on the benefits of smoking cessation.

The Great American Smoke-Out event informed approximately 30 individuals about nicotine replacement therapies and tobacco/smoking risks. Participants were encouraged to take the pledge to quit smoking.

“It is incredibly important for student pharmacists to get involved in community service events such as the Great American Smoke-Out,” said Dr. Kelly Gable, SIUE associate professor of pharmacy practice and psychiatric clinical pharmacist at Places for People. “Adults living with serious mental illnesses die on average 25 years earlier than other Americans, largely due to treatable medical conditions. Quitting smoking can have a vital impact on the quality of life of these individuals.”

Oliver Mills, Gabrielle Spann, Cheyenne Newsome, Lauren Youngberg and Lauren Richards, all 2014 SIUE PharmD candidates, and Maggie Wong, PharmD, St. Elizabeth/SIUE PGY1 Resident, participated in the event.

The Great American Smoke-Out is sponsored by the American Cancer Society and is held annually on the third Thursday of November.

Melucci Italian Studies Committee Announces Partnership with SIUE Department of Foreign Languages and Literature

The Matt Melucci Italian Studies Committee has announced a partnership with Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Department of Foreign Languages and Literature in the College of Arts and Sciences.

The committee will raise funds necessary to support activities involving the study of Italian language and culture as well as assisting students in study abroad programs, and helping bring lecturers and international presentations to the SIUE campus.

A former Madison County circuit clerk, Melucci passed away in May 2012 at age 68. He left behind a highly established legacy of loyal community service. His unique personality and dedication to serving the public is reflected by his many friends and colleagues who enthusiastically worked with him and highly respected him.

“It is with this deep sense of gratitude and appreciation to Matt’s memory that this committee has established a fund supporting educational programs and activities,” stated committee Chair and retired Illinois Supreme Court Justice Philip J. Rarick. “We know that Matt would be honored that his dream and hard work towards promoting Italian language, culture, and SIUE students interested in studying internationally will carry on.”

In addition to 20 years of community service, Melucci had a deep appreciation for his Italian heritage. He demonstrated a passion to learn as much as possible about Italy’s history and its contributions to Western Civilization. He greatly enjoyed learning the Italian language. For Melucci, the language was a gateway to better understanding Italy’s culture, its people and a history that spans more than 2,000 years.

Melucci was instrumental in helping build a sense of community among those of Italian lineage in Southwestern Illinois. He was president of the Italian-American Club of Southwestern Illinois and was an advisory board member of the Italian Cultural Association of Southern Illinois (ICASI). He was an advocate in promoting the teaching of Italian at SIUE.

“Foreign languages help open new professional doors to SIUE majors not only nationally, but also internationally,” stated Dr. Joao Sedycias, chair of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature. “The Matt Melucci Fund will help us introduce Italian language and culture to SIUE students who aspire to reach into the global marketplace.”

Contributions may be made to the SIUE Foundation-Matt Melucci Italian Studies Fund, B. Bernard Birger Hall, 30 N. Circle Dr., Edwardsville, IL 62026. The SIUE Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions are tax-deductible.

Photo: Matt Melucci.

SIU SDM Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Set for Dec. 9

A ribbon cutting ceremony for the $9.5 million Multidisciplinary Simulation Laboratory and Student Fitness Center on the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine campus in Alton will take place at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 9.

SIU President Glenn W. Poshard and SIU Edwardsville Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe will be among University representatives, faculty, staff and students on site to celebrate the result of years of planning and commitment. The event will take place on the Alton campus, 2800 College Avenue.

Construction of the structure began in October 2012. The School of Dental Medicine received $4.1 million for the project from the state when Illinois Gov. Patrick Quinn signed legislation in 2009 that created $31 billion “Illinois Jobs Now!” plan.

The lab will be a primary site of instruction for 100 pre-doctoral students in Year I and Year II. It contains 65 simulation units. The 18,000-square-foot addition also will include a ceramic reconstruction room, x-ray room, casting and dispensing areas. Space in the new facility also replaces the school’s fitness center.

Refreshments and tours of the new facility will be available immediately following the ribbon cutting ceremony.

SIUE Student Athletes Treat Homeless Woman to Dinner—Video Story Featured on Fox 2 News

An act of kindness by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville student athletes was highlighted in a video story Tuesday, Nov. 26 by Fox 2 News. The students offered to feed a homeless woman at Wang Gang Asian Eats in Edwardsville. They saw the woman rummaging for food in a trashcan outside the restaurant and invited her inside to join them for dinner.

The restaurant covered the cost of the entire meal, and provided the woman with a bag filled with food and juice.

WSIE-FM to Conduct On-Air Fund Drive Dec. 13-15

WSIE-FM (88.7)—The Jazz Station, broadcasting at 50,000 watts from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, will be conducting an on-air fund drive from 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, with scheduled breaks in between.

During the weekend, special guests will visit or call the station studio to chat with on-air personalities Dick Ulett, WSIE news coordinator Peter Bradley, as well as WSIE General Manager Gregory J. Conroy.

Some of the scheduled guests include MaxJazz Records executive Rich McDonnell; Bach to the Future Band members Mike and Rob Silverman; jazz photographer Roscoe Crenshaw, and SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe, to name a few.

Saturday Night at The Chase Park-Plaza, a weekly show of music from legendary singers of the 1960s and 1970s, and part of the fund-raising weekend, will begin at 7 p.m. that Saturday with hosts Evan Johnson, Kelly Hoffman and John Uzell. Many of the selections are from vinyl albums in the WSIE vault.

The station will offer WSIE premium items for giveaways at various levels of funding including a beverage tumbler and a stylish desk clock as well as CDs from the MaxJazz recording label in St. Louis as well as a Miles Davis CD and a Herbie Hancock CD, both from the Legacy label, with cuts not often heard before.

Conroy said proceeds will benefit the station’s equipment and operating funds. “We conduct these radio-thon weekends twice a year” he said, “usually in the spring and fall.” He said some of the needs of the station include a new transmitter, audio system component upgrades and music library enhancements.

“I realize our listeners tend to prefer we don’t talk about financial need, especially in this economic climate,” Conroy said, “but a good portion of our budget comes from our loyal listeners, so this becomes necessary.

“We will try to make this weekend uniquely entertaining, continuing to play great jazz and interesting interviews between the fund-raising portions of the weekend.”

In addition to the best in modern American Jazz for the St. Louis region from the 1950s to the present, WSIE-FM—The Jazz Station—broadcasts with news, public affairs and SIUE Cougar Sports.

SIUE Opens Call for Excellence in Undergraduate Education Proposals

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is seeking proposals for the FY2015 Excellence in Undergraduate Education (EUE) program. The deadline for proposals from faculty and staff members, and students is Feb. 3, 2014.

“The purpose of the EUE program is to fund innovative projects that will have broad and sustaining impact in undergraduate education,” said Wayne Nelson, EUE program coordinator.

This year’s round of awards will particularly focus on:

• Research for programs that help promote the understanding of retention issues or the development of programs that support retention, persistence and completion

• Programs that develop and share innovative pedagogies, and are applicable in a wide-range of disciplines

• Programs that develop experiential learning strategies and activities—excluding field trips—for courses, disciplines and broad areas of study

• Study abroad opportunities that provide SIUE students important learning experiences and also yield long-term relationships, allowing SIUE’s recruitment of international students

Those contemplating a faculty led international study program and planning to submit an EUE proposal are encouraged to contact Dr. Ron Schaefer, distinguished research professor and director of the SIUE Center for International Programs. He can be reached at 618-650-3728, or rschaef@siue.edu.

“If you have never led an international study program, but would like to discuss some possibilities, you are especially welcome to contact me,” Schaefer said.

The EUE program at SIUE was established in 1986 as a way to provide funding for innovative projects in undergraduate education. The current funding level is about $150,000 per year, and the opportunities are made possible by the Faculty Development Council of the Faculty Senate, the Office of the Provost and the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

According to the program’s website, the program “continues to serve as a catalyst for the continued improvement of undergraduate curricula and programs at SIUE.” Some past project titles have included “Anatomy and Neurology of the Brain,” “Nursing Student Success with Test-Taking Skills,” “A Digital Learning Companion for Human Biology Labs,” “Developing Content for the iPad,” “Creating a Hybrid Information Literacy Competency for Undergraduate Students” and “Development of a Blended Course in Human Biology.”

Proposals must include a project that clearly relates to the education of undergraduate students. Other guidelines are listed on the EUE website. Program description and proposal preparation assistance also is available on the EUE website.

General information sessions for those interested in preparing EUE proposals are being held at noon, Wednesday, Dec. 4 and at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5. Both sessions will take place in the Morris University Center Willow Room. For more information, contact Nelson at 618-650-2729, or wnelson@siue.edu.

SIUE Alum Derrow Driving Innovation

Since its beginning, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has been fostering the growth of its students’ creativity, innovation and knowledge. Brian Derrow, a second-generation SIUE alum, and Kara Derrow, a current SIUE student, are showcasing a prime example of the “Power of the e.”

Brian, a 2011 graduate of the School of Engineering, is launching a Kickstarter project for a new product that transforms exercise to exploration. DeulEX is a kit for stationary exercise equipment which allows the user to virtually explore the world.

DeulEX seamlessly integrates with most exercise equipment. It consists of a speed sensor and joystick that attaches to an existing windows tablet or computer with a USB cable. Imagine riding through the St. Louis Arch, along The Great Wall of China or under the Eifel Tower during your next workout.

With stunning satellite imagery and surrounding 3D buildings, the faster you move in real life, the faster you go in Google Earth. You have full direction control at your fingertips, so you can explore anywhere you want with no restrictions.

DeulEX brings new life to your exercise equipment by taking your mind away from how long you have been exercising and gives you a place to go. A typical two-mile struggle now becomes an eight-mile journey.

While a senior at SIUE, Brian and two friends began the development of the DeulEX product. SIUE’s Senior Design Program is one of the University’s many fine programs that put students on the right path to succeed in the workplace. SIUE was recognized for seven-consecutive years by U.S. News and World Report in its publication, “America’s Best Colleges 2012,” for having an outstanding senior capstone experience.

Students display their acquired working knowledge by developing a project in a similar manor to the project development cycle found in their intended industry. The DuelEX prototype was set up in the student fitness center where everyone was able to virtually explore the world while providing valuable feedback.

The design also was featured at SIUE’s 2011 Senior Showcase. Visitors were able to hop on a stationary bicycle and explore the streets of multiple cities from St. Louis to Hong Kong.

“It was the fantastic support from the SIUE community that helped propel the prototype from a concept in 2011 to the finished product that we have today,” Derrow said. “While at SIUE, I was able to collaborate with professors and deans from multiple colleges including the College of Engineering and School of Business.

“The SIUE environment encourages multidisciplinary learning enrichment and collaboration. Coupled with its strong networks, this is a truly unique and powerful combination that makes SIUE a gem.”

One of SIUE’s newer clubs, started in 2010, is the Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization. CEO sponsors “The Other 40” pitch competition where students can pitch their business ideas for a chance at initial seed money. The DeulEX concept was pitched at the competition and won second place.

“The Other 40” competition’s success allowed for investing additional money into the design and brought it to production worthy status,” Derrow added.

During September, the DeulEX product was launched on Kickstarter.com in hopes of bringing the invention out of the basement and into the marketplace. The website is full of projects of all sizes that are brought to life through the support of everyday people. People who fund ideas on Kickstarter often find the project interesting and want to be among the first to try it out.

This particular crowd sourcing capital concept is advantageous for inventors, because the project creators keep 100% ownership of their work. Since Kickstarter’s launch in 2009, more than 4.3 million people have pledged funding for more than 43,000 projects.

DeulEX, which is proudly made in Illinois, will hopefully be added to the list of successful launches. DeulEX provides everyone with a new adventure every day. It is also perfect for individuals required to do physical therapy or for students interested in world geography and architecture while maintaining an active lifestyle.

SIUE and its networks, including the Alumni Association, provide the tools for past and present students to move forward with their ideas such as DeulEX. To learn more about the product launch for this American-made, SIUE born innovation, visit www.DeulEX.com.

NCERC Director Honored with Illinois Corn Growers’ Ethanol Award

NCERC Director John Caupert has been called the most enthusiastic person in ethanol, and that passion was recognized Tuesday when the Illinois Corn Growers Association honored him with its Ethanol Award during the group’s annual board meetings in Bloomington.

“I’m honored to accept this award from our friends at Illinois Corn, who have been incredible supporters of the NCERC’s mission since long before the Center existed,” Caupert said. “Thank you to the ICGA for recognizing me with this honor, and for their continued dedication to our mutual goal: furthering advances in the ethanol industry.”

The Illinois Corn Growers Association’s ethanol award celebrates the contributions of those that promote the ethanol industry. ICGA President Paul Taylor said the Center’s 10th anniversary and successes under Caupert’s direction made him an obvious choice for the award.

“Under John’s leadership, the NCERC has become a unique facility that is available for any industry partner to use,” Taylor said. “This year as we celebrate 10 years of NCERC making public and private research more available to the ethanol industry, we also celebrate John’s guidance and leadership to the industry for making it happen.”

Caupert has more than two decades of experience in the agriculture and biofuels industries, and was hired to the NCERC post in 2006. His expertise has made him a sought-after voice, conducting dozens of public speaking engagements each year to a diverse range of audiences. He is frequently called upon to educate and inform members of academia, industry leaders and policymakers about the latest news and needs of the biofuels industry. In 2012, He was recognized as an industry leader in the Business Journal’s “Who’s Who in Energy.”

Caupert earned his bachelor of science (1989) and master of science (1995) in Agribusiness Economics and Agriculture Policy from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He remains active at his alma mater, now serving in his third term as the president of the College of Agricultural Sciences Alumni Board of Governors. Caupert, his wife Jodee, and their daughter Jaynanne reside in the growing community of Waterloo, where he was elected to the school board in April 2013.

“At heart, I’m still a farm boy from Southern Illinois who firmly believes that agriculture—and ethanol—represent some of the greatest things about America,” he said. “Ethanol is a homegrown fuel that creates jobs, economic stimulus and reduces our nation’s dependence on foreign oil. It’s pretty easy to advocate for an industry that generates such as tremendous benefits for consumers and for our country.”

Visiting Chinese Scholars Give Final Presentation Dec. 6

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will host the final presentation of the visiting Chinese scholars from Northwest Normal University in Lanzhou, China from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 6 in Founders Hall, room 0308.

The seven scholars have participated in the SIUE School of Education’s International Training program in pedagogy for the last semester. They have observed classes in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Schools of Business, Engineering and Education. They have also made presentations on their areas of research interest.

Visiting scholars are:

• Aiping Guan, finance and business

• Zuhua Dai and Honghong Chen, computer science and engineering

• Lan Wang, social work and sociology

• Kun Li, music in the area of piano

• Huajun Xiong, higher education

• Weijun Wang, educational technology

Mary Weishaar, associate dean of the SIUE School of Education, has worked closely with the SIUE School of Education leadership team for the program, which includes Yuliang Liu, professor of Educational Leadership, Huaibo Xin, assistant professor from Kinesiology and Health Education and Gretchen Fricke, director, School of Education Student Services.

Weishaar said these team members have been vital “to ensure the campus guests have a visit filled with a mix of education, culture, historical perspective and good old-fashioned fun.”

Questions concerning the upcoming presentation or about the International Training Program in Pedagogy can be directed to Dr. Mary Weishaar, mweisha@siue.edu, associate dean in the SIUE School of Education.

SIUE’s Arras Receives Enterprise Leadership Award

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Business named Adam Arras, of Collinsville, as the recipient of the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Student Organization Leader of the Semester Award. Arras is a senior computer management and information systems (CMIS) major.

The scholarship is awarded to student leaders who participate in events, show a willingness to take on responsibility, promote innovative ideas and effectively involve others in the organization.

Arras is the secretary of the Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP), and was nominated by the AITP Faculty Adviser Andrea Hester, Ph.D. Hester, an SIUE assistant professor of CMIS. She nominated Arras because of his willingness to go beyond his assigned duties.

“Last year, Adam decided to become more involved in AITP and wanted to do more than just participate as a member,” said Hester. “Adam was anxious to play a larger role this year and has exceeded the expectations for a secretary.”

Arras said he was unaware of the nomination from Hester until he was notified he had won. “I was completely blindsided,” he said. “Dr. Hester puts a lot of work into the organization. It is an honor to be nominated by someone who works as hard as she does.”

Alongside AITP, Arras is involved in organizations within the community, such as the National Society of Leadership and Success and the Regional Business Council of St. Louis.

“Employers are looking for quality leaders, and this award is a way to recognize students who are leaders and provide measured results,” said Enterprise Talent Acquisition Manager Steve Talbott.

Talbott added that while there were many candidates that were highly qualified to receive the award, Arras stood out.

“The variety in Adam’s activities really made him the ideal recipient,” said Talbott. “He was able to step up and take leadership within AITP, and maintain the continuity of success from the previous leaders.”

Arras is thankful for the award, adding, “I appreciate everyone’s support and would like to thank Dr. Hester for giving me this opportunity.”

Currently, Arras is a call center support intern at Centene Corp. in St. Louis. Set to graduate August 2014, he hopes to become a business analyst and work his way to a project manager position.

Arras accepted his award at a Nov. 21 reception in the large conference room of the new Cougar Business Resource Center (CBRC). He received $100 and will be recognized with fellow recipients at the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Student Organization Recognition Program to be held in the spring.

Enterprise, a primary supporter of the School of Business, has been sponsoring the Student Organization Leader of the Semester and the Student Organization of the Year Awards since 2006.

SIUE Alum Nominated for Leukemia Lymphoma Society Recognition

Patrick J. Jessee, a Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumnus, is featured in two articles for his nomination for the Illinois Chapter of the Leukemia Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) 2014 Man & Woman of the Year Campaign.

Jessee, who graduated from SIUE in 1998 with a bachelor’s in chemistry, is recognized in the University of Illinois Alumni Network (uialumninetwork.org/blog) and the website (volunteer-spotlight-patrick-jessee/) of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Greater Illinois Chapter.

Jessee is a Chicago firefighter and paramedic who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2011.

SIUE Announces 2013-14 Noyce Scholars in Science, Math

Five Southern Illinois University Edwardsville undergrads preparing to teach math or science have been named Noyce Scholars for 2013-14.

SIUE’s Robert Noyce Scholarship Program has received a $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation – $11,500 per student annually over a five-year period – to recruit and prepare STEM (science technology, engineering and mathematics) teaching candidates for work at the middle- and high-school level in high-needs schools.

Led by Jessica Krim, Ed.D., assistant professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, the program represents a partnership of the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Education, the SIUE STEM Center, master teachers, community-based organizations, local community colleges and cooperating school districts.

Noyce Scholars chosen for 2013-14 are: Stephen Foster of Pittsfield; Mara Holloway of Belleville; Amanda Hyett of Dalton City; Jenna Kunde of Mascoutah, and Courtney Thomas of Blue Mound.

“This grant will positively impact these and future Noyce Scholars by providing an enhanced curriculum that will prepare them to work effectively as STEM educators, especially in areas of high need,” said Krim. “Additionally, by involving quality STEM educators from the community and working with local community colleges, it is my hope that we maximize the networking potential for these scholars, and raise SIUE’s visibility in the area of teacher preparation of secondary educators.”

Scholarship applicants undergo a rigorous evaluation process, according to Sharon Locke, Ph.D., director of the Center for STEM Research, Education and Outreach. Scholars are selected based upon criteria such as outstanding intellectual and teaching potential, and the ability to teach in a high-needs setting. Another defining characteristic in a Noyce Scholar, said Locke, is the individual’s ability to serve as a role model for students in targeted districts. Financial need is also a consideration.

“The first cohort of SIUE Noyce Scholars is an impressive group,” Locke said. “They are passionate about teaching STEM and inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers. We expect that the Noyce Scholars will become leaders in their schools, and have a strong impact on improving the quality of science and math education in Southern Illinois. I am excited that they will be working with the SIUE STEM Center to support our community outreach programs.”

All five recently named scholars are working with the university’s STEM Center in 2013, according to Locke, before they graduate and benefit from the scholarship.

Additional education for Noyce Scholars involves experience and training in the areas of research, teaching, outreach, service and leadership, Krim said, along with building and honing necessary skills for teaching and working with diverse populations.

The application process for the 2014-15 Noyce Scholarships and 2014 summer Noyce Scholarships begins in February. The summer internship program awards $2,500 to qualified freshman and sophomore applicants for 200 hours of in-service training.

The SIUE School of Education prepares students in a wide range of fields including community health education, exercise science, instructional technology, psychology, speech-language pathology and audiology, administration and teaching. Faculty members engage in leading-edge research, which enhances teaching and enriches the educational experience. The School supports the community through on-campus clinics, outreach to children and families, and a focused commitment to enhancing individual lives across the region.

SIUE Alum Jeffry Harrison Helping to Throw College Students a Bone

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Business alum Jeffry Harrison, chief operating officer of RoverTown, recently was featured on the Domain Tech Report of Techli.com at http://techli.com/2013/11/dtr-rovertown/.

Rovertown is an app that sends local coupons to college students’ smart phones when they click on a bone. Harrison and Mike Philip, chief executive officer of RoverTown, were featured in the video.

Techli.com is presented by Washington University and hosted by Edward Domain. The site features news and editorials about technology, businesses and ideas that are changing society.

For more information, visit Twitter: @RoverTown or @Techli TV.

Photo Information: Jeffry Harrison, SIUE alum on the right, is pictured with his business partner Mike Philip, CEO of RoverTown.

SIUE Alum and SDM Student to Appear on Wheel of Fortune

Since she was a little girl in Elsah, Kaydi Legate dreamed of one day appearing on the television game show, Wheel of Fortune. That dream will come true for the second-year student in the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SDM) during a March 17 episode set to air at 6:30 p.m. on KSDK-TV, the NBC affiliate in St. Louis.

The young woman entered the SDM after earning her bachelor’s in biomedical sciences from SIUE in 2012.

Last summer she heard the “Wheel Mobile” was going to be in St. Louis on her birthday looking for contestants for the show. All she wanted for her birthday was to go to the auditions. So, her friends, obliging her single birthday wish, accompanied her to Lumiere Place Casino and Hotel downtown.

Her entourage arrived for the morning audition session. During the audition, people were called up randomly. Her best friend, Liz Wall, was among one of those selected.

“She really didn’t want to do it,” recalled Kaydi. “She asked if I could go in her place, but they wouldn’t allow that.”

Instead, she and her friend were told their names would be submitted for a “Best Friends Week” segment later in the season, and they would find out by email if they were selected to audition for a show.

“Typically, with the first Wheel Mobile audition, you would have had to have been one of the people chosen on that day, and they would also select a few random people to come back for a second interview,” Kaydi said.

To her surprise, Kaydi received an email a month later saying she had been selected for auditions. “I was surprised,” she remembers. Nearly 45 people turned out for the next audition.

“Once we got there, we had to do some ‘game play,’ naming letters,” she said. “Then there was a written exam to determine puzzle-solving ability. We were given five minutes.

“After that, we were told to take a 30-minute break and they were going to grade the tests, and some of us would be called back.”

Kaydi was among a total of 24 people who made the cut. Those who were called back for the afternoon portion of the audition engaged in more intensive game play and were asked to talk about themselves a bit. She said, “They were checking our stage presence.”

She was not sure what the results would be from that audition. “From there, it was ‘You will either hear from us in two weeks or you won’t.’” She did—and her Los Angeles adventure began.

She shared the good news with her friends and family using Facebook and text.

Legate’s parents, Bob and Jeri, were excited for their daughter. The Legates are both SIUE alumni with undergraduate and graduate degrees. Bob earned his through the School of Business and Jeri achieved hers through the School of Education. Bob learned of his daughter’s good news by receiving “a group text message from our immediate family members who were all sharing the excitement from the notification.”

“I was really happy for her,” said her father, associate director in University Housing at SIUE. “Kaydi has been a Wheel of Fortune fan ever since she was very little. She still enjoys the game show and has had Wheel of Fortune games that she has played over the years, both electronic and board, as a form of entertainment and relaxation—almost to the point of obsession.”

Kaydi flew to Los Angeles on a Thursday night and spent all day Friday taping for the upcoming episode.

“It was just really exciting to go,” she said of the experience. “This is something I have always wanted to do since I was little. It’s just unreal to think that my life’s dream was coming true.”

Following the taping, the Legates stayed in LA for the weekend. Along with her parents, Kaydi was joined by her grandmother, Sandy Legate, and her youngest sister, Kayli, who is attending Jerseyville High School.

“My sister and I had never been to California before,” she said. “Everybody has been able to keep up with me on the journey through Facebook. It was unreal. It was seriously a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me.

“I was really lucky it was on a Friday. My teachers were really great about working with me on my schedule so I could go. I think they were just as excited as I was.”

Legate is slated to graduate from the SDM in 2016.

Another sister, Kayci Legate, who is a first-year student in the SIUE School of Pharmacy, was disappointed she was not able to re-arrange her schedule to make the taping.

“After Kaydi had completed the second round selection process, I had been constantly checking the mail at our parents’ house for Kaydi in anticipation of her receiving the Wheel of Fortune invitation,” Kayci said. “I immediately opened the mail and called Kaydi and told her that she had been notified.

“She was really excited, because the day before she was feeling down since the deadline had passed and she had not received her notification. I called her and told her the good news. We both shared a scream together!”

The sisters, who are very close, had hoped it would work out for Kayci to join the family in LA.

“I tried to think of every possible way that I could go with her,” she said. However, I could not find any way to join her given my course work in the pharmacy program—quizzes and exams.

“I sent her off with my positive support. The day of the event, I really didn’t get to talk to her until she was finished with the show.

“Even after the event, I do not have the details given the security and confidentiality requirements.”

Legate has an older sister, Kayri (Legate) Reynolds, who is a graduate from the School of Nursing. Her youngest sister, Kayli, plans to attend the University when she graduates from high school.

Symposium Promotes Regional Goal to Grow Immigrant Population

• SIUE Immigration Symposium
• St. Louis Mosaic Project: Regional Prosperity through Immigration and Innovation 
• Southern Illinois Immigrant Demographics and Key Issues 

How universities across the region can engage St. Louis companies to make this the fastest-growing metropolitan area for immigration by 2020 was the subject of an immigration symposium held Tuesday, Nov. 12 at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

“Immigration as an Economic Development Tool,” jointly hosted by University Park SIUE, Inc. and Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois, featured strategies for dramatically increasing the rate at which greater St. Louis grows its immigrant population over the next six years. Engaging both businesses and higher education institutions in developing solutions to keep foreign-born university graduates here and retain that global talent base, says James Pennekamp, special assistant to the SIUE chancellor for regional economic development and University Park executive director, is one of the best ways to ensure the region’s global competitiveness.

Pennekamp is a founding member of the steering committee that formed two years ago to launch The St. Louis Mosaic Project. The initiative’s mission, “Regional Prosperity Through Immigration and Innovation,” is to dramatically increase the rate at which greater St. Louis grows its immigrant population – and to move the MSA into first place of all major U.S. cities in immigrant growth by 2020.

According to Pennekamp, an existing barrier impeding this mission is the fact that student visa restrictions prevent foreign-born graduates to remain in the U.S. and begin their professional careers.

“Research shows that 80 percent of international students studying in the St. Louis region would like to stay if they could remain in the U.S. to find a job after graduation,” said Pennekamp, “and if their visas didn’t require them to leave at that point. These high-performing graduates provide talent and cultural diversity that make our region better going forward, and they’ll contribute to our overall Mosaic Project goal of making the St. Louis MSA the fastest-growing region for immigrants by 2020.”

Increasing the St. Louis region’s immigrant share to a number-one ranking of all U.S. cities is an ambitious but doable goal, said symposium presenter and project director Betsy Cohen, citing a 2012 study performed by Saint Louis University economics professor Jack Strauss, Ph.D. According to the study, St. Louis has the lowest immigration share of any top 20 city and the second-slowest overall population growth. Other metro areas in the top 20 average 40 percent faster economic growth over the past decade, she added.

“St. Louis’ foreign-born community is highly educated with predominantly white-collar jobs,” Cohen said. “They earn an average salary of $83,000, are 44 percent more likely to have at least a college education and 60 percent more likely to be entrepreneurs. But St. Louis currently has fewer than 5 percent foreign-born living in our region, placing our region with one-quarter the immigrants of other major MSAs. Recent studies show that St. Louis organizations providing services to immigrants are fractionalized and uncoordinated compared to other regions across the country,” she said. “That’s what The Mosaic Project is about. Supporting, linking, engaging and growing these relationships.”

A Nigerian-born, Chicago-grown immigrant entrepreneurial success story, presenter Ola Ayeni shared his experiences at the symposium. Ayeni came to the U.S. at age 26 and in 2009 launched Dining Dialog, a high-tech hospitality marketing company. Ayeni competed against 700 others to win the 2013 Arch Grant Global Startup Competition for his 2012 software platform, eateria.

Photo: SIUE University Park Executive Director Jim Pennekamp.

SIUE Professor Holt Delivering Talk on Native American Heritage Month

In recognition of Native American Heritage Month, Dr. Julie Zimmermann Holt, professor of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Department of Anthropology, will deliver a presentation to the Daughters of the American Revolution at 7 p.m. tonight, Nov. 21 at the Main Street Community Center in Edwardsville.

“Native American History and the SIUE Archaeology Field School” will be the topic of the discussion, which will focus on Native American history and SIUE archaeological finds.

This is the last installment in a series of events to observe Native American Heritage Month. Earlier this month, Brad Koldehoff, chief archaeologist for the Illinois Department of Transportation, visited campus to discuss tribal consultation and archaeology of the new Mississippi River Bridge project in East St. Louis. Then, LaDonna Brown, a member of the Chickasaw Nation, spoke passionately on campus to an audience of more than 100 people about the culture and tradition of the Chickasaw.

Native American Studies program departments of Anthropology, Historical Studies, Philosophy and Political Science, as well as the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration contributed to the awareness initiative.

SIUE Electrical Engineering Senior Wins 2013 Lincoln Laureate Award

Christopher Branch, a senior electrical engineering major from Shiloh, was named this year’s recipient of the Student Laureate Award for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville by the Lincoln Academy of Illinois.

Branch received the Lincoln Medal, a Certificate of Merit, and a monetary grant at a ceremony held in the Hall of Representatives in the Old State Capital hosted by the Governor of Illinois on Nov. 2.

The Lincoln Academy began the Student Laureate Award Program in 1975 to honor students that represent the values and virtues of America’s 16^th president, Abraham Lincoln. Recipients are chosen for their overall excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities.

“I felt very honored that not only the School of Engineering feels that I’m suitable to represent them as their nominee, but the University also felt I was the best nominee on the SIUE campus,” said Branch.  “It feels great to know that the work I do does not go unnoticed.”

During 2011, Branch received the SIUE 1^st Place Rising Sophomore Academic Award, a University wide paper writing competition. In 2012, he was awarded a scholarship from The Boeing Company; a prestigious award based on a student’s academic achievements and extracurricular activities. Branch also received the 2013 Electrical Engineering Outstanding Junior Award.

During the summer of 2013, the School of Engineering ran a pilot study to gather data on the impact of supplemental instruction in pre-calculus classes. Branch was recruited to be part of the project team. He worked with his peers as a supplemental instructor in an interactive problem-solving environment. The aim was to improve their understanding of the course material.

“Although he is intellectually gifted enough to thrive as an engineering student, studying on his own, and has demanding time pressures as a husband and father, Chris seeks out and tries to study with students, who need academic help, because he is gratified in seeing those students succeed,” said Bob LeAnder, an associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.  “He has a superior work ethic.”

A non-traditional student, Branch began his studies at the age of 26, while raising a family. He was discouraged from signing up for classes by many people. He said he was told he could not finish his studies while raising a child.

He proved them wrong—not only effectively balancing school, work and family, but excelling in the demanding program and earning a 3.95 GPA.

“I knew it would be difficult, but I believed that it would be worth it,” said Branch.  “It all started with standing firm on my belief that education is worth the extra effort.”

SIUE Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Student Wins 2013 Outstanding Thesis Award

Missael Garcia Hernandez, an electrical and computer engineering graduate from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, recently was named the recipient of the University’s Outstanding Thesis Award.

Born and raised in Mexico City, Garcia Hernandez is now a Ph.D. student in computer engineering at Washington University in St. Louis and credits his experience at SIUE with giving him the opportunity to go farther than he had expected. 

“Moving to another country to start a new life and face new challenges without any guarantees of success was a tough life decision,” he said. “Fortunately for me, the support of extraordinary people like Dr. (Bradley) Noble, my advisor, and friends in the SIUE community made the transition smooth, enriching and enjoyable.

The Outstanding Thesis Award is presented annually to a graduate student whose thesis has been identified as a truly outstanding example of excellence in graduate-level research and writing.  Garcia Hernandez will receive a cash prize of $500 and a framed commemorative certificate.  In addition, his thesis also will be nominated for the 2014 Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools Distinguished Master’s Thesis Award.

“Missael developed a novel approach to the layout of the capacitive sensors so that they would conform to the roof of an arbitrarily shaped mouth,” said Oktay Alkin, chair of the SIUE Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “His work points to a new direction in the area of human-computer interfacing; allows for hands-free control of a computer, and had the potential to lead to new developments that can be especially beneficial for quadriplegics.”

 Garcia Hernandez received the award Oct. 30 at the SIUE Graduate School Honors Day Luncheon.

University Museum Continuing Knit and Crochet Lunches on Campus

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville University Museum’s inaugural “Yarn Bomb” last month was a success. To make next year’s celebration of knitted and crocheted artwork even bigger and better, the Museum is continuing its popular Knit in Public activities, during lunch hours throughout the year.

“Our goal is to be able to do a yarn bombing once each year and take out last year’s donations and add on to them,” said Noelle Norris, graduate assistant with the University Museum.

Knitted and crocheted artwork produced by fiber artists across the region will again be featured on the SIUE campus next fall. In preparation, fiber artists are encouraged to attend lunch sessions to keep up the effort.

Days for the remainder of the year are tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 21; Tuesday, Dec. 3; Thursday, Dec. 12 and Tuesday, Dec. 17. All events are from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on the first floor of SIUE’s Morris University Center.

This year, the amount of knitted and crocheted projects that poured into the University Museum provided the staff enough materials to dress the 5-foot-tall central section of the two Louis Sullivan columns outside the Lovejoy Library, and to blanket four of the eight 10-foot-tall base pillars of a metal sculpture in the open area between the Morris University Center and the Engineering Building.

“We have received donations of yarn and unfinished Afghans from faculty and staff on campus, as well as the Coventry Crafters Group” Norris said in October, adding that individuals from surrounding communities contributed pieces to the cause.

She spearheaded the effort and organized lunchtime knitting and crocheting sessions in the SIUE Stratton Quadrangle. As the weather has grown colder, the sessions have moved indoors to the MUC.

The pieces that were used for this year’s event are being washed and stored for use next year, and additional works will be added to the mix.

For more information about the Yarn Bomb or how to get involved in the Knit in Public activities, check out the University Museum’s Facebook page, or call 618-650-2996.

Educational Outreach Programs Focus on African-Americans and Africa

The African American Journey and It’s Not Easy Making a Living as a Predator: Life on the Great Savannahs of Eastern and Southern Africa are on the agenda tomorrow for the Office of Educational Outreach programs at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

The African American Journey with Courtney Kenner, graduate assistant for Dr. Venessa A. Brown, associate provost for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, will take place from 10:30-11:45 a.m. tomorrow, Nov. 20, at 200 University Park, room 1127.

A stimulating question-and-answer period will follow the showing of a 20-minute-chaptered DVD that examines the African American journey from Africa to Colonial America; the Revolutionary War; the Civil War and the Underground Railroad; Emancipation, the time in U.S. history leading to the Civil Rights Movement and the election of President Barack Obama.

The film includes the famous speech, “I Have a Dream,” by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The second Educational Outreach event of the week, It’s Not Easy Making a Living as a Predator: Life on the Great Savannahs of Eastern and Southern Africa will feature Dr. David E. Ault, emeritus professor of economics and finance. The event will take place from 1:15-2:30 p.m. tomorrow Nov. 20, at 200 University Park, room 1127.

Ault will discuss the ecosystems of Eastern and Southern Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa.

“Dr. Ault explains that there are complex, finely balanced relationships among the grazing herds, large and small predators, and scavengers,” said Cheryl Brunsmann, assistant director of Educational Outreach. “When all of the various actors play their parts, the result is an ecosystem that is sustainable indefinitely.

“The roles played by predators and scavengers are key to the health of these systems.”

The cost to attend each of the programs is $2 for members and $5 for non-members. Those who attend either of these events can park for free in Lot P, which is located behind 200 University Park. Upon parking, enter the first set of double doors and room 1127 is immediately inside. Check out campus maps here: www.siue.edu/maps.

Educational Outreach offers a full array of exciting, intriguing and insightful programs throughout the academic year. Along with Lifelong Learning programming, the office provides Leisure Learning classes and workshops. To register, visit https://aceweb.siue.edu/WConnect.ace. Learn more by visiting the Educational Outreach website, or contact Cheryl Brunsmann, assistant director of community education programs, cbrunsm@siue.edu, 618-650-3209. If leaving a message or sending an email, provide name, daytime phone number and email address.

SIUE Engineering Students, Alums Garner ASCE Awards and Scholarships

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering was recognized throughout the American Society for Civil Engineers (ASCE) St. Louis Section’s 2013 annual dinner. The event was held Sept. 27 at Lombardo’s Trattoria in St. Louis.

Civil Engineering graduate student Evan Wilson was awarded an ASCE St. Louis Section Scholarship. Section scholarships are awarded to individuals, who are passionate about civil engineering, hardworking, professional, competent, ethical, enthusiastic, conscientious, organized, focused, dedicated, respectful and strong leaders with great character. Common themes among the applicants included service, respect for the environment and working for the common good. Wilson also received a Structural Institute Scholarship.

Civil engineering graduate student Damien Di Vittorio received a 2013 Mike Alizadeh/Geotechnology Scholarship. The intent of the scholarship is to provide financial assistance for geotechnical/environmental studies towards a master’s degree. The awardee is selected annually based on their enthusiasm for geotechnical/environmental engineering studies, their appreciation of the importance that field experience plays in the professional growth of an engineer and their academic record.

SIUE civil engineering alum ’05 William Stahlman received the Region 7 Outstanding Younger Member Award. This award is given annually to an engineer, 35 years of age or younger, who has exhibited professional achievement and made significant impact to the field of civil engineering.

Directly upon graduation from SIUE, Stahlman was appointed by the Port’s board of commissioners to serve as the port engineer. At the time, he was the youngest professional engineer to serve in this key position since the Illinois State Legislature created the Port in 1959. As port engineer, he is responsible for managing all engineering and construction projects within the Port’s jurisdiction. He received the St. Louis Section Young Award for Professional Achievement in 2011. Mr. Stahlman serves as the practitioner advisor for SIUE.

Brent Vaughn, SIUE Civil Engineering adjunct lecturer and lab specialist, was sworn in as director of professional development for the ASCE St. Louis section. Jim Zhou, associate professor and chair of the Department of Civil Engineering, noted that Vaughn’s appointment will lead through a nine-year administrative path.

Former SIUE Construction Management Chair Dr. Narayan Bodapati received the Professional Recognition Award. The honor recognizes the importance of professional attainment in the advancement of the science and profession of engineering. It is presented to a member who has made substantial contributions to the engineering profession and the St. Louis Section. After nearly 40 years in private practice, Bodapati joined the SIUE faculty in 1995 to share his experience with students pursuing careers in the construction industry. After 10 years at SIUE, he now serves as an adjunct professor for the Missouri University of Science and Technology Engineering Education Center.

For a complete review of the ASCE’s annual dinner event, visit asce.org.

SIUE’s Beta Alpha Psi Recognized as Superior Chapter

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s national honorary accounting society, Beta Alpha Psi (BAP), was recognized as a Superior Chapter for the second-consecutive year. The recognition comes from its national organization for the 2012-2013 academic year. In order to receive this recognition, chapters must excel in the areas of academics, professionalism, service and leadership.

“Superior status is a great recognition of our students’ hard work and participation in professional and service activities,” said BAP’s advisor, Mike Costigan, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Accounting.

According to Costigan, the society requires all members to participate in service activities and professional meetings throughout the academic year. This is meant to provide the students with a professional education and community involvement.

BAP President and graduate accounting student Abby Tonkin, of Canton, said the accomplishment was not easy and the recognition shows how hard BAP members have worked. “All of the members, officers and accounting firms that have been involved in BAP events have put in a lot of time and hard work in order for our chapter to meet the requirements for Superior status,” said Tonkin.

This year, BAP hosted several guest speakers from area businesses such as CliftonLarsonAllen, Brown Smith Wallace, Edward Jones and Northwestern Mutual.

In addition to guest speakers, Tonkin said BAP members volunteered throughout the Edwardsville community with events such as Walk to End Alzheimer’s, Making Strides, SIUE Gardens Cleanup, VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) Preparation and Relay for Life.

In previous years, BAP has been recognized as a Distinguished Chapter. After becoming a Superior Chapter in 2012, BAP strove for the status again.

Tonkin said the support of the School of Business and its faculty has had a major influence on the organization’s success. “The faculty in the School of Business and the Department of Accounting are extremely supportive of Beta Alpha Psi,” said Tonkin. “The professors help promote professional meetings to their classes as well as let us recruit their students.”

With the recognition comes an award of $275 sponsored by the KPMG Foundation. Tonkin said the financial reward will provide BAP members with the tools necessary to pursue the status next year.

Photo: (From L-R): Beta Alpha Psi’s officers Tiffany Ramirez, Lisa Holsapple, Savannah Connaway, and Abby Tonkin.

Navy Special Forces Speaker Advises Project Management Symposium

Management Symposium Video

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s School of Business entertained more than 400 attendees at its 2013 Project Management Symposium. The event was held Friday, Nov. 15, at the Morris University Center on the SIUE campus. The annual one-day event focused on cultivating the art and science of project management.

Headlining the closing session was Petty Office Justin Ponder, of U.S. Navy Special Forces.  The presentation was “When Your Life Depends on Your Team:  Lessons in Building and Leading Teams.”  Zachary Schaefer, assistant professor of speech communication in SIUE’s College of Arts and Sciences, interviewed Ponder, who is stationed at the Naval Amphibious Base in Little Creek, Va.

Ponder is a mobility expert and his responsibilities as team leader for a special warfare combatant-craft crewman team include insertion and extraction of forces. Through the half-hour presentation, he shared a variety of concepts for successful teams:

-          Effective communication is vital to teamwork

-          There must be absolute, authentic trust within the team

-          Every team member must have clear knowledge of their assignment and task with complete trust in and dedication to the team

-          It is important as a leader to know the skills of every member of the team in order to utilize the team to the best of their abilities

-          A culture of learning is important as you must adapt to a changing environment

-          A leader should improve skills and help boost morale

-          You don’t have to like everyone on your team, but putting aside any personal issues is essential to attaining your goal

-          Establishing accountability for each team member creates better morale

-          In business, rectify problems and make sure that they don’t happen again

-          Post-event reviews allow everyone to reflect upon their experiences and spread knowledge to others

Schaefer also contributed his thoughts. “Communication is the oil that keeps the machine going whether it is in project management or naval special warfare,” he said. “If you can effectively communicate, you can form strong relationships, strong families, strong companies and strong nations.

“You’ve got to manage people’s roles. We don’t always act how we are supposed to. A good leader addresses when someone is acting differently than their norm.”

The School prepares the next generation of PM practitioners through academic programming in project management in undergraduate and graduate degree programs. It also provides continuing education for PM professionals through the Project Management Training portfolio of the Executive Education division.

Alestle Wins Associated Collegiate Press Award

SIUE’s student newspaper, The Alestle, won a Best of Show award at the annual Associated Collegiate Press national convention in New Orleans, Oct. 23-28.

Alestlelive.com. ranked among the Top 10 of schools in the 10,000-20,000 population range for news website general excellence:

1. The Weal, SAIT Polytechnic, Calgary, Alberta
2. The Orion, California State Univ., Chico, Chico, Calif.
3. The Appalachian, Appalachian State Univ., Boone, N.C.
4. The Sun, Southwestern College, Chula Vista, Calif.
5. Highlander, Univ. of California, Riverside, Riverside, Calif.

6. The Easterner, Eastern Washington Univ., Cheney, Wash.
7. The Miami Hurricane, Univ. of Miami, Coral Gables, Fla.
8. The Daily Eastern News, Eastern Illinois Univ., Charleston, Ill.
9. Alestle, SIUE
10. The Arkansas Traveler, Univ. of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark.

Tammy Merrett-Murry is the Alestle program director. Lexi Cortes in the editor in chief, and John Layton is the managing editor.

SIUE Nursing and Pharmacy Host Active with Asthma Camp

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Schools of Nursing and Pharmacy along with the Southwestern Illinois College Respiratory Therapy Program hosted Active with Asthma “Camp During School” on Friday, Nov. 1.

The one-day event was designed to teach children, parents and caregivers about asthma, physical activity, medications, nutrition, how to avoid triggers and asthma action plans.

“Pharmacy and nursing students have been working side-by-side caring for children with asthma during a variety of camps since 2007,” said Dr. Lisa Lubsch, clinical associate professor of pharmacy. “At this event, our students were able to apply their own knowledge within an interprofessional team, while educating children about their chronic medical problem in a fun environment.”

Active with Asthma “Camp During School” was held at Venice (Ill.) Elementary School. The event had approximately 75 participants comprised of a mix of students, parents and caregivers. This was the first year that the annual event was designed entirely to address the needs of parents and caregivers of children dealing with asthma.

“The incidence of asthma continues to increase across high risk areas,” said Dr. Rhonda Comrie, associate professor of nursing. “The metro east has one of the highest rates in the state especially among school age children.”

The objective of Active with Asthma “Camp During School” was to improve the lives of children with asthma by educating them and their caregivers on how to manage their asthma.

“An event like this is an important way to help families develop skills to better manage their child’s asthma, while hopefully increasing awareness and recognition of environmental triggers,” said Amy Funk, project coordinator of Metro East Community Air Project Action Research Illinois. “It was wonderful to see how engaged the children and parents were throughout the day.”

This free event was made possible by grant funding from the American Lung Association, Jaris Waide Knockout Asthma, the Asthma Coalition and the Illinois Salon Departmental La Boutique 8/40.

Photo: SIUE’s Lisa Lubsch (L) and Rhonda Comrie (R) flank  Venice Elementary School Nurse Anice Ells.

SIUE’s Devraj Receives National Research Award

Dr. Radhika Devraj, associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy, was awarded the Sabra M. Woolley Memorial Award for Best Oral Abstract Presentation at the 5^th Annual Health Literacy Research Conference on October 29.

Devraj’s presentation addressed the relationship between health literacy, knowledge of self-management behaviors, disease awareness and kidney function in patients with chronic kidney disease.  Her research was funded by the SIUE STEP grant and School of Pharmacy Research Grant.

The Health Literacy Research Conference is an opportunity to advance the field of study by raising the quality of research and professional development.

“Winning this award brings national recognition to my work and the University,” said Devraj.  “I am hopeful that it will translate into more collaboration and research opportunities in the future.”

Dr. Michael Crider, professor, associate dean of research and chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, acknowledged the importance of Devraj’s research.

“Dr. Devraj has worked extremely hard to ensure the success of this project,” said Crider. “Her research on health literacy and chronic kidney disease has been recognized nationally in leading journals. She has pursued research collaborations with individuals at other institutions to strengthen the overall quality of this research.”

SIUE’s A Season for The Child Continues with The Velveteen Rabbit on Nov. 30

A Season for the Child (SfC), the family-oriented live theater season presented by the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Friends of Theater and Dance (FOTAD), continues its 24^th season with a holiday treat in two separate showings at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30.

The Velveteen Rabbit will take the stage in Katherine Dunham Hall by the Imaginary Theatre Company (ITC). The tale unfolds about a little boy and his stuffed rabbit, as imagined by Margery, a mother and a writer. Margery’s magical story reveals how the Velveteen Rabbit himself learns an important lesson about love.

Each year, FOTAD presents nearly $5,000 in merit scholarships to talented, current SIUE theater and dance majors. The organization also funds scholarships for qualified new freshmen entering the theater and dance program. The support organization holds an endowment to help fund the merit scholarship program. Those interested in donating to the endowment may contact Greg Conroy, 618-692-0874.

Individual tickets for the Nov. 30 performance of The Velveteen Rabbit, and subsequent shows for the 2013-14 SfC, are $5 per person and are available through the SIUE Fine Arts box office at 618-650-2774. For the entire season online, visit http://www.siue.edu/~gconroy/FOTAD.

SfC, which premiered in 1990, features adaptations of various children’s stories, using interactive techniques that not only delight children and parents, but also provide a learning experience.

The ITC returns to the FOTAD stage Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, with The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe, a presentation aimed at slightly older children; however, all are welcome. The final show of the season will be a performance of Cinderella or the Story of Bigfoot on Saturday, March 22, presented by Curtains Up Theatre Co., of Collinsville and Edwardsville.

Muslim-American Comics Featured in “Allah Made Me Funny” Tuesday

A Palestinian-American, an Indian-American and an African-American—aside from being American men, they have three other elements in common: they are all minorities, they are all Muslim and they are all funny.

The community is encouraged to attend the showing of “Allah Made Me Funny” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19 in the Lovejoy Library’s Abbott Auditorium on the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus. During the film, the comics will skewer everything from family to food to American politics, and their fellow Muslims.

“In a way, these men represent the full spectrum of Muslim-American identifies,” said Dr. Steve Tamari, associate professor of historical studies. “They shine a light on American society that most Americans don’t think about.”

Tamari talked about the manner in which these men are going about changing public perceptions. Christian and Jewish comedians have long used their humor as stand-up comedians in American society to dispel misconceptions, poke fun and have fun.

“These three men are making use of a medium that is totally American,” he said. “Since the whole purpose of progress is to break up stereotypes and misinformation, I don’t think there is a better channel for doing that than through humor and laughter.”

This series is made possible by a generous grant of books, films and other resources from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association program “Bridging Cultures: The Muslim Journeys Bookshelf”; Lovejoy Library; and the SIUE Muslim Students Association.  For information contact Lydia Jackson at 618-650-2604 or ljackso@siue or Tamari at 618-650-3967 or stamari@siue.edu.

Chickasaw Nation Rep. Visits Campus for Native American Heritage Month

LaDonna Brown spoke passionately Wednesday about the culture and tradition of the Chickasaw Nation. Her presentation to an audience of nearly 100 people in Peck Hall on the campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is part of the University’s celebration of Native American Heritage Month.

She discussed her vocation. Brown is a historic preservation officer for the Chickasaw Nation. She is enrolled in the Chickasaw nation and works at the Chickasaw Nation’s Department of Homeland Affairs in Ada, Okla.

“On the one hand, I deal with cultural information and traditional knowledge, and how that helps me work with federal agencies in dealing with projects that they propose to us that might be taking place on their lands or within their boundaries,” she said. “It helps bring both perspectives together and bring about a better understanding on the tribal side and the governmental side.

“From my perspective, it causes me to walk in two worlds – where I have one foot in the cultural world and the other foot in the U.S. federal governmental perspective.”

“We are a sovereign nation,” she said about the Chickasaw nation. “So, we have a government-to-government relationship with the United States.”

“I would like people to understand that for me, speaking from the Chickasaw perspective, the Chickasaw people are still here. We are still alive. We still have a culture, and we are able to discuss that culture.

“It’s still alive, and it’s definitely something that has to be shared from Chickasaw people.

“People have tried to write about our culture. You read about historical accounts, and they are usually from an outside perspective. Those people might not understand what they’re writing about, or they might skew whatever they are viewing.”

Brown noted that sometimes the Chickasaw culture is misrepresented. “Sometimes you might see things from videos, films or TV, and there is sort of a generic view of Native American culture. It’s not the true perspective that we, as the Chickasaw people, would like for a general audience to understand.

“What I would like people to understand is that there is a true perspective. I would like to try to get that general information out and get people to maybe do a little bit of research of their own, so they can have a better understanding of Chickasaw culture.”

Brown spoke to faculty, staff and students about the cultural resource work taking place in the Chickasaw homeland, which includes Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky. The Chickasaw, along with the Cherokee, were forced to leave their homeland in the southeast and move to Oklahoma after the Indian Removal Act of 1830. They joined the Cherokee people on the Trail of Tears.

She also discussed historic preservation, archaeology and the Chickasaw Nation with a class on campus. Brown visited the SIUE archeological site, which is a campus dig site where faculty, staff and students currently uncover Native American artifacts. She visited the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, located in Collinsville. Cahokia Mounds is an active excavation site where archeologists and students take part in uncovering artifacts from the past to explain the history of the Cahokians, a Native American people.

Earlier in November, SIUE’s Native American Studies program brought another professional to campus to talk about Native American Heritage. Brad Koldehoff, chief archaeologist for the Illinois Department of Transportation, visited to discuss tribal consultation and archaeology of the new Mississippi River Bridge project in East St. Louis.

Brown’s trip was funded by Native American Studies program departments of Anthropology, Historical Studies, Philosophy and Political Science, as well as the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration.

SIUE Offers New Tuition Rates for Students of Regional States

The Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees today approved new tuition rates for entering freshman and transfer students, and master’s level graduate students at the Edwardsville campus.  Students from the regional states of Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and Wisconsin will pay the same tuition rate as those students from Illinois.

The new tuition rate will take effect for the 2014-15 academic year. During the 2013-14 academic year, SIUE’s annual tuition rate was $7,296 for new, in-state full-time undergraduate students (15 hours per semester). Non-resident tuition for those same students was $18,240.

During the 2013-14 academic year, SIUE’s per credit hour tuition rate for master’s level graduate students from Illinois was $279.25. Non-resident tuition for those same students was $698.15.

“We proposed this recruitment enhancement program to increase the number of students from these regional states,” said SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe. “Our goal is to expand the overall pool of prospective SIUE students. This program is designed to promote geographical access, especially from St. Louis, to our excellent academic programs.”

“This rate will allow SIUE to remain competitive with other institutions in the recruitment of regional students,” said Scott Belobrajdic, associate vice chancellor for Enrollment Management. “This will promote geographical diversity that will benefit all SIUE students.

“Applications are at an all-time high for this time of the year. With this announcement, we anticipate a surge in applications throughout the region.”

This news comes on the heels of SIUE landing on Washington Monthly’s “Best Bang for the Buck” lists in late August. SIUE is in the top 10 percent of both all schools surveyed and public master’s universities. The publication attempts to list the colleges in America that do the best job of helping non-wealthy students attain marketable degrees at affordable prices.

In 2007, the Board 2007, the Board approved “Revision to Residency Status Policies” which allows the president and the chancellors to charge, upon approval by the Board, alternative tuition rates for special situations and/or special populations. The option was designed to permit the chancellors to better manage their respective campuses and improve the recruitment of students who might not otherwise attend SIU.

Stack Appointed SIUE Vice Chancellor for Advancement

The Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees today confirmed Rachel Carlton Stack’s appointment as vice chancellor for University Advancement on the Edwardsville campus.  Stack comes to SIUE after serving as assistant dean of advancement within the University of Illinois Chicago’s College of Business Administration since 2006. She assumes her SIUE duties on Jan. 6, 2014.

“Rachel’s professional background, including many years of development experience within higher education, made for an excellent choice,” said SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe. “We expect that she will make a significant impact on our mission to develop professionals, scholars and leaders who shape a changing world.”

At UIC, Stack conducted a “Brilliant Futures Campaign” that raised more than $25 million. She grew an annual fund raising program from $600,000 to more than $2 million. She recruited and managed a business advisory council of 50 corporate leaders. She also managed a staff of five advancement professionals and a marketing director.

“Thanks to Chancellor Furst-Bowe, search committee chair Keith Becherer and the committee for their belief in my abilities,” Stack said. “SIUE is a remarkable and growing university, and I am honored to serve it. We will create and execute an advancement strategy that will create a stronger culture of philanthropy.”

Prior to her UIC tenure, Stack served as senior director of development for the central region office of CARE (Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere) USA from 2005-06. She raised $1.5 million for the major international humanitarian agency that delivers broad-spectrum emergency relief and international development projects.

Stack was associate director of development at Northwestern University’s McCormick School of Engineering from 2004-05. She raised $4 million while successfully managing two departmental mini-campaigns in chemical and biological engineering, and materials science.

Stack spent five years at the State University of New York at Buffalo in two different positions. She began as assistant director of development for the School of Pharmacy, where she raised $950,000 in less than two years. She was assistant dean of development in the School of Nursing until the close of her tenure. She created a campaign strategy that produced $2.8 million and achieved 100 percent faculty and staff participation.

“My expertise is growing public higher education advancement programs while attracting, retaining and mentoring high caliber professionals,” Stack said. “This is the next logical step in my professional career. It will be exciting to work with the chancellor, faculty and staff, our various constituencies and our alumni to keep SIUE moving forward.”

Stack began her development career in 1995 as director of fundraising for Cradle Beach Camp in Angola, N.Y. She followed that by serving as Canisius High School’s director of annual fund and special events in Buffalo from 1996-98.

Stack earned a bachelor’s in English Literature from Elmira College and a master’s in English from the State University of New York at Binghamton. She has been a certified fund raising executive (CFRE) since 1996 and has specific experience in fundraising for health-related educational entities as well as business and engineering.

“The quality of the search for our new vice chancellor was outstanding, and SIUE owes a great debt of gratitude to search committee chair Keith Becherer and the committee for their time and dedication to identifying an excellent pool,” said Furst-Bowe, who noted the five-month national search involved more than 50 candidates.

Stack succeeds Patrick Hundley, who is retiring during the 2014 spring semester.

SIU BOT Approves Contracts for SIUE Union Station Renovation, Electric System Distribution Repairs

The Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees at its regularly scheduled meeting today on the Edwardsville campus approved contracts worth more than $5.6 million to renovate SIUE’s Union Station in the Morris University Center and to upgrade the campus electric distribution system.

The MUC project will renovate the main level Union Station convenience store. The improvements will lessen congestion while improving Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility, re-stocking functions and customer point of sale systems. The project’s approved budget is $1.3 million and will be funded through MUC repair, replacement and reserve (RRR) funds.

The contracts to perform the Union Station renovation work were awarded to the following Illinois firms:

Work                              Contractor                                                                                         Value

General Contractor:        Tindall Construction, Inc., of Pontoon Beach                          $459,840

Electrical:                        K&F Electric, Inc., of Belleville                                                      $86,600

Heating:                          France Mechanical Corp. of Edwardsville                                    $276,700

Guarantee Electrical Co. of St. Louis was confirmed as the phase one contractor for SIUE’s electric distribution system repairs and upgrades that will improve the system’s reliability, operations and capacity to support the campus’ facilities master plan. The approved contract is valued at $4,832,549. The overall approved budget is $11 million and is funded through the facilities fee. The project will be implemented in phases as funding is available.

The Board approved planning and cost estimates to develop improvements for SIUE’s Stratton Quadrangle. The plan will evaluate designs and costs to replace the deteriorating bricks in the quadrangle. University plant funds are expected to support the project.

The Board also approved planning and cost estimates to replace the Simmons Law Firm Baseball Complex’s natural outfield turf with a synthetic surface. A high quality turf suitable for tournament plan and year-round training will be considered. Oates & Associates Engineering will determine the extent and estimated cost of the project. SIUE used the Qualifications Based Selection (QBS) process to select Oates & Associates as the on-call engineering firm for the evaluation.

SIUE Opera Outreach Department Takes Anti-Bullying Message into Local Schools

Four “billy goats’’ from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville went to Silver Creek Elementary School in Troy last week to show the negative effects of bullying.

“It was active and a lot of fun to watch,” said fifth grader Andrew Gula about the opera, The Billy Goat’s Gruff. “I have seen someone bullying another person. I asked him why was he doing it, and told him it was just not nice.”

This is the message that SIUE vocal students has been spreading through the Opera-tion Arts! The three-week production of The Billy Goat’s Gruff, which performs in cooperation with the SIUE Department of Music, will conclude Friday.

“Over the past several years, we have reached thousands of elementary students through our outreach program, Opera-tion Arts!” said Dr. Marc Schapman, associate professor of Music in Voice, who started Opera-tion Arts! “It is great to know the children are being exposed to great music, and learning valuable life lessons at the same time.

“Billy Goat’s Gruff boasts an anti-bullying message that is so important in today’s society. The cast and artistic staff have done a marvelous job of putting together a witty and beautifully sung opera!”

“I’m a bully. I’m as mean as can be. I am mean, and I don’t care,” sang Tyler Green, who plays Osmini the bully goat. Green is a sophomore majoring in vocal performance and music business.

The other “billy goats” in the opera are: Allison Wagner, a junior and vocal performance major; as the youngest goat, Lucy; Lindsey Davis, a senior and vocal performance major, as Ernesta the middle goat; and Ben Rardin, a senior and vocal performance major, who plays Dandini, the oldest goat.

The subject was a familiar one to everyone in the audience. “Who has known a bully?” asked Kate Slovinski, theater specialist for Opera-tion Art! Seemingly every hand was raised.

“It’s always a good idea to bring this message to school,” said Beth Luttrell, Silver Creek assistant principal, who responded to a flyer from the SIUE Music Department. “I wanted students to hear what to do if they are put in a situation of bullying.”

The opera story takes place after school. After the three billy goats play a game of hide and seek, they are prevented from crossing the bridge and going home by the bully goat. Lucy both stands up to Osmini and is nice to him. She then introduces him as a new friend to the other billy goats.

“Kindness is contagious,” Lucy sings in the end.

“How many think it is possible for a bully to change, if he is treated with kindness?” Slovinski asked the more than 500 students and staff at the beginning of the play. An overwhelming majority raised their hands.

The opera was adapted from The Billy Goat’s Gruff story by John Davies. The music, according to Slovinski, was rearranged from arias of such composers as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Gioachino Antonio Rossini. The music director is Dr. Joe Welch, McKendree College faculty member and SIUE alum. The stage manager is Ryan Wiechmann, a SIUE senior and Theater and Mass Communications major.

For one “billy goat” in the play, the subject matter is a painful memory.

“I was bullied for two years, in the sixth and seventh grades,” said Davis, who said she would not cave into peer pressure. “I didn’t fight back, because I didn’t believe in fighting, and I was afraid of telling anyone.

“But I have taken my experiences to help youth who may be the victims of bullying. If you find yourself being the target of a bully, please tell someone.”

For more information about SIUE’s production of The Billy Goat’s Gruff, visit siue.edu/artsandsciences/music/.

College of Arts and Sciences: Central to SIUE’s exceptional and comprehensive education, the College of Arts and Sciences has 19 departments and 85 areas of study. More than 300 full-time faculty/instructors deliver classes to more than 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Faculty help students explore diverse ideas and experiences, while learning to think and live as fulfilled, productive members of the global community. Study abroad, service-learning, internships, and other experiential learning opportunities better prepare SIUE students not only to succeed in our region’s workplaces, but also to become valuable leaders who make important contributions to our communities.

Photo Information:

SIUE students singing in the Opera-tion Art! performance of The Billy Goat’s Gruff are (from left to right) Ben Rardin, a senior and vocal performance major; Allison Wagner, a junior and vocal performance major; and Lindsey Davis, a senior and vocal performance major.

Tyler Green, who played the bully goat, Osmini, gives high-fives to students leaving the play.

International Speaker Series: “Gays and Minorities in the Armed Forces and the Evolving Role of Women in Armed Combat”

“Gays and Minorities in the Armed Forces and the Evolving Role of Women in Armed Combat” was the topic of the latest Southern Illinois University Edwardsville International Speaker Series held Nov. 7.

Nearly 30 students, and some SIUE and ROTC faculty members, attended the event, which took place in the Morris University Center. Dr. Paul Viotti, executive director of the Institute on Globalization and Security (IGLOS) at the University of Denver in Colorado, talked about the evolving role of minorities in today’s military, mostly from a U.S. vantage point. He took the discussion back to World War II and moved forward to recent times.

Viotti talked about the long road to military integration of minority populations:

• Addressing and overcoming race barriers, with African American men pushing forward with their military careers in spite of challenges they faced during and following World War II

• The inequities faced by Asian-Americans during and post-World War II, and the strides that they, and those descending of Asian, Latin and other minority populations, have made during the last 50 years

• The push for gender equity, with women advancing beyond clerical roles and the hospitals, and into combat-ready positions

• The “big secret” of sexual orientation and the implementation, and subsequent repeal, of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” policy in the U.S. Military

He noted the changes he has seen during his lifetime: “The generation in which I exist and the one preceding me were extraordinarily homophobic.

“Your generation is much more understanding from the degree of acceptance,” he told the students. “That degree of progressive understanding was unheard of in my time.”

He recounted a very recent military dinner he attended, hosted by Spectrum, the U.S. Air Force Academy’s first club for gay, lesbian and bisexual students, and their heterosexual friends and supporters.

“I was having a discussion with a graduate from the class of 1968, which was around the time I graduated from the Academy,” Viotti said. “This person was a woman. Women were not allowed entry into the Academy until 1976.

“It didn’t occur to me until later that I had been speaking with a transgender individual. This person had been born a man, and had changed identity after leaving the military.

“The transgender part of LGBT has always served, but that has been in a private identity.”

Viotti noted the transgender community still has not been wholly integrated into the military, and that the Pentagon currently is working on a policy to address this.

“Progress has been made, but it’s been glacial,” Viotti said of the changes that have come to the U.S. military. He noted that gender prejudice still exists, and the military needs to become a more diverse mix of the population at large. This mix needs to be reflected in gender, politics, ethnicity, beliefs and in all other ways in order to fully exemplify the true climate and culture of the people living in the U.S.

During the discussion, Viotti briefly touched on the issue from a global perspective. He referenced how the U.S. is different from Israel, which requires mandatory service for all its men and women, and Switzerland and Sweden, which both allow voluntary service among females.

Viotti said the U.S. should adopt integration techniques of the Swiss and the Swedes, having their military personnel living and co-existing within non-military communities. He noted this concept is mandatory in Switzerland and Sweden, and after men have served in the military, they are required by the governments in those countries to keep their arms in their homes following their service to their countries.

Since 1992, Viotti has been a professor at Denver’s Josef Korbel School of International Studies. He earned his Ph.D. in political science at the University of California, Berkeley in 1978.

For 20 years he taught political science at the U.S. Air Force Academy, and for 30 years he served in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a colonel. His career has taken him to California, Vietnam, Europe, the Pentagon and Colorado.

His publications include International Relations Theory, International Relations and World Politics, American Foreign Policy, American Foreign Policy and National Security, and Arms Control, Terrorism and Homeland Security. His forthcoming publications include U.S. National Security Policy and The Dollar, National Security and Foreign Policy.

SIUE Officer Poses the Question: Does Sustainability Equal Student Retention?

Does sustainability have any correlation with the retention of college students? It’s a significant and timely question, according to Kevin Adkins, sustainability officer at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Adkins and Dr. Connie Frey Spurlock, SIUE faculty sustainability fellow, presented the topic: “Sustainability: A Solution to Student Retention” at the most recent SIUE Chancellor’s Council. Adkins and Frey Spurlock gave the same lecture last month at the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s (AASHE) National Annual Conference in Nashville.

“We wanted to look at the relationship between a school’s sustainability practices and its retention and graduation rates for students,” said Adkins.

The Sustainability Officer compared schools and categories based on AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking Assessment & Rating System (STARS). “STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance,” according to AASHE’s website.

“Looking at all 234 of the schools participating in STARS, of which SIUE is one, we found an average student retention rate of 83 percent and an average graduation rate of 66 percent,” Adkins said.

The student retention rate at SIUE is 70 percent and the graduation rate is 52 percent, he said. Adkins and Spurlock also looked at schools cited in U.S. News & World Report, the Princeton Green Review, a selection of public schools in the Midwest, among others.

“The first thing we saw is that schools that practiced green habits had higher retention rates,” Adkins said. “We see a correlation, but we can’t say there is causation yet.

“This is preliminary research designed to open the door on further discussion. We received a lot of interest at the conference, and several schools wanted to start a discussion with us. We’re glad that SIUE is out front on this topic.”

Also presenting at the conference were two SIUE students: Mark Veverka, president of the Student Organization for Sustainability (SOS), and Shikha Kahlon, vice president of SOS.

“SIUE has the potential to be a university sustainability superstar,” Adkins said.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville provides students with a high quality, affordable education that prepares them for successful careers and lives of purpose. Built on the foundation of a broad-based liberal education, and enhanced by hands-on research and real-world experiences, the academic preparation SIUE students receive equips them to thrive in the global marketplace and make our communities better places to live. Situated on 2,660 acres of beautiful woodland atop the bluffs overlooking the natural beauty of the Mississippi River’s rich bottom land and only a short drive from downtown St. Louis, the SIUE campus is home to a diverse student body of nearly 14,000.

Panamanian Diplomat and Businessman was SIUE Lunch Guest

Eduardo Vallarino, diplomat and businessman, attended a special luncheon to discuss “Building Peace after War,” Nov. 7 in the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Morris University Center. Vallarino, who was joined by SIUE faculty, staff and students, talked about his academic and political experiences.

Vallarino is a distinguished Panamanian diplomat and businessman, and served in a number of important positions representing Panama. He was ambassador to the United States, ambassador to Canada, permanent representative of Panama to the United Nations and Panama’s director of Industrial Development. He also was a candidate for the presidency of the Republic of Panama in 1994.

Mr. Vallarino attended Louisiana State University, where he earned bachelor’s in both civil and petroleum engineering. He then spent several years at Harvard University, where he earned an MBA, completed course work in the business school’s doctoral program and was appointed a member of the faculty.

While an Edward Mason Fellow at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, Vallarino was awarded a master’s in public administration. His educational career has also included graduate teaching positions in the Central American Institute of Business Administration (Nicaragua).

Vallarino spoke knowingly about the history of Panama, its troubled relationship with Columbia that lingers to this day, and its longstanding and complex relationship with the United States.

He responded to a number of student questions. One centered on the future capacity of the Panama Canal to handle supertankers. Another dealt with the potential for wind and solar energy production in Panama that might cover the wider Central American region.

Vallarino downplayed the prospect for a competing canal in Nicaragua, and he maintained that economic development in Panama is definitely on the rise.

“We are always delighted to host these events on the SIUE campus,” said Dr. Ron Schaefer, distinguished research professor and director of the Center for International Programs. “Through opportunities like this, our faculty, staff and students are able to gain real perspective on issues of international significance.

“It is our hope, through what we do at the Center, to assist the University community in learning more about global topics, so that individuals can be informed citizens of the world.”

The event was made possible by the SIUE Center for International Programs. The Center often hosts these events, working with the St. Louis Council on Foreign Relations to bring speakers to campus to meet with the University community prior to evening speaker engagements.

SIUE Alum Martha Warren Among Emerson Award Recipients

Martha Warren has two master’s degrees from SIUE. The East St. Louis High School teacher was among 104 educators throughout the St. Louis metro region to receive the Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award this past weekend.

Belleville News-Democrat writer Jamie Forsythe profiled Warren in an article posted Nov. 9.

SIUE School of Engineering Delegation Visits India

During September, the SIUE School of Engineering sent two representatives to Hyderabad, India, with an interest in strengthening relations between the School and colleges in Hyderabad.

Hosted by Guru Nanak Institutions (GNI), Dennis Bouvier, associate professor and chair of the Department of Computer Science, and Gary Mayer, assistant professor of computer science, spent a week visiting with GNI, the Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology (CBIT) and the Teegala Krishna Reddy Educational Society (TKRES).

“Our trip helped us to recognize the similarities between our two educational systems and the differences,” said Mayer. “From that, we can work toward developing a partnership that enables student success and benefits all universities.”

Bouvier and Mayer spoke with administrators, faculty and students about establishing programs that would enable Indian students with opportunities to attend SIUE. Such an initiative also would provide the School of Engineering with the ability to strengthen its international presence in its master’s programs. Many of the discussions centered on computer science programs, but there is the potential for programs in electrical and computer engineering as well.

“The visit of the two professors is a gesture to our Indian partners that we value their collaboration,” said Hasan Sevim, dean of the School of Engineering.  “We recently signed an MOU with GNI and hope to do the same with CBIT and TKRES.”

The School of Engineering founded the relationship with GNI and CBIT when Sevim and Ron Schaefer, director of International Programs, visited the schools during a conference in Hyderabad.

Harvinder Saini, Managing Director of GNI, brought five students to the SIUE campus last May to meet with faculty from SIUE’s Schools of Engineering and Business.

Navy Special Forces Speaker Highlights Project Management Symposium

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s School of Business will entertain more than 400 attendees at its 2013 Project Management Symposium. The event is 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, at the Morris University Conference Center on the SIUE campus. The annual one-day event focuses on cultivating the art and science of project management.

Headlining the closing session is Justin Ponder of U.S. Navy Special Forces.  The presentation is “When Your Life Depends on Your Team:  Lessons in Building and Leading Teams.”  Zachary Schaefer, assistant professor of speech communication in SIUE’s College of Arts and Sciences, will interview Ponder. The Belleville native leads a Special Warfare Combatant crew attached to Seal Team 18 stationed at the Naval Amphibious Base in Little Creek, Va.

“We have another sell-out event this year.  The SIUE Symposium is the largest project management conference in the Midwest,” said Sandra Hindelang, director of the SIUE School of Business’ Executive Education Division. “Project management professionals from more than 120 different companies in the St. Louis metropolitan area will participate.”

The day will open with a panel discussion titled “Got PMs?” Panelists will discuss changes in business sectors and economic development in the St. Louis area that are creating a growing demand for project management skills. Panelists are:

• Jim Brasunas, executive director of Information Technology Entrepreneur Network (ITEN), discussing entrepreneurial development in the St. Louis region
• Jim Lachance, group manager for Transformation Support in the BJC Healthcare Center for Clinical Excellence, discussing developments in the healthcare delivery system
• Tom Rice, senior director of Cyber Security and Technology Planning at Ameren Missouri discussing the proliferation of security initiatives – cyber and physical

Hour-long morning and afternoon breakout sessions will provide a range of topic choices.  Breakout sessions are led by area expert project management professionals, and often include SIUE faculty specialists.  Topics include:

• To SME, or Not to SME: How to Build a Collaborative Environment for Subject Matter Expert (SME) Growth
• Establishing and Managing a Portfolio of Projects
• Here I Am! Now Where Am I? Quickly Assessing Organizational Culture
• Integrating Cyber Security into PM Methodology
• PM Skills in Demand: Now and in the Future
• Leadership Lessons from the Movies: Learning EQ and Other Useful Techniques from the Silver Screen

The SIUE School of Business is a recognized leader in project management education. It prepares the next generation of PM practitioners through academic programming in project management in undergraduate and graduate degree programs. It also provides continuing education for PM professionals through the Project Management Training portfolio of the Executive Education division.

The Executive Education Project Management portfolio is guided by the SIUE Project Management Advisory Board, a consortium of project management experts from more than 20 of the area’s top businesses committed to PM in their organizations. The group meets monthly to share best practices and solutions to common challenges and collaborates with the School of Business to develop the SIUE Project Management Symposium.

FOX Sports Midwest to Televise Eight Cougar Basketball Games

For the second-consecutive season, SIUE basketball fans across the Midwest will be able to follow the Cougars on television.

SIUE and FOX Sports Midwest have renewed their agreement to televise Cougar men’s basketball on the regional sports network that also features Major League Baseball’s St. Louis Cardinals and the National Hockey League’s St. Louis Blues.

The deal, which began with a five-game package during the 2012-2013 season, has expanded to include seven games during the 2013-2014 season, beginning with the Cougars’ home opener Nov. 13 against Saint Louis University.

“We are excited to partner with Fox Sports Midwest,” SIUE Director of Athletics Dr. Brad Hewitt said. “This not only showcases our basketball program, but also highlights those who help make SIUE the special place that it is—the student body, faculty and staff.”

In addition to the Cougars television package, the Ohio Valley Conference office has included the March 1 SIUE home date against Eastern Illinois in its schedule. That game also will appear on FSM.  All eight games will air live.

“We’re pleased to again bring SIUE basketball to viewers throughout the region,” said Jack Donovan FSM senior vice president and general manager.  “Cougar basketball is part of a jam-packed winter programming lineup on FOX Sports Midwest alongside Blues hockey, the NBA and college hoops.”

The Voice of the Cougars, Joe Pott, will team with Pat Parris on the broadcasts.

The SIUE schedule on FSM:

Nov. 13                 Saint Louis                           7 p.m.

Dec. 2                    Texas-Pan American       7 p.m.

Jan. 4                     Eastern Kentucky             7 p.m.*

Jan. 16                  Austin Peay                        7 p.m.

Jan. 18                  Murray State                     1 p.m.

Feb. 8                    UT Martin                            8 p.m.

Feb. 26                 Belmont                               7 p.m.

Mar. 1                   Eastern Illinois                   7 p.m.

*Game will air live on FOX Sports Midwest Plus

About FOX Sports Midwest

FOX Sports Midwest, a regional sports television network, is the leading provider of local sports in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa, reaching nearly 6 million cable and satellite television homes. FSM telecasts more than 3,000 hours of live local programming annually, including Cardinals baseball and Blues hockey. FOX Sports Networks are the nation’s leading provider of local sports. Through 19 owned-and-operated regional networks, FOX Sports Networks serve as the TV home to more than half of all MLB, NHL and NBA teams. For more information visit FOXSportsMidwest.com.

SIUE’s Major Wilson Shares Story behind Tuskegee Airmen Memorabilia

Major Ken Wilson recalls the day he met Lt. Col. Bill Thompson in Chicago. As a then-cadet in the Chicago State University ROTC program, he was taking a military history class. His instructor told him they were going on a field trip to take the Tuskegee Airmen to their original location.

“I thought we were going to Tuskegee,” he said. “I didn’t realize we were headed to Rantoul.”

Thompson was one of the original six Tuskegee Airmen from the 99^th Fighter Squadron, a group of determined young men who volunteered to form the nation’s first crop of African American military airmen.

Then, in his early 20s, Wilson recalls being awestruck by meeting the war hero. He laughed a little as he remembered the lieutenant colonel’s parting words that day.

“The next time I see you, I want to see you as a lieutenant, and I want to see you fly,” Thompson said briskly. “You have no idea what we went through. Now days you have opportunities, so I don’t want to hear any excuses.”

From 1941 to 1946, nearly 1,000 African American pilots were trained at Tuskegee. “That group never lost a bomber,” said Wilson proudly. “That’s their legacy, and I just want to keep it going.”

Wilson stayed in touch with Thompson through the years. He remembers he couldn’t wait to tell Thompson that he had been named an active Army officer in December 1994 and was accepted to flight school, which began in January 1995.

“I was so excited to tell him: I’m a pilot! I’m going to flight school!” Wilson said. “He didn’t congratulate me. He said, ‘The door is open. You’d better not flunk out!’”

Two years later, Wilson graduated as a second lieutenant from the U.S. Army and was a pilot. He fondly reflects that Thompson was his mentor through it all. At the time of Thompson’s death in 2006, Wilson was on active duty in Iraq. When he learned of the death of his mentor, he visited Thompson’s son to pay his last respects.

“His son gave me a shoebox full of memorabilia.” Wilson said. “I really almost broke down, and I don’t break down.”

Wilson displayed his memorabilia with the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus community Nov. 4-6 during the University’s 2^nd Annual Veterans Tribute.

Today, Wilson is an assistant professor of Military Science at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. He decided to tell his story about Thompson and share his memorabilia as an opportunity to educate the greater community.

“It’s not about me,” he said. “I felt to keep his legacy going, I needed to spread the word and share his story. I want to do the same thing he did—inspire others.”

SIUE Alum Harrison Speaks at CEO National Convention

RoverTown’s student discount program is able to differentiate itself in the saturated market by meeting students where they are most: online.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alum Jeffry Harrison is RoverTown’s chief operating officer. His marketing and sales strategies have significantly aided RoverTown’s growth to over 70 colleges and universities nationally. Over 1.4 million students now have access to RoverTown’s Student Discount Program.

Jeffry shared his strategies insights during the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO) National Convention in Chicago. The annual conference brings together students, faculty, and young entrepreneurs to learn skills and expertise from successful entrepreneurs.

By providing their services via the web and mobile applications, the RoverTown team is able to collect much more interesting and useful data on the coupon-provider’s customers. This data, previously unavailable to businesses that collect paper coupons, is valuable for future marketing and customer relationship purposes.

In addition to the digital and analytic components, the strategy of working directly with the colleges and universities has been successful. Whereas competitors hand out paper coupon books on campus, RoverTown contacts the school’s administration directly, so as to be promoted by the individual college or university.

CEO is an entrepreneurial network with over 245 collegiate chapters. Harrison’s interview with CEO can be heard here. He co-founded a CEO chapter while a student at SIUE.

A Redbud native, Harrison arrived at SIUE as a result of the Homer L. & Helen L. Cox Scholarship from the School of Business. He earned a bachelor’s in finance and entrepreneurship in 2012. Harrison served as the SIUE student trustee for the SIU Board of Trustees for two years.

Photo: Jeffry Harrison presents to a large group of students at the 2013 CEO National Conference in Chicago.

SIUE Alum Colvin Named School of Business Director of Development

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s School of Business has named alumna Sara (Stroud) Colvin, ‘98, ’05, as its new director of development. She assumes her new role on Nov. 13 with 15 years of experience in the fields of communication and fundraising.

Since receiving both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from SIUE, Colvin has worked at the USO of Missouri, ’62 Sports Group, Inc., Clear Channel Entertainment (Live Nation) and Northwestern Mutual and Clear Channel Radio. Colvin found the director’s position extremely appealing.

“The opportunity to come home was key,” said Colvin. “SIUE provided my start in the professional world.”

“The School of Business is thrilled to have Sara on board,” said School of Business Interim Dean John Navin. “She brings a wealth of experience to our director of development position. Her experience in the St. Louis area combined with her SIUE background puts her in a unique position to promote the school’s alumni relations.”

Once in the position, Colvin hopes to engage alumni and foster relationships between them and current students. “I would like to create new and inventive ways to engage alumni that will allow them to experience what it means to be a current SIUE School of Business student,” she said.

Having been in a similar position at the USO, Colvin is excited about working with students, alumni and area businesses. An active community member, she is involved with the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce, SIUE Alumni Association, Community Service Public Relations Council and the Ed/Glen Young Professionals Group.

Within her role as director of development, Colvin plans to use those connections to benefit the School. “The higher education environment is much larger than my previous roles,” she said. “I am excited about the opportunity to work within a larger network of resources and people at SIUE.”

Colvin joins the school after Marilyn Marsho’s retirement this past March.

SIUE School of Pharmacy and SLU to Offer Online Certificate

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy and Saint Louis University School for Professional Studies signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in late October for the advancement of pharmacy education.

The MOU was developed to provide SIUE pharmacy students, as well as SIUE School of Pharmacy alumni, the opportunity to earn an online certificate in organizational leadership and/or an online certificate in healthcare information systems from SLU.

These certificates offered online make it easier for current students and alumni to take the classes at their own pace. The flexible format also offers up to nine credit hours of completed coursework from SIUE to be transferred.

“This MOU gives students and alumni an excellent opportunity to earn certification in two key areas that have the potential to give them an edge in the job market,” said Dr. Gireesh Gupchup, dean of the SIUE School of Pharmacy.

Dr. Matthew Grawitch, interim dean for the SLU School for Professional Studies; Dr. Ellen Harshmann, SLU interim vice president for Academic Affairs; Bill Wuller, SIUE School of Pharmacy clinical associate professor and director of experiential education; and Dr. Ann Boyle, SIUE interim provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs also were involved in developing the agreement.

This new partnership is the only kind in this region, creating advancements for students and alumni in the job market.

“This partnership and these certifications will provide pharmacy students with additional opportunities for tailoring their education to meet their long-term career goals in a way that does not conflict with their primary area of study,” said Grawitch.

The certificate in organizational leadership allows students to develop the knowledge, skills and experience needed to assume leadership and administrative roles in corporate and non-profit settings. Students acquire knowledge and skills in a variety of areas including human resources, marketing and leadership.

Students, who earn a certificate in healthcare information systems, gain the tools necessary to succeed in an information technology (IT) role in the health care industry. A background of information systems and technology, cloud computing and virtualization, programming, database design, network fundamentals, healthcare information systems terminology and IT systems for health care organizations is acquired through coursework.

Students and alumni can begin taking classes now. For more information, contact Connie Stamper-Carr at pharmacy@siue.edu or (618) 650-5159.

SIUE Construction Students Earn Third Place in ASC National Competition

Twelve Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering students participated in regional and national open competitions held at the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Region 3 Conference at Downers Grove in mid-October.

The SIUE Department of Construction students took part in two team competitions: the preconstruction competition and the heavy civil competition. The SIUE preconstruction team was awarded third place after California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo and the Milwaukee School of Engineering.

Pepper Construction sponsored the preconstruction challenge, which focused on preconstruction responsibilities including risk assessment, conceptual estimating, schedule development and logistics planning for a $30-40 million professional office building and training center.

“Our students prepared and explained their schedule thoroughly, and demonstrated excellent coordination and communication skills throughout the process,” said Chris Gordon, associate dean of the SIUE School of Engineering and chair of the Department of Construction.

SIUE’s reconstruction team consisted of: senior Thomas Parker of Edwardsville, senior Andrew Veliz of Belleville, senior Michael Trobaugh of Highland, senior Bryon Graminksi of Collinsville, junior Mason Musick of Lincoln, and senior Zachary Carlson of Quincy.

Douglas Degen, a faculty observer from Ohio Northern University said, “The SIUE team rocked with their ability to communicate their schedule and team commitment to the project.”

Walsh Construction sponsored the regional heavy civil competition which required demonstrating competence in estimating, scheduling, safety and quality planning, and site logistics for a bridge and roadway project.

SIUE’s heavy civil team members included: senior Avery Mason of Paris, senior Mike Van de Veer of East Peoria, junior Jared Kraus of Freeburg, sophomore Jacob Eilers of Breese, junior Chad Kolmer of Breese and senior Ethan Zachman of Germantown Hills.

The challenge was open to all ASC member programs, and included 12 competing schools from Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, California and Texas.

Photo: A Pepper Construction representative (far left) presents the third place award to SIUE  preconstruction team members (second from left to right) Tom Parker, Mike Trobaugh, Mason Musick, Bryon Graminski, Zach Carlson and Andrew Veliz.

SIUE Celebrating Native American Heritage Month Events Tomorrow and Next Week

November is Native American Heritage Month, and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Native American Studies program is hosting two guest speakers to celebrate.

Brad Koldehoff, chief archaeologist for the Illinois Department of Transportation, will be on campus tomorrow, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. in Peck Hall, room 0312, to talk about tribal consultation and archaeology of the new Mississippi River Bridge project in East St. Louis.

“East St. Louis was a sister city to that great Native American metropolis, Cahokia Mounds,” said Dr. Julie Holt, SIUE professor of Anthropology. “Archaeological excavations in East St. Louis, in advance of bridge construction, uncovered a partial mound and remains of over 1,000 houses dating between AD 1000 and1250.

“The Osage, among other tribes, are believed to be descendants of the Cahokians, and have played a role in deciding the fate of this site.”

Next week, LaDonna Brown, historic preservation officer for the Chickasaw Nation, will be on campus to discuss historic preservation, archaeology and the Chickasaw Nation. Brown is enrolled in the Chickasaw nation and works at the Chickasaw Nation’s Department of Homeland Affairs in Ada, Okla.

“Much of the cultural resource work that LaDonna will talk about takes place in the Chickasaw homeland, which includes Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky,” Holt said. “The Chickasaw were forced to leave their homeland in the southeast and move to Oklahoma after the Indian Removal Act of 1830. That is, the Cherokee were not alone in their Trail of Tears.”

Brown will speak at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13 in Peck Hall, room 0312. Her visit to SIUE has been generously funded by Native American Studies program departments of Anthropology, Historical Studies, Philosophy and Political Science, as well as the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration.

SIU Dental Medicine Student Wins Research Award

Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine student Patrick Farrow won Most Outstanding Presentation in Clinical Research at the 2013 Hinman Student Research Symposium on Oct. 27 in Memphis.

Farrow’s project focused on developing a rodent behavioral model as an inexpensive and unbiased method to measure orofacial pain. Farrow’s project was directed by Dr. Kevin Rowland, associate professor of physiology.

“Patrick’s dedication for research stems from a sincere desire to help people, especially individuals suffering from pain,” said Rowland.

The Hinman Student Research Symposium featured oral and poster presentations of research projects by dental and graduate students from dental schools across the nation. At this year’s Symposium, 104 students represented 47 dental schools in 29 states, the District of Columbia and four Canadian provinces.

Eight awards were given for the most outstanding student presentations, four in clinical research and four in basic science research. In addition, the National Students Research Group (NSRG) of the American Association for Dental Research also presented an award.

The Symposium is co-sponsored by the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry and co-sponsored by the Hinman Dental Society. Support also is provided by grants from the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Gies Foundation, the Procter & Gamble Co., the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry Alumni Association and the Tennessee Dental Association Foundation.

History, Veterans, Hot Topics and More at SIUE This Week

Today is the final day of the 2^nd Annual Veterans Tribute, and marks the kickoff of a week packed with attention-grabbing topics through Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Office of Educational Outreach.

Local author Charles Schwend will present “Inhabitants of Ancient China and Japan: Historical Fiction ‘Dragon Dreams’” from 10:30-11:45 a.m. today, Nov. 6 at 200 University Park in Edwardsville, room 1127. Schwend will share excerpts from his book, “Dragon Dreams.”

Later today, from 1:15-2:30 p.m. in the same location, Tom Dehner, retired news director from WSIE-FM radio station and an instructor of mass communications will present “From the Sidelines.” He will show attendees a collection of personal memoirs and recount musings from his more than 40 years in the communications field of broadcasting, public relations and higher education.

Both presentations will cost $5 each for general admission; $2 each for Lifelong Learning members, and are available for free for SIUE students.

In honor of the U.S. Military Forces, the Office of Educational Outreach has been hosting events this week with the SIUE Departments of Political Science, Peace and International Studies, ROTC and the Office of Veterans Coordination. Today is the final day for the 2^nd Annual Veterans Tribute, which will feature activities throughout the day in the Morris University Center. Events are open to the public. For more information, visit http://veteransmemorialsiue.weebly.com/index.html.

As part of the International Speakers Series, which is co-sponsored by the Center for International Programs and the Office of Educational Outreach, “Gays and minorities in the armed forces and the evolving role of women in armed combat” will be presented. The event, featuring Dr. Paul R. Viotti, professor and executive director of the Institute on Globalization and Security (IGLOS) at the University of Denver in Colorado, will take place from 9:30-10:45 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 7 in the MUC Mississippi-Illinois Room, second floor. It is open to the public.

Visitors to campus must pay to park.  Lots B & C are both easily accessible to this location and cost $1 per hour.  Check out campus maps here: www.siue/edu/maps.

Thursday evening from 7-8 p.m. “A Review of ‘Reminiscences of Early Life in Illinois,’” featuring Christiana Holmes with Anne Werner, an SIUE assistant professor of construction, will take place. Christiana Holmes Tillson traveled with her husband in 1822 to the then new state of Illinois. Almost 50 years later, Christiana wrote a memoir of her travels and early married life for her daughter. Her memoir was published in 1872 as “Reminiscences of Early Life in Illinois, by Our Mother,” and then again in 1919 as “A Woman’s Story of Pioneer Illinois,” by R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company of Chicago.  This presentation reviews Christiana’s book and the times she lived in. The event is free and open to the public. It will take place at the Main Street Community Center, 1003 N. Main Street, Edwardsville.

Educational Outreach offers a full array of exciting, intriguing and insightful programs throughout the academic year. Along with Lifelong Learning programming, the office provides Leisure Learning classes and workshops. To register, visit https://aceweb.siue.edu/WConnect.ace. Learn more by visiting the Educational Outreach website, or contact Cheryl Brunsmann, assistant director of community education programs, cbrunsm@siue.edu, 618-650-3209. If leaving a message or sending an email, provide name, daytime phone number and email address.

SIUE Head Start Parent Wins Regional, State Award and National Mention

At one time, 34-year-old Carl Millender Jr.’s life seemed to be bursting at the seams. Millender was engaged with his full-time job, working to complete his master of business administration, committed to the sole care of his 4-year-old daughter and an avid volunteer with the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Head Start/Early Head Start program.

It was the above reasons and more that earned the East St Louis native the honor and distinction of winning awards as the 2012-2013 Regional V Head Start Parent of the Year and the 2012-2013 Illinois Head Start Parent of the Year. Millender’s capture of the regional award allowed him to be considered for the National Head Start Association Parent of the Year Award. Millender was notified Oct. 7 that he won first-runner-up for the National Head Start Association 2014 Parent of the Year Award.

Millender’s youngest of two children, 4-year-old Paulette, was a student at the SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start Lovejoy Center during the 2013-2013 school year.

Some of the accomplishments, activities and roles that Millender achieved and took part in included:

• Volunteering more than 50 hours

• Serving as vice chair of the SIUE Head Start Policy Council

• Being chair of the Lovejoy Head Start Parent Committee

• Being an Illinois Head Start Association Parent Ambassador

“I feel the primary responsibility of children’s education lies with the parent,” Millender said. “That is why I became so involved with Head Start.

“The more I learned, the more I realized the importance of the program and what a great resource it is for children and families. Not to mention, the Head Start staff led by Lynnie Bailey and Ethel Coleman is second-to-none.”

Bailey is the program director and Coleman is the assistant program director SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start.

The mother of the 4-year-old Head Start student was away on active military duty from 2009-2013, and Millender provided the primary support for Paulette.

Two years ago Millender was looking to place his daughter in a pre-kindergarten program when he first learned about the SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start program.

“I didn’t know Head Start provided quality early childhood education,” he said. “I didn’t know that their services included health care, dental and social, and mental services.”

Soon after Paulette was enrolled with Head Start, Millender became an active parent. “I didn’t feel I had an option not to become involved,” he said. “I was buying wipes for the entire class. If the class went on a field trip, I volunteered. The staff here is so motivating and inspiring, I’d put them up against any Head Start/Early Head Start staff in the country.”

Millender works full time at American Steel Foundry in Granite City, where they manufacture rail car undercarriage components. “My employer and supervisor, Mr. Ron Ruble, was very supportive of my volunteer work at my daughter’s school. Mr. Ruble would tell me to keep up the good work, and that he was very proud of me.”

Millender is a model of a great Head Start parent, said Carolyn Jason, program operations coordinator for the Lovejoy Head Start Center. “He exhibits all of the qualities of an excellent Head Start parent as far as becoming immersed into the workings of the program and volunteering at his child’s school,” Jason said. “He also benefited by the program’s encouragement and goal setting for parents to better equip and empower himself.”

Millender, who served 13 years in the U.S. Navy, has his bachelor’s in aeronautics from the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Head Start staff encouraged Millender to complete his work on the MBA that he had previously started. In June, Millender received his MBA from the University of Phoenix.

“It’s extremely important that my daughter see the passion I have for education,” Millender said.

He said he recalls the tough times of caring for a very young Paulette, and he’s grateful for the support he received from SIUE Head Start.

“The excellent Head Start program at SIUE makes life so much easier for me to manage,” he said. “I love knowing that my daughter is being well taught and cared for. I also love doing all I can to support Head Start, its children and families.”

Specifically, Millender made note of the hard work of Kay Robertson, Lovejoy Head Start Center coordinator, and Tonica Wright, Lovejoy Head Start Center community representative.

Photo Information:

Carl Millender Jr. with his four-year-old daughter, Paulette. Millender won the 2012-2013 Regional Head Start Parent of the Year and the 2012-2013 Illinois Head Start Parent of the Year. He was also named as first runner-up for the National Head Start Association 2014 Parent of the Year Award.

SBDC Offers Financial Success, Credit Decisions Workshop Tomorrow

Representatives from regional credit counseling organization Justine PETERSEN (JP) will offer an Asset-Building Workshop from 2-3:30 p.m. tomorrow, Nov. 6, in the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Morris University Center Hickory/Hackberry rooms.

JP will offer advice on achieving financial success and making better credit decisions. Justine PETERSEN is a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)-certified micro-lender. The event is being hosted by the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at SIUE to support regional entrepreneurship and guide people to improving their credit scores.

“It is the philosophy of Justine PETERSEN that it is never too late or too early to start strengthening and protecting your personal credit rating,” said Patrick McKeehan, SBDC director. “JP has developed a number of proven techniques, programs and one-on-one support systems to assist in achieving your financial goals.

“Your credit rating determines your ability to finance a house or vehicle, and the interest rate you will pay. It plays a major factor in a bank approving or rejecting a business loan request. This is why I encourage you, your fellow students/colleagues, family and friends to consider attending this event.”

The event is being sponsored by JP, the SBDC at SIUE and the Illinois Foreclosure Prevention Network. Light refreshments will be served.

The event is free and open to the public.

Space is limited, so to reserve your seat email ggondolfi@justinepetersen.org, call 314-533-2411 ext. 132 today. For more information, contact the SBDC at 650-2929.

SIUE $52 Million Science Building Dedicated

Dedication Video

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville christened its $52 million Science Building West this afternoon as SIU President Glenn Poshard and SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe officially cut the ribbon. Joining in the celebration were SIU Board of Trustees Chairman Randal Thomas, SIUE Interim Provost Ann Boyle, and College of Arts and Sciences Dean Aldemaro Romero.

The facility incorporates laboratories for faculty and student research initiatives in a state-of-the-art learning environment. It opened for use during the 2013 fall semester.

“The SIUE Science Building Complex project has been worked on at the state level for many, many years by both current and former state legislators, and many others in this community,” Poshard said.  “Our elected officials, University leaders, business and labor leaders, and alums never gave up on this project, because they have long understood and appreciated the prosperity that this University brings to Southwestern Illinois.

“For some time now, the lack of a new science building has been an impediment to the growth of this University and, today, we can say that hurdle has been cleared.”

Three departments, including chemistry, biological sciences and environmental sciences, have moved into Science Lab Building West. Physics, mathematics, statistics and the STEM Center will stay in Science Lab Building East, which is the existing building. The next phase of the project is a $30-million renovation to the existing Science Lab Building East that will begin in early 2014. Both buildings comprise the SIUE Science Building Complex.

“The Science Lab Building West is a wonderful example of SIUE’s commitment to its long-term goals and to the well-being of Southwestern Illinois,” Furst-Bowe said.  “This new construction honors our goal of ‘Innovative High Quality Programs.’ With so many students leaning toward the health sciences, SIUE is even better positioned to make a significant and extremely beneficial impact on the future of health care in this region.”

The new building features the newest renewable power source on campus — a 30-kilowatt solar array. The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation (ICECF) provided a $103,000 grant for support to reach the goal of providing a portion of the new building’s electricity via the sun’s rays.

“As an SIUE alum, I am personally very proud of the strides being made on this campus and the commitment of the faculty and staff here to continually improve and expand what we offer,” Thomas said. “It’s important to the citizens of Southern Illinois that we remain at the forefront in our vision for higher education, including the facilities in which students work and learn.”

The ICECF collaborated with the University, the Illinois Capital Development Board, Hastings & Chivetta architects, BRiC Partnership engineers and contractor JF Electric, Inc., to make the $230,000 solar array functional and effective.

With the array’s electrical output displayed on video monitors in the building, there will be a continuing demonstration of renewable solar power’s possibilities and practical application.

Other Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) features include use of non-heat absorbing roofing materials; low water use plumbing fixtures; high efficiency insulating materials; collection and use of recyclable materials; sun shades on the south and west facing windows; high efficiency window glazing; lighting and air conditioning occupancy sensors, and active teaching displays showing building energy use.

SIUE’s Art and Design West building, which is connected to the existing Art and Design East structure, was dedicated in spring 2013, is the University’s first LEED Gold-Certified building on campus.

Acclaimed Poet Kryah Appears at SIUE Bookstore Nov. 7

Acclaimed poet Joshua Kryah will read from his work Thursday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m. at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Bookstore in the Morris University Center. The reading will be followed by a question and answer period, a book signing and a reception.

The newest addition to SIUE’s creative writing faculty, Kryah is the author of two poetry collections. We Are Starved (2011) was published by the University of Colorado Press as part of its New Mountain West Poetry Series. Glean (2007) was selected by Donald Revell for the 2006 Nightboat Books Poetry Prize.

Kryah’s poems have appeared in American Poetry Review, FIELD, Gulf Coast, The Iowa Review and Ploughshares among others. A St. Louis native, he earned a master’s of fine arts from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and a doctorate from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he was a Schaeffer Fellow.

Kryah is the recipient of a 2013 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) fellowship. During 2013, he was the Thornton Writer-in-Residence at Lynchburg College and the Summer-Poet-in-Residence at the University of Mississippi.

Kryah’s awards include the Michael W. Gearhart Prize from The Southwest Review, selected by Timothy Liu, and the Third Coast Poetry Prize, selected by Carolyn Forché.

Critics and reviewers have called Kryah one of our “finest young voices,” and a poet who “is redefining what it means to write spiritual poetry.”

Writer Alex Lemon has said these “breathtakingly mature poems are fueled by a man’s internal combustion, the tremendous labor it is to live well – to be a father, a lover, a son – in a fallible world.”

For more information, contact Professor Geoff Schmidt at (618) 650-2289.

SIUE Professors and Students Swear-In as U.S. Citizens

Two associate professors and two students from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville were among 46 people who took part in a United States Naturalization Ceremony on Friday at Central Junior High School in Belleville.

“It’s something to be said about not having all the rights of a citizen,” said Dr. Aminata Cairo, associate professor in Anthropology. “It is an important thing to have the full rights and responsibilities of a citizen.”

Cairo was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, to parents who were immigrants from Surinamese in South America. Cairo left Amsterdam after high school and came to the U.S. in 1984 to attend Berea College in Kentucky. Cairo never left the U.S. and earned two masters and a doctorate degree in the states. She came to SIUE in 2009. Cairo and her three sons live in Edwardsville. The youngest, Nasim, automatically became a U.S. citizen at Cairo’s naturalization process and will participate in a separate children’s swearing-in ceremony scheduled for a later time.

Also taking an oath to the U.S. on Friday morning was Dr. Yun Lu, associate professor of Chemistry at SIUE. “I have been working here some years, and I started to love this country, the land and the people. I love teaching here in the U.S.

“I love the students and the love they have for learning. They are also accepting of me and my teaching style,” said Lu, who received one of SIUE’s 2010 Teaching Distinction Awards. Lu and his wife and two sons live in the Metro East area.

SIUE students who pledged their allegiance to America in a gymnasium full of approximately 500 students, family and friends, were Ghado Aljawawdeh, originally from Jordan and Diane Seck, originally from Togo Lome in West Africa. Aljawawdeh is an elementary education graduate student. Seck is working on her bachelor’s in administration. Both women expect to graduate in May 2014.

Achieving educational and life goals can be hard, but it is possible in America, said the keynote speaker, Amany Ragab Hacking, assistant professor and supervisor of the Externship Program at the Saint Louis University School of Law. Hacking, at the age of seven, came to the U.S. in 1979 with her mother, two siblings and one packed bag to join her father in Chicago.

“We are more alike than we are different. That is what America is all about,” Hacking told the crowd in general and the 46 naturalization candidates in particular. “But don’t forget where you came from. Make America part of your life, and make your old life and culture part of America.”

Earlier, U.S. Attorney Stephen Wigginton greeted the 46 candidates for citizenship, citing that the oldest was a 77-year-old man from Mexico and the youngest was a 19-year-old from India. “We welcome every one of all religions and cultures – Christian, Buddhist, Muslim and Islamic. We at the U.S. Justice Department take protecting your civil rights as seriously as everyone else’s.”

“I’m excited about this ceremony,” said Magistrate Judge Stephen C. Williams of the Southern District of Illinois at the beginning of the ceremonies, “because it tells me that we continue to do something right that immigrants still want to come here. These are challenging times in our country, but we will always have challenging times. You bring something to the table, and our nation will be stronger with you as citizens.”

Photo Information:

Dr. Aminata Cairo, associate professor in Anthropology, after receiving her American certification papers, is congratulated by Magistrate Judge Stephen C. Williams of the Southern District of Illinois and U.S. Attorney Stephen Wigginton.

Dr. Yun Lu, associate professor of Chemistry, takes the Naturalization Oath on Friday.

Diane Seck, originally from Togo Lome in West Africa and SIUE graduate student, talks about her desires to become a U.S. citizen.

Erin Bode Concert Highlights 2013 SIUE Alumni Weekend

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is celebrating 2013 Alumni Weekend and Homecoming with a week-long series of events targeting current students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members. This year’s events begin today, running through Sunday, Oct. 6 on the SIUE campus.

Erin Bode is the headliner for the week as the St. Louis singer will appear at The Gardens at SIUE on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 7-9 p.m. Bode’s band creates music forged from the Americana of its members’ Midwestern roots. Sophisticated arrangements and attention to phrasing, both vocal and instrumental, distinguish the band’s sound.

This year’s theme is “Lights, Camera, Cougars!” The schedule of events will include: a comedy show featuring Arvin Mitchell; a golf cart parade; a recliner race; celebrity bingo; a Homecoming dance; Cougar karaoke; and a bonfire in the Woodland Bowl. All the events are open to current students and free to attend.

The Alumni Association sponsors alumni events throughout the week. The sixth annual SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame Dinner will begin with a cocktail reception at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, in the Morris University Center (MUC) Conference Center. During the event, six honorees will be inducted into the SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame.

The 12th Annual Chili Cook-Off will take place at 6 p.m. Sat., Oct. 5, at Korte Stadium prior to the men’s soccer match against Central Arkansas. The annual Homecoming King and Queen crowning will occur during halftime of the match.

SIUE Intercollegiate Athletics will host an exciting schedule of games during Homecoming. The women’s soccer team will host two Ohio Valley Conference matches at Korte Stadium facing Eastern Kentucky at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, and Morehead State at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6. The men’s and women’s cross country teams host the John Flamer Invitational at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, on the SIUE course. The women’s volleyball team entertains Belmont that afternoon at 2 p.m. For ticket information to all intercollegiate sporting events, visit siuecougars.com.

More information on the 2013 SIUE Alumni Weekend and Homecoming and a complete schedule of events can be found at siue.edu/homecoming. For questions, contact Theresa Schmidt in SIUE Alumni Affairs at 618-650-2760.

Photo:  SIUE student Erica Ellis takes part in Alumni Weekend and Homecoming activities.

Grad Teaching Assistant Honored as Top Community Leader Under 40

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Graduate Teaching Assistant Michael Williamson was honored last week as a “Top Community Leader Under 40” during a banquet sponsored by the Effingham County Chamber of Commerce and the Effingham Daily News.

The event was held at the Keller Convention Center in Effingham, which is a little over an hour and a half east of the St. Louis area. The award reception was held to celebrate individuals who have set a great example of community leadership.

2013 Research Center Directors’ Reception Educates Students, Faculty

Faculty members, students and members of the community attended this year’s research center directors’ reception last week in the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Morris University Center to find out about available resources and interdisciplinary opportunities.

The reception opened with presentations from four of SIUE’s research centers, including the Illinois Education Research Council (IERC); the Institute for Urban Research (IUR); the Center for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Research, Education and Outreach at SIUE (STEM Center), and the NCERC at SIUE: Advancing Biofuels Research.

The IERC, established in 2000, provides Illinois with education research to support P-20 education policy making and program development. The center takes part in independent research and policy analysis in collaboration with other researchers. The IERC uses information it gathers at the state level to provide citizens with a seamless system of educational opportunities and to inform policy-makers. More information is available at www.siue.edu/ierc.

The IUR, which was founded in 2001 by a federal grant from the Department of Health and Human Services, is a community resource that brings together top SIUE experts to explore ways to solve the issues that affect life in urban and metropolitan areas. Business, government and community leaders rely on the IUR’s expertise in urban issues, data analysis and project management to implement applied research projects that benefit the entire region. For more information, visit www.siue.edu/graduate/iur.

The STEM Center is dedicated to building a community of researchers and educators who, together, innovate ways to engage students and the public in STEM. Partnerships exist through collaborative grant projects, working with faculty fellows and providing faculty service, as well as engaging in service learning projects for students. More information is available at www.siue.edu/stem.

The NCERC at SIUE facilitates the commercialization of new technologies for producing biofuels more effectively. It utilizes interdisciplinary, inter-institutional and industrial collaborations to conduct research. It also develops and provides hands-on training to prepare students for the biofuels workforce. For more information, visit www.siue.edu/ethanolresearch.

Each of the presenters brought examples of how their center has touched the lives of students, faculty members and the surrounding community. Students and faculty members provided in-person and audio testimony about the value of their experiences.

Some students referenced the ability to “apply an academic background and get real world experience” as solid reasons to recommend collaborating with the research centers. Others talked about how they enhanced their presentation and interpersonal communication skills.

The Gardens at SIUE Director Jane Drake was on hand to answer questions about how that Center is providing a growing number of opportunities.

“The Gardens is a great cross-curricular resource for campus,” Drake said. “Most of our research and internship opportunities involve that place where plants, people and the environment come together.”

Currently, Drake works with students through sustainable-focused courses in historical studies, engineering, instructional science, biological sciences and English language and literature, as well as freshman seminar.

The Gardens is a 35-acre property that includes a variety of natural areas, gardens and sculpture in a landscaped setting. It has been recognized by the Missouri Botanical Garden as a Signature Garden. For more information about The Gardens visit www.siue.edu/gardens/.

Visitors stopped by center booths to review posters, pick up branded items such as pens, calculators and more, and ask questions of university faculty and staff members.

Dzifa Kugbega, an international student from the Republic of Ghana in the master of public administration and policy analysis program, attended the event with her husband, Ernest Kwaku Kraka and the couple’s six-month old daughter. She said she was interested in the opportunities available through the IUR.

“This program today has been helpful in teaching us about options,” Kugbega said.

Kraka, also a native of Ghana, stopped by the NCERC at SIUE booth. Kraka holds a Ph.D. from Mississippi State University in agricultural science.

“I talked to these folks about biofuels and I intend to send them my electronic CV,” he said. “I’m looking for an agricultural job and this is a great resource.”

The event also included the Interdisciplinary Research and Informatics Scholarship (IRIS) Center, founded by Dr. Kristine Hildebrandt and Dr. Jessica Despain, associate and assistant professors of English language and literature, respectively. The purpose of the Center is to explore the possibilities of digital research within the humanities and social sciences. Its website, which currently is undergoing updates, is www.siue.edu/iris. For more information, visit the Center’s blog site at http://siueiris.com/ or call (618) 650-2667.

Information about the Cuban and Caribbean Center also was available at the event. The Center’s objective is to create a more diverse and inclusive academic and cultural experience with Cuba and the Caribbean through curriculum development and academic collaboration. More information is available at its website, http://www.siue.edu/CAS/CCC/.

Additionally, the Laboratory for Applied Spatial Analysis (LASA) was represented at the fair. Undergraduate and graduate students work with LASA each semester, conducting site and field work for satellite mapping, and researching. Students gain real-world experience by working on projects with agencies, such as the Abandoned Mines Division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the USDA Soil Conservation Service, local and county governments and school districts, and more.

LASA’s interdisciplinary nature creates the opportunity for cross-collaboration with the schools of Engineering and Nursing, the departments of Anthropology, Biological Sciences, English Language and Literature and others. Professor of Geography Randall Pearson, LASA’s director, is available to answer questions about the Laboratory and direct individuals to resources. He can be reached at (618) 650-5735.

Flyers were on tables at the reception announcing the upcoming 2013 Graduate School Fair at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. There will be two chances to meet with faculty and staff members to discuss options for graduate studies. Times have been set for 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9 in the Morris University Center Goshen Lounge. Representatives from more than 40 graduate programs will be on hand to answer questions and talk about areas of study, flexible options, graduate assistantships, the track to graduation and much more.

Free parking will be available in Lot B, which is next to the Morris University Center. To register, visit the graduate fair registration page through the SIUE Office of Admissions. For more information, call (618) 650-2741 or email graduateadmissions@siue.edu. Learn more at siue.edu/graduatestudents.

SIUE Welcomes Turkish Educators to Campus

Listen to video here.

Two officials from Mehmet Akif Ersoy University in Turkey are visiting the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus.

Dr. Mustafa Saatci, rector; and Dr. Mehmet Ozcan, assistant professor in the Department of Foreign Languages, arrived in Edwardsville on Wednesday.

“The main objective was for them to learn about the American educational system,” said SIUE School of Engineering Dean Hasan Sevim. “They are on an exploration trip. Before they leave, we will sign a letter of intent that says we will work together to explore potential areas of cooperation.”

Sevim, the Turkish-born dean, said he first met Ozcan a year ago at an international conference in India.

“The purpose of the conference, sponsored by the Indus Foundation, was to bring representatives from educational institutions all over the world to meet with Indian delegates to promote global collaborations,” Sevim said.

While at the international conference, Ozcan also met with representatives from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, who invited them to visit their campus. When Saatci and Ozcan learned of the date that they would visit Northern Arizona, they made arrangements to also meet with their new Turkish friend and SIUE officials.

Saatci and Ozcan visited Arizona on Monday and Tuesday. They arrived at SIUE on Wednesday evening. The pair will leave campus on Friday evening.

On Thursday, the guests met with various SIUE administrators including: Dr. Julie Furst-Bowe, chancellor; Dr. Ann Boyle, interim provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs; Dr. Susan Thomas, associate provost for academic affairs; Dr. Bette Bergeron, School of Education dean; Dr. Chris Gordon, School of Engineering associate dean; and Dr. Ayse Evrensel, chair of the Department of Economics and Finance.

On Friday, the pair is slated for several activities, including appointments with Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Narbeth Emmanuel, Center for International Programs Director Ron Schaefer, School of Engineering Associate Dean Cem Karacal, Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Oktay Alkin and Dr. Seran Aktuna, professor of English Language and Literature.

Mehmet Akif Ersoy University is a four-year school, established in 2006 in Burdur, a southwestern city in Turkey. The university is named after the famous Turkish philosopher, member of parliament and poet who lived from 1873-1936. Ersoy was also the author of Turkey’s national anthem.

The university, which has approximately 12,000 students, offers a wide range of disciplines, including education, business and engineering. The school is best known for its veterinary and nursing schools, according to Sevim.

In part, the University’s mission is: “. . . to integrate global values with the national values and find solution to the problems of the region, country, and the world, and thereby present the output which benefits the society as a whole.”

Mehmet University officials have taken note of SIUE’s mission, vision and values, Sevim said. Their school’s vision in part is: “. . . to be a university that believes in science, prefers creativity, originality of thought, and believes that different opinions and thoughts can be expressed in peace and tolerance. . .”

“If we agree on the cooperation, Sevim said, “we may end up helping them with their new programs and to improve their existing program offerings. They may send some of their faculty members and doctoral students to be with us.

“Also, currently they are a commuter campus, but would like to transform it to a residential campus. They have just begun plans to build residence halls. We will show them our university housing and fitness center before they before they leave.”

For more information, visit Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, http://www.mehmetakif.edu.tr/en/index.php?type=0700&page=tarihce.

Photo Information:

A two-man Turkish delegation from Mehmet Akif Ersoy University visited SIUE’s campus from Wednesday through Friday. Pictured from left to right: Dr. Hasan Sevim, SIUE School of Engineering dean; Dr. Ann Boyle, interim provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs; Mehmet Ozcan, assistant professor in the Department of Foreign Languages at Mehmet Akif Ersoy University; Dr. Julie Furst-Bowe, SIUE chancellor; Dr. Mustafa Saatci, Mehmet Akif Ersoy University rector; Dr. Susan Thomas, associate provost for academic affairs; and Dr. Cem Karacal, school of engineering associate dean.

SIUE Chancellor greets Mehmet Ozcan, assistant professor in the Department of Foreign Languages at Mehmet Akif Ersoy University as Dr. Mustafa Saatci, rector, looks on and SIUE School of Engineering Dean Hasan Sevim makes introductions.

Alzheimer’s Walk is Latest Way an Instructor Plans to Raise Awareness

It’s been only a little more than a month since Stacey Howard, instructor of Speech Communication at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville lost her father to Alzheimer’s disease. She and her family members plan to honor the family patriarch at the 2013 Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Saturday, Sept. 28 starting at the trails near Parking Lot A on the SIUE campus. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the walk starts at 9 a.m.

As a tribute to her father and her family, Howard kept an account of what was going on during the family’s journey with this illness through her personal blog posts. She recounted how it brought her parents to move back to their hometown, and her siblings to live in Illinois and Iowa to be closer to each other and their parents. She reflected on cherished memories she has held on to through the years—memories that her father no longer remembered.

According to Howard’s blog post, her father loved animals and children, and couldn’t wait to be a grandfather. Recalling one memory, she shared, “When Jim (her husband) and I were stationed in Germany, dad called just to let me know that he had bought a high chair at an auction. He let me know that he would just keep a doll in it until he could get the ‘real thing.’ I will never forget calling him later to tell him, ‘It’s time to take the doll out of the high chair!’ Mom said she thought the whole town knew in a matter of minutes that he was going to be a grandpa … and what a grandpa he was!”

Howard said the blog was a way for her to inspire others to “find the joy in Alzheimer’s,” and a way to increase awareness. She has used the blog to garner donations for the walk to put an end to the disease. She hopes her stories will motivate others to attend and take part in Saturday’s event, as well as encourage individuals to donate time, money and any resources they can to the effort.

More information about Saturday’s event and how to donate is available on the Walk to End Alzheimer’s site.

Nobel Prize Winner John Mather Informs and Entertains at Shaw Lecture

Presentation Video
NASA senior astrophysicist Dr. John C. Mather entertained a capacity crowd at the annual William C. Shaw Lecture Thursday, Sept. 26, at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Morris University Center.

SIUE’s Physics Department kicked off the 2013 Arts & Issues season in the Meridian Ballroom by presenting one of the world’s most prominent astrophysicists. Mather works out of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and specializes in infrared astronomy and cosmology. He was a co-recipient of the 2006 Nobel Prize in physics.

Mather’s dry humor, historical perspective and hints of what the future will bring were on display as he discussed a variety of topics including NASA’s Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) satellite, the Hubble Space Telescope, the lifespan of stars and the Big Bang theory.

The COBE measured the spectrum (color) of the heat radiation from the Big Bang, discovered hot and cold spots in that radiation, and hunted for the first objects that formed after the great explosion. He and co-researcher George Smoot were awarded the Nobel Prize for this work.

Mather currently serves as senior project scientist for the development of the James Webb Space Telescope. This new telescope will look even farther back in time than Hubble, and will peer inside the dusty cocoons where stars and planets are being born today.

The William C. Shaw Lecture is presented by SIUE’s Department of Physics. It features outstanding scientists who speak on primarily astronomy-based topics. The series commemorates the teaching career of Professor William Shaw, who taught at SIUE between 1959 and 1973 and passed away in 1977.

SIUE’s Schmoll Named Dir. of University Police

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Vice Chancellor for Administration Kenn Neher announced today that Kevin Schmoll will be the new director of university police. Currently serving as a lieutenant on the force, Schmoll will assume his new duties Oct. 1.

“I want to thank Vice Chancellor Neher, search committee chair Paul Fuligni and the entire committee for this opportunity,” said Schmoll, who was selected from a national pool of more than 80 candidates. “Continuity is an important factor in continuing the high level of service that the department currently provides, and our goal will be to keep the department moving forward.”

A Red Bud native, Schmoll joined the SIUE department in 1994. He quickly moved through the ranks from patrolman to a detective for investigations to sergeant. He was promoted to his current position as lieutenant in charge of the SIUE patrol division in January 2005. He also serves as the department’s public information officer and is the operations section chief for the emergency operations team.

He began his law enforcement career as a security officer in private business. He joined the St. Louis Major Case Squad as an investigator in May 2000 and served that elite unit for 12 years.

Schmoll chairs the Board of Police Commissioners in Columbia where he currently resides. He has been a member of the Metropolitan Campus Investigators Association (MCIA) for five years, MCIA vice president for two years and directed activities for the Police Benevolent Association for 15 years.

Schmoll earned a bachelor’s in criminal justice from McKendree College in 1993. He succeeds Regina Hays.

2013 Research Centers Reception Promotes Awareness of Opportunities

Faculty members, students and members of the community attended this year’s research center directors’ reception in the SIUE Morris University Center to find out about available resources and interdisciplinary opportunities.

The reception opened with presentations from four of SIUE’s research centers, including the Illinois Education Research Council (IERC); the Institute for Urban Research (IUR); the Center for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Research, Education and Outreach at SIUE (STEM Center), the NCERC at SIUE: Advancing Biofuels Research.

Other center’s represented during the event included The Gardens at SIUE, the Interdisciplinary Research and Informatics Scholarship Center, the Cuban and Caribbean Center, and the Laboratory for Applied Spatial Analysis.

2013 SIUE Graduate School Fair Open for Career-Minded

Individuals considering a change in careers or career advancement are encouraged to attend the 2013 Graduate School Fair at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

There will be two chances to meet with faculty and staff members to discuss options for graduate studies. Times have been set for 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9 in the Morris University Center Goshen Lounge. Representatives from more than 40 graduate programs will be on hand to answer questions and talk about areas of study, flexible options, graduate assistantships, the track to graduation and much more.

“Whether you are a full-time student coming back for your master’s degree or a working student who needs to go part-time, we have options for you,” said Graduate School Dean and Associate Provost for Research Jerry Weinberg. “We have online programs, evening courses and weekend courses, as well as traditional courses.”

Weinberg noted the University increased its grant funding by 79 percent from last year, and offers more than 500 graduate assistantships that include tuition waivers. Each assistantship provides the chance for students to conduct research or gain practical work experience. SIUE also awards competitive graduate awards.

“Through mentorship opportunities, as well as research and classroom experiences, our graduate students collaborate with outstanding nationally and internationally recognized faculty members to gain real-world perspective that is applicable in today’s highly competitive job market,” Weinberg said. “Through scholarship and practice, SIUE graduates make their mark on the world as competent leaders, good global citizens and skilled practitioners.”

Those interested in learning more about the research and faculty can visit www.siue.edu/researchandcreative/index.shtml.

This month, U.S.News & World Report ranked SIUE among the best Regional Universities Midwest for the 10th consecutive year and among the top 10 public universities in that category. The listing is in the magazine’s “Best Colleges of 2014” issue.

The latest U.S. News rankings come just after recognition by Washington Monthly in August that ranks SIUE among the top 60 master’s universities in the nation. In March, SIUE also was named by the Corporation for National and Community Service to the annual President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, which is a list of colleges and universities demonstrating a commitment to volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement.

“SIUE is an active research community where faculty members attain funded grants from major agencies such as the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, NASA, the National Endowment for Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts and many other prestigious agencies,” Weinberg said.

SIUE offers a variety of graduate programs in a wide array of areas. All programs are accredited.

As an incentive for prospective students, the graduate school application fee is being waived during the fair.

Free parking will be available in Lot B, which is next to the Morris University Center. To register, visit the graduate fair registration page through the SIUE Office of Admissions. For more information, call (618) 650-2741 or email graduateadmissions@siue.edu. Learn more at siue.edu/graduatestudents.

Two-Time SIUE Grad Writes Story of Her Personal Journey

From her apartment in Dallas, Texas, Sarah Peebles recounts the events that led her to write her first book—a book she never intended to create or publish.

The young woman, who earned a bachelor’s in business administration and a master’s in public administration and policy analysis from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, surmounted multiple, difficult obstacles to get to where she is today. She discusses those challenges, as well as the driving force that pushed her forward and made her the person she is today—strong, educated, focused, resourceful and a published author.

“When I started college at SIUE, I had a poor vocabulary and I was behind in my comprehension level,” she said. “I had a very rough, hard upbringing. By the time I entered college, I knew I had a lot of work to do to catch up to where I needed to be.”

She was a product of the Ferguson/Florissant and St. Louis School Districts. She was fortunate to connect with some teachers who encouraged her growth and development. At times, they even took her into their homes. Her childhood was filled with uncertainty. There were times she faced homelessness, which was a bigger challenge at the time than her school work.

During her junior year at the University, Peebles started having nightmares about her childhood. Unsure of what to do to put those bad dreams to rest, she began keeping a journal. It was shortly after she began writing down those dreams that they stopped.

Upon her graduation, she moved to Ohio and went through the federal law enforcement academy. She recalls that as a peaceful time in her life. However, it was at that time that the dreams came back. They kept her up at night. They haunted her thoughts throughout the day.

“At any time, these events would come to mind,” she recalled. “I knew I had to come up with a solution.”

She flipped through her notebooks from her college years and realized the writings were coming together like a book. “Being that I’m not a writer, putting all that on paper and pulling it together was very intimidating for me,” she said. “But I felt as if that’s what I had to do.”

It was at this time Peebles told her mother about the project. “She asked me, ‘So, when is your book going to be done? When are you writing more of your book?’” Peebles laughed, “At that time I wasn’t calling this project a book. In my mind, I wasn’t writing a book.”

The “non-book” was 27 chapters of her personal story. The process of pulling together those 27 chapters was agonizing, she said, noting she prayed, became angry, cried and was filled with a plethora of emotions. “I couldn’t write anymore; I had to stop.”

Four years later, she started on the undertaking again. In three weeks, she completed chapters 28-46.

“When I wasn’t writing, I was sleeping,” she said. “This book took me on a really bad emotional roller coaster.”

After completing it, she had it professionally edited and bound. That was in December 2011.

“I had no intention of ever publishing it,” she said. But based on feedback she received from the editor on the project in the form of a personalized letter at the end of the manuscript, she knew what to do next. She didn’t see the letter until a few months after she received the edited, bound text.

At the request of the editor, Peebles included an epilogue of what is happening in the lives of the other characters in the publication. “It hurt me,” she said. “It hurt me so much, because they’re not really doing well.”

While working on her master’s, Peebles completed the epilogue and prepared the book for sale. Those hoping to obtain a copy or learn more about Peebles’ journey are encouraged to visit www.sarahp247.wix.com/teachher.

SIUE Alum Kuhl Named President/CEO of First Clover Leaf Bank

First Clover Leaf Bank has appointed SIUE alum P. David Kuhl as president and chief executive officer effective Monday, Oct. 7. Kuhl earned a master’s of business administration from SIUE in 1977. Read about Kuhl in a Wall Street Journal article posted Sept. 25.

NEA to Webcast Tribute to SIUE Professor’s Collaborator Pauline Hillaire

Lummi Nation elder Pauline Hillaire, Scälla -Of the Killer Whale, will be honored at 7 p.m. (CT) Friday, at the Library of Congress for her lifetime of cultural work and teaching. Hillaire is collaborating with Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Professor of Philosophy Gregory Fields on two books.

Both books are being published through the University of Nebraska Press. The first, “A Totem Pole History,” will be available in December, and “Rights Remembered” will follow.

Hillaire is one of nine individuals nationwide to receive a 2013National Heritage Fellowship, awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts. The award is the nation’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts. Among past recipients is blues great B.B. King.

A live webcast of the NEA event will capture the event at www.arts.gov.

Hillaire’s daughter, Audrey Chicone, will receive the award on her behalf. Chicone says, “Through her art, she dares you to have heart. Through her dance, she encourages you to dream. Through her story-telling, she dares you to remember.

“With mother’s help and never-ending enthusiasm to teach, our culture survives, not only for our family and the members of the Lummi tribe, but also for the world.”

Chicone conveys what her mother might say of her work, if she were able to attend, “This responsibility is a gift not only to the recipient, but to the one sharing.”

Hillaire is being recognized additionally with the Bess Lomax Hawes NEA National Heritage Award, for an individual who has made a significant contribution to the preservation and awareness of cultural heritage.

Lummi singers and dancers will honor Hillaire at a public concert Friday at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Led by Hillaire’s grandson Benjamin Covington, the group of elders, adults and children includes Covington’s wife Lila, son Dillon and cousin Jeremy Covington.

Ben Covington says of his grandmother, “Her love for her parents, Joseph and Edna Hillaire, was infinite and methodical. She dedicated herself to the Children of The Setting Sun Song and Dance group.

“She encouraged all she met to be involved in their own way, from chopping wood to keep the people warm, to college education to keep the people informed. No matter what walk of life you are in, keep yourself grounded. Always remember where you come from.”

Covington says of the songs to be sung in D.C., “The Star Song is a way to tell your loved one how you feel for them: ‘You were once right there, and now you are gone; I will always remember you.’

“The Farewell Song tells your friends, ‘Until we meet again, farewell; the visit was worthy of telling your people of.”

For more information, contact Fields, (618) 972-9042.

SIUE Educational Outreach Offers a Week of Lifelong Learning

The semester is in full swing, and a week of exciting lectures lies ahead as part of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Lifelong Learning program.

On tap today:

• 10:30-11:45 a.m., ‘“Kill Them Like Dogs!’ The Lynching of Allied Airmen in Germany,” will be presented by Dr. Jim Weingartner, an SIUE professor emeritus of Historical Studies.

• 1:15-2:30 p.m., “A Visit with Dolley Madison,” will feature speaker Barbara Kay, a retired high school history teacher. Kay will talk about Dolley Madison, who was given the title “First Lady” at her funeral. Madison was the first wife of a president to live in Washington City full time.

Both topics will be covered in the Morris University Center Mississippi-Illinois Room. The cost for each of these programs is $5 for general admission; $2 for Lifelong Learning members and free for SIUE students.

Programs slated for Thursday include:

• 9:30-10:30 a.m., “Amusing Questions in Mathematics,” will be presented by Dr. Adam Weyhaupt, associate professor and chair of the SIUE Department of Mathematics and Statistics. There are many interesting questions in mathematics that are very simple to state, but complicated and surprising, or have unknown answers. Dr. Weyhaupt will introduce a handful of amusing questions for attendees during the program at the Main Street Community Center in Edwardsville.

• 5-6 p.m., “Medicare: What’s New?” will be presented by Chris Fulton, information and assistance manager for the Area Agency on Aging of Southwestern Illinois. The event will take place in the Morris University Center’s Mississippi-Illinois Room.

Both of Thursday’s events are free and open to the public. Those attending events on campus must pay for parking. Visitors can park in lots B and C for $1 per hour. A list of upcoming Lifelong Learning programs and workshops is available at https://aceweb.siue.edu/WConnect.ace.

For details about upcoming programs, or to register in advance, which is recommended, contact Cheryl Brunsmann, assistant director of Educational Outreach, (618) 650-3209, or email cbrunsm@siue.edu and provide name, daytime phone number and email address.

SIUE Alum Geri Mitchell Named KWMU Host

St. Louis Public Radio has named SIUE alum Geri Mitchell as a morning host. She earned a bachelor’s in mass communications/journalism from the College of Arts and Sciences. Read about Mitchell on St. Louis Public Radio’s website.

SIUE’s Karen Kelly among School of Nursing’s 50th Anniversary Awardees

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing has selected five recipients to receive 2013 School of Nursing Excellence Awards. They will be honored at the Nursing Excellence Gala and 50^th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, Oct. 5. The event in the Morris University Center’s Meridian Ballroom begins at 5:30 p.m.

“Our gala award recipients are prime examples of individuals and organizations who continuously give of themselves for the good of others,” said Anne Perry, interim dean of the SIUE School of Nursing. “Their service to the School, the nursing profession and their communities is truly admirable.”

The awardees include:

Outstanding New SIUE School of Nursing Alumna: Carla J. Daniels, FNP-BC, AOCNP

The award was created to honor a baccalaureate or master’s graduate who has made a significant contribution to the nursing profession and earned a degree within the past 10 years.

Daniels earned a family nurse practitioner master’s degree from SIUE in 2004. An oncology nurse practitioner at Springfield (Ill.) Clinic, Daniels has achieved credentials as an Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner, a certified Breast Health Specialist and a BRCA testing expert. She is a leading resource for genetics counseling in the Springfield area and is a tireless advocate for breast cancer prevention, detection and treatment. Next year, she will celebrate 25 years at Springfield Clinic.

Outstanding SIUE School of Nursing Alumna:  Lenora M. Drees, APN-FNP

The award was created to honor a baccalaureate or master’s graduate who has made a significant contribution to the nursing profession and who earned a degree more than 10 years ago.

Drees began her nursing career in 1968 after graduating from St. John’s Mercy School of Nursing with a nursing diploma. In 1989, Lenora graduated from SIUE with a bachelor’s in nursing. Four years later, she earned a family nurse practitioner master’s from the University of Illinois – Chicago.

She is a member of the Illinois Society for Advanced Practice Nursing, a certified diabetic educator and a SIUE nursing preceptor. She currently practices at Family Care Associates in Effingham.

Outstanding Friend to Nursing:  Dr. Karen Kelly

The award honors a person, business, foundation, legislator or other entity that has demonstrated a civic responsibility to the profession of nursing and to society by advancing the nursing profession through acts such as funding, supporting legislation or promoting nursing through media outlets.

Kelly graduated with a bachelor’s in nursing from SIUE in 1972. She has dedicated her life to the betterment of the health care industry and nursing education. A triple SIUE alumna, she earned a master’s in 1977 and a doctorate in education in 1983.

Currently serving as an associate professor and director of continuing education in the SIUE School of Nursing, Kelly has worked with many state and national organizations to promote the advancement and success of the profession. She is president of the Illinois American Nurses Association and continues to make strides towards nursing excellence in every aspect of her life.

Outstanding Health Care Agency
50 year partner of SIUE School of Nursing:  East Side Health District

The award honors a community health agency,  home health care agency or long-term care facility that has advanced the nursing profession and can be considered a model for others.

East Side Health District opened in 1937, making it one of the oldest health departments in the metro-East area. It has worked to improve the health and environment of the people living in East St. Louis and surrounding communities through various health promotion and disease prevention programs.

Since the SIUE School of Nursing was established on the Edwardsville campus in 1963, East Side Health District has partnered with the School to offer students a clinical environment in which they are able to receive advanced training in nursing.

Outstanding Hospital
50 year partner of SIUE School of Nursing:  Barnes-Jewish Hospital

The award honors a hospital/hospital system that has advanced the nursing profession and can be considered a model for others.

Barnes-Jewish Hospital, a Magnet®-designated hospital, is committed to providing an exceptional learning environment for nursing students, clinical instructors and staff alike. For the last 50 years, students from SIUE, under the supervision of their clinical instructors, have worked with Barnes-Jewish Hospital to care for patients on a variety of units, including cardiology, general medicine and oncology.

Students have depended upon these care experiences to create and foster the skills, knowledge and abilities necessary to provide quality care in professional nursing. This long lasting partnership has been pivotal to the successful history of SIUE nursing.

Nursing excellence nominees are considered on the basis of their commitment and inspirational influence, and having a profound impact on their communities and the health care profession. Alumni, health professionals, School of Nursing faculty and staff, and friends of nursing submitted nominations.

The Gala will include dinner along with silent and live auctions. More information is available at siue.edu/nursing.

SIUE School of Engineering Study Abroad Students To Make Presentation to Chancellor

A total of 14 undergraduate students from Southern Illinois University’s School of Engineering will present to the Chancellor’s Council on Oct. 16 about the four weeks they spent in Istanbul, Turkey during this year’s Study Abroad program.

The SIUE students, who represented the Industrial and Manufacturing, Mechanical and Electrical and Computer Engineering departments, studied sustainable alternative energy and history of science and technology at Istanbul Technical University (ITU.) They received college credit for their experience and efforts.

After spending their mornings in the classroom they were able to explore Turkey on field trips to industrial plants using alternative energy, as well as historical sites including the Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar, Basilica Cistern, Bosporus Bridge, and Topkapi and Dolmabahce palaces.

 “Walking down any street, you are surrounded by ancient buildings that are each accompanied with their own unique story,” said Josh Rasch, a senior mechanical engineering major. “Turkey is a melting pot of culture. You find people from all surrounding countries on a daily basis. This diversity makes every day an adventure.”

 The students were housed in ITU residence halls and granted full access to the university’s facilities. They learned the similarities and differences of the two educational systems and cultures with daily interaction with Turkish students.

 “Studying in Istanbul was a great experience,” said Adam Kuebel, a student in the mechanical engineering department. “I really enjoyed the culture and lifestyle of Turkey and learned a lot from the dual diploma students.”

 The travel study program was organized by Cem Karacal, associate dean and professor in the School of Engineering. The courses were taught by Serdar Celik, associate professor in mechanical engineering and Geoffrey Bowe of ITU Humanities. 

 “My study abroad experience was life changing,” said Joshua Tonnies, a junior mechanical engineering major. “A new culture, dorm life and many other things made it very influential to my life.”

SIUE Hosts St. Louis Regional Chamber Board

More than 40 members of the St. Louis Regional Chamber Board of Directors gathered at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Morris University Center on Thursday, Sept. 19. The board enjoyed a light breakfast before engaging in its regular September agenda.

“We are grateful to Chamber President Joe Reagan and his staff for bringing the board to our campus,” said SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe. “It’s important to remind everyone just how closely situated SIUE is to downtown St. Louis and the role we play in the metro region’s economic engine.”

SIUE has an annual regional economic impact of nearly $500 million and generates approximately 8,800 jobs. Each year, SIUE employees and students spend nearly $230 million in the region. More than half of SIUE’s 95,000-plus alumni live in the metro area.

Photo:  Joe Reagan, president and CEO of the St. Louis Regional Chamber, speaks with SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe at the board of directors meeting in SIUE’s Morris University Center on Thursday, Sept. 19.

SIUE Wrestlers Pitch in for Edwardsville Playground

The SIUE wrestling team helped with the Edwardsville Rotary Club’s playground construction on Tue., Sept. 17. The Rotary Club is coordinating this effort to rebuild the demolished playground at Township Park (AKA Airplane Park).  The playground is 12,000 square feet and being built this week to be completed by Sunday, Sept. 22.

The Cougars placed playground equipment around the site and filled 180 holes with vertical supports (pictured to the right). Each of the 15-foot long, composite wood posts will help support the playground.

During the remainder of this week, SIUE Greek organizations, student groups, and SIUE intercollegiate athletic teams will work alongside community volunteers to complete the project.

For more information on the playground, click here.

SIUE Alum’s Quilt Art to be Featured at SLU Museum of Art

SIUE alum and artist Luanne Rimel will have her work displayed at Quilt National 2013, which is set to open on Friday, Sept. 20, at the Saint Louis University Museum of Art. She earned a master’s in art from SIUE’s College of Arts and Sciences in 2001.  Webster-Kirkwood Times writer Mary Shapiro featured Rimel in a story posted Sept. 13. Rimel is one of 85 artists whose work was chosen from 851 submissions.

Chancellor Furst-Bowe Highlights Accomplishments, New Reality Project

Chancellor’s Address Video
During her annual address to the campus community this morning at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe reflected upon the many accomplishments during her first year as SIUE’s leader, expressed optimism over the state of the institution and also acknowledged the challenges that are ahead.

From the Morris University Center Meridian Ballroom, Furst-Bowe greeted a receptive crowd of more than 500. She spoke highly of “The New REALITY Project,” which is an initiative that was introduced by Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Ann Boyle earlier this month. Reality is an acronym for Reimagining Excellence in Academics and Learning through Innovation, Technology and You.

The New REALITY Project will involve establishing campus teams to address:

• Expanding enrollment
• Retaining students and improving graduation rates
• Designing competency based and prior-learning assessments
• Retooling processes for speed and adaptability
• Enhancing experiential learning in the curriculum and co-curricular activities
• Developing international programs and support for international students
• E-learning initiatives addressing development of online courses and programs
• Innovating pedagogies to support student learning and academic quality in all settings

“There is a need to develop and offer new interdisciplinary programs to meet the needs of students and employers, and facilitate retention and graduation,” Furst-Bowe said. “Expanding online education is critical to our long-term strategy.”

Furst-Bowe enthusiastically recounted the University’s most recent recognitions. This month, U.S.News & World Report ranked SIUE among the best Regional Universities Midwest for the 10^th consecutive year and for the first time, among the top 10 public universities in that category.

The latest U.S. News rankings came just after recognition by Washington Monthly in August that ranked SIUE among the top 60 master’s universities in the nation. The Chancellor also referenced SIUE’s naming in March by the Corporation for National and Community Service to the annual President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, which is a list of colleges and universities demonstrating a commitment to volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement.

Also among the achievements was the strategic planning process that resulted in updated mission, vision and value statements. Each attendee received a pocket card with the renewed philosophies:

Mission:  SIUE is a student-centered educational community dedicated to communicating, expanding and integrated knowledge. In a spirit of collaboration enriched by diverse ideas, our comprehensive and unique array of undergraduate and graduate programs develops professionals, scholars and leaders who shape a changing world.

Vision: SIUE will achieve greater national and global recognition and academic prominence through innovative and interdisciplinary programs that empower individuals to achieve their full potential.

Values: SIUE fulfills its mission based on the fundamental shared values of citizenship, excellence, inclusion, integrity and wisdom.

She referenced campus growth and sustainability initiatives, recognizing the University’s first Faculty Sustainability Fellow, Dr. Connie Frey-Spurlock, associate professor of sociology and criminal justice studies.

Among the other high points, Furst-Bowe reported that SIUE received 189 external awards totaling $42.2 million in FY13.

The chancellor also focused on the importance of an inclusive campus community.

Furst-Bowe ended her address by enthusiastically encouraging faculty and staff members to sign up for one of the teams created to support the “New REALITY Project.” She closed with a quote from the publication, Women in Higher Education: “By giving people a role in revitalizing campus, the process becomes the product.”

Photo:  SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe.

NCERC’s Caupert Lends Support to Biofuels Development Act

NCERC at SIUE Director John Caupert spoke in support of increased partnership between the military and the biofuels industry Monday, Sept. 16, at the Southern Illinois University Carbondale Research Farm in Belleville. The occasion was the unveiling of the Biofuels Development Act of 2013 by Congressman Bill Enyart’s (D-Ill.)

Enyart, a member of the House Armed Services and Agriculture committees, introduced a plan to build on an existing Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Energy, and the Navy to promote military use of biofuels.

The Biofuels Development Act would provide competitive grants to existing biofuels research centers to fund pilot-scale research, development and testing of bio-based fuels for use as an aviation fuel for the Air Force.

“The Biofuels Development Act leverages our region’s existing resources—our natural transportation network, the most fertile farmland in the nation, a skilled workforce and more than a century of combined biofuels expertise at our Center—and brings those assets together to advance our nation’s energy security,” Caupert said.

“Farmers have proven they are more than capable of feeding and fueling a growing world, and we want to continue to give them that opportunity” he added. “We will be taking agricultural products, including cropland residue, and converting it into the fuel that powers a fleet of aircraft. And best of all, every drop of homegrown fuel produced here is one less drop that is imported.”

Speaking at the SIUC Research Farm, which overlooks Scott Air Force Base, Enyart said the Act would boost the local economy and increase American energy security.

“We stand beside fields of corn and soybeans that will be harvested in the coming weeks,” Enyart said. “Across the fence from those crops are runways that support fighter jets and refueling tankers that keep our country strong and secure from threats from throughout the world.

“We have an idea whose time has come. Here in Southern Illinois, we can lead the way to both an energy independent country and a vibrant economy here at home.”

Caupert and other agriculture leaders, including representatives from the Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Corn Growers Association and the Illinois Renewable Fuels Association, praised Enyart for his work on behalf of Illinois agriculture and ethanol.

“I applaud Congressman Enyart for his leadership on this issue and encourage his fellow members to support the Biofuels Development Act,” Caupert said.

Photo: NCERC at SIUE Director John Caupert with Congressman Bill Enyart (D.-Ill.)

The World of CAS is Open to All During Hands-On Day in the MUC

From left to right, Dave Parsons, Historical Studies Professor Allison Thomason, and Alexis Brown, a junior majoring in engineering, examine the contract of an indentured servant.

The SIUE Morris University Center was alive with exciting stops Tuesday as part of Hands-On Day & Majors Fair 2013, enticing students, faculty, staff and visitors to tour the world of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS.) CAS offers a variety of degree programs in the arts, humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. Displays were set up to feature everything from African Studies to Art & Design, and from forensic sciences to foreign language and literature. For more information about academic opportunities through CAS, visit www.siue.edu/artsandsciences.

SIUE Student Eickhoff Crowned National Winner in Miss Amazing Pageant

SIUE student Tiffany Eickhoff was recently crowned a national winner in the “Miss” division (ages 24-27) of the Miss Amazing Pageant held on Aug. 30 in Omaha, Neb.

Eickhoff is a senior speech communication major in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Eickhoff and other contestants were recently featured on The Today Show for their accomplishments. Click here to read the story and view a video. Tiffany is featured at the 1:51 mark in the video.

“Every girl at the Miss Amazing pageant receives a crown because every girl to an extent in her own way is Miss Amazing, just by participating in the event and really pushing her limits,” said Jordan Somer, the founder of the Miss Amazing pageant, which is for girls with physical and/or mental disabilities.

SIUE’s Sjursen Receives AAUW American Fellowship

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) has awarded a 2013-14 American Fellowship to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Katrin E. Sjursen, Ph.D. She is an assistant professor of historical studies within SIUE’s College of Arts and Sciences.

American Fellowships, AAUW’s oldest and largest funding program, date back to 1888 and support women scholars who are completing doctoral dissertations, conducting postdoctoral research or finishing research for publication.

“I was shocked when I learned that the AAUW had awarded me one of their postdoctoral fellowships,” said Sjursen. “The grant is extremely competitive, with a lot of really excellent projects submitted.

“I plan to use the grant to produce a book based on my research into the military obligations of medieval noblewomen.  Hopefully, young girls today will learn that there were many roles open to women in the past and that women were an important part of all sectors of life.”

A native of Old Lyme, Conn., Sjursen earned a doctorate in medieval history from the University of California Santa Barbara in 2010.  She joined the SIUE faculty in 2009 as an instructor, advancing to her current position in 2010, and now resides in Edwardsville.

“The American Fellowship program affords scholars the ability to become leading thinkers in their fields and have an impact across multiple disciplines,” said Gloria Blackwell, AAUW vice president of fellowships, grants and international programs. It also recognizes their great potential, because they are receiving support from one of the nation’s most respected women’s organizations.”

For the 2013–14 academic year, AAUW awarded a total of $3.7 million to 245 scholars, research projects and programs promoting education and equity for women and girls through six fellowships and grants. AAUW is one of the world’s leading supporters of graduate women’s education, having awarded nearly $100 million in fellowships, grants and awards to more than 12,000 women from more than 130 countries since 1888.

As part of the 125thanniversary celebration of the fellowships and grants program, AAUW created a new video and interactive timeline, which feature historic photos and documents from the program’s rich history.

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) empowers women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research. The nonpartisan, nonprofit organization has more than 165,000 members and supporters across the United States, as well as 1,000 local branches and 800 college and university partners. Since AAUW’s founding in 1881, our members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day – educational, social, economic and political. Learn more at www.aauw.org

Photo: SIUE Assistant Professor Katie Sjursen.

SIUE Women Engineers Host Open House Oct. 5

The Women Engineers at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (WE@SIUE) Open House is set for Saturday, October 5, from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the School of Engineering Building. The event is sponsored by the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) in conjunction with the School of Engineering.

The Open House allows prospective female students to discover the many opportunities available within the School. Students will attend sessions presented by the Offices of Admissions and Student Financial Aid, the Career Development Center and two engineering majors of their choice.

“Engineering is an extremely rewarding profession, especially for women, who comprise only 15 percent of today’s engineering workforce,” said Hasan Sevim, dean of the School of Engineering.  “This event provides female high school students the chance to discover exciting career possibilities in engineering.  The SIUE SWE students can play a significant role in recruiting future female engineers who will bring fresh, creative ideas and perspectives to the industry.”

Separate panels of professional female engineers and current SIUE female students will be available for questions. Throughout the day, students will be able to interact with engineering professionals, students and university faculty. The Society of Women Engineers will host a lunch with a keynote speaker.

For more information, visit the SIUE SWE website.

Photo: At the SWE Open House during the 2013 spring semester, Mark Goerger and daughter Kristin visit with Vicki LaRose, an SIUE alum and president of Civil Designs, Inc., in St. Louis.

SIUE School of Pharmacy Announces Strategic Plan

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s School of Pharmacy introduced its five-year strategic plan during August. SOP Dean Gireesh Gupchup highlighted six major goals as the growing school enters its second decade.

“We are fulfilling our mission as an interdisciplinary educational community dedicated to the preparation of pharmacy professionals, scholars and leaders,” Gupchup said. “We strive every day to improve the health and well-being of this region and beyond.

“We expect to develop SIUE’s School of Pharmacy to be a national model for exceptional pharmacy education, patient-centered care and innovative research,” said Gupchup, in regard to the vision for the School. “For that to occur, there are six initiatives that must be executed.”

The SOP’s six-point plan includes:

• Advancing innovative education, service and research programs
• Promoting faculty and staff development and support
• Fostering prospective pharmacy students
• Expanding and supporting professional growth of students and alumni
• Cultivating diversity and inclusiveness
• Identifying, developing and sustaining external relations and financial support

To read the complete strategic plan, visit siue.edu/pharmacy.

In its short 10-year history, the SIUE SOP has grown dramatically and is operating at capacity with a record fall 2013 enrollment of 325 students.

SIUE’s Gordon and Hindelang Discuss Construction Industry in BND

SIUE’s Chris Gordon and Sandra Hindelang were quoted in a Belleville News Democrat story regarding challenges within the construction industry. The story by BND reporter Will Buss was published Sun., Sept. 15. Gordon is an associate professor and chair of the Construction Department in the School of Engineering. Hindelang is director of executive education in the SIUE School of Business. They combine to direct SIUE’s highly successful Construction Leadership Institute.

Photo: SIUE Assoc. Professor Chris Gordon.

TED Talks Personality Hannah Brencher Appears at MUC Thursday

The SIUE Morris University Center and Campus Activities Board are co-sponsoring TED Talks speaker Hannah Brencher’s visit to the MUC. She will appear on Thursday, Sept. 19at 7 p.m. in the Meridian Ballroom

Fresh out of college, Hannah fell into depression and searched for a way to find her “place in this world.” She began writing love letters and leaving them scattered across New York City. Brencher wrote about the experience on her blog, and soon a following grew. So, she made the Internet a promise, “If you emailed a snail mail address, she would write you a love letter.”

One year and 400 love letters later, “The World Needs More Love Letters” was born. Founded in September 2011, More Love Letters is a community of over 20,000 passionate individuals from 49 countries who take to leaving love letters all over their communities and mailing letters to strangers in need.

Following her presentation, Brencher will lead a letter writing activity.

For additional information, contact Brett Murray, MUC programming specialist, at bmurray@siue.edu or Cathy Passananti, MUC assistant director, at cpassan@siue.edu.

SIUE Solar Car Visits Columbus Elementary School

More than 120 fifth-graders from Columbus Elementary School in Edwardsville enjoyed a visit today from the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering solar car and members of the award-winning SIUE Solar Car Team.

Vince Schlueter, the principal at Columbus, said Edwardsville School District 7 promotes a strong STEM-oriented curriculum for its classes. Columbus School has worked with other leaders in the district to create solar powered Barbie jeeps and with SIUE to host a highly popular weather balloon launch.

Today’s visit by SIUE students and graduates took these fifth-graders to the next level by introducing them to engineering and solar power as it comes into play in higher education, he said.

“This is a great visual representation of how solar can be used to move objects and to charge batteries,” said Matt Maddox, a fifth grade teacher at Columbus who helped set up the event. “It’s also a wonderful opportunity for these students to see engineering in action.

“We’ve worked on STEM projects on a small level.”

The solar car uses a lithium ion battery pack that produces up to 96.2 volts of electricity. It can reach up to 45 miles per hour. The car has been driven in competitions, including the Formula Sun Grand Prix in Austin, Texas in June. SIUE’s solar car team won the Spirit Award at the event.

Team members are looking forward to another race, the American Solar Challenge, in July, 2014. This race, too, will be held at the Circuit of the Americas Formula race track in Austin.

The SIUE students and alumni who presented the car and gave an overview of its capabilities were:

• Amy Sunderlin, of Rockford, a graduate student in electrical and computer engineering. Sunderlin has worked with the solar car for four years and recently served as the SIUE Solar Car Team captain.

• Alex Wolff, an alumnus from Ferguson, Mo.

• Louis Neumeyer, a junior engineering major from Millstadt.

The SIUE students talked about the importance of team work in engineering projects.

The fifth-graders passed around solar panels, as well as pieces of carbon fiber that are used to support the solar panels on the vehicle. The children were asked to break the carbon fiber. They couldn’t. The pieces of solar panel are attached to carbon fiber and hooks are used to hold them in place.

Sunderlin enjoys speaking with grade school children about engineering and opportunities in the field. “I have a passion for it,” she said about engineering. “There’s nothing like the feeling of working on something, and it’s not working the way you want it to, and then it just comes together. I’m doing what I love.”

After she earns her master’s degree, Sunderlin said she hopes to become an automation engineer.

Steve Muren, faculty advisor for the SIUE Solar Car Team, took part in the visit. He hopes visits like this will encourage more young people to pursue STEM degrees and careers in the future.

At the end of the presentation, Schlueter asked the students, “Are you guys ready to see it move?” To which students cheered and shouted.

Following the honk of its horn, the vehicle was started and a clicking sound of its electric motor could be heard as it was maneuvered in the Columbus Elementary School parking lot, straightened out and led back into its trailer.

SIUE Receives Fifth Straight Military Friendly Designation

Victory Media, the premier media entity for military personnel transitioning into civilian life, has named Southern Illinois University Edwardsvilleto the prestigious Military Friendly Schools^® list for the fifth- consecutive year. The 2014 Military Friendly Schools^® list honors the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members, veterans and spouses as students to ensure their success on campus.

“Inclusion on the list of Military Friendly Schools^® shows SIUE’s commitment to providing a supportive environment for military students,” said Sean Collins, Victory Media vice president and a Navy veteran.   “The need for education is growing and our mission is to provide the military community with transparent, world-class resources to assist in their search for schools.”

The Military Friendly Schools® media and website, found at www.militaryfriendlyschools.com, feature the list, interactive tools and search functionality to help military students find the best school to suit their unique needs and preferences.  The 1,868 colleges, universities and trade schools on this year’s list exhibit leading practices in the recruitment and retention of students with military experience.  These schools have world-class programs and policies for student support on campus, academic accreditation, credit policies, flexibility and other services to those who served.

Now in its fifth edition, The Military Friendly Schools^® list is compiled through extensive research and a data-driven survey of more than 10,000 Veterans Administration-approved schools nationwide. The survey results that comprise the 2014 list were independently tested by Ernst & Young LLP based upon the weightings and methodology established by Victory Media. Each year schools taking the survey are held to a higher standard than the previous year via improved methodology, criteria and weightings developed with the assistance of an Academic Advisory Board (AAB) consisting of educators from schools across the country. The board members list can be found at www.militaryfriendlyschools.com/board.

A full story and detailed list of 2014 Military Friendly Schools^® will be highlighted in the annual Guide to Military Friendly Schools^®, distributed in print and digital format to active and former military personnel in early October.

Annual Give Kids A Smile Day at School of Dental Medicine

Southern Illinois University’s School of Dental Medicine is urging parents of qualified children between the ages of 3 and 13 to attend this year’s Give Kids A Smile Day from 7:30 a.m. to noon, Monday, Oct. 14 at the School’s main clinic in building 263, 2800 College Ave. in Alton.

Free dental care, including examinations, X-rays, cleanings, fluoride treatments, fillings and extractions, will be provided by SIU School of Dental Medicine faculty and students, members of the Madison and St. Clair district dental societies,, and Lewis and Clark Community College dental assisting and dental hygiene faculty and students. Professionals and volunteers from the community also will participate.

Children qualified to participate in the event are those eligible for free and reduced-priced meal programs.

“Every measure is being taken to ensure that information about our event is available to all area families, so that all registered children receive treatment,” said Dr. Poonam Jain, professor in the SIU School of Dental Medicine and director of Community Dentistry. “Each child must be accompanied by a parent or guardian in order to be treated. Waiting times are kept to a minimum”

Give Kids a Smile Day is a national event sponsored by the American Dental Association to provide free dental treatment for underserved children. The event is organized to promote community awareness of the need for dental services among the underserved.

In Alton, the one-day event allows an average of more than 200 children to receive care from dental professionals each year. The volunteer dentists and staff offer an annual average of more than $50,000 in preventive, restorative and surgical treatment for the children who participate.

Fun activities for children will take place throughout the event. First-year dental students from the SIU School of Dental Medicine will host a “Smile Station” featuring fun, educational activities and games to help children learn the importance of a good diet, oral hygiene and the connections between their mouths and bodies.

For more information, contact Sherie Gottlob from the School of Dental Medicine, (618) 474-7200, or sgottlo@siue.edu. While pre-registration is preferred, it is not required. Walk-ins are welcome between 7.30 a.m. – noon.

Photo:  SIUE dental student Kasey Kirchner has fun with a young contestant, challenging the “Circle of Smiles,” a spinning wheel that offered oral health education and fun, at the Smile Station during the 2012 Give Kids A Smile Day.

SIU Board Approves Faculty Appointments, Facility Planning at SIUE

The Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees today approved three faculty appointments and four facility projects for the Edwardsville campus. The board held its quarterly session on the Carbondale campus.

The Board approved the appointment of Dr. Ann Perry as interim dean of the School of Nursing. She has previously served the School for five years as chair of the Department of Primary Care and Health Nursing and was associate dean for Academic Programs for four years.

Dr. Toni Roucka’s appointment as associate dean of the School of Dental Medicine in Alton was approved. Roucka came to SIUE after serving Marquette University’s School of Dentistry since 2001. She was an assistant professor and most recently program director for general dentistry.

Dr. Robert Blackwell was approved as interim chair of the Graduate Education Department within the School of Dental Medicine. Currently the director of Implant Dentistry, Blackwell was deemed by the Board as possessing the range of experience in education, research, service and administration to guide Graduate Education as it grows and expands.

The board approved developing plans and cost estimates for four projects:

• Improving eight different roads on the Edwardsville campus that would include resurfacing, new pavement markings, replacing traffic signs, replacing accessible curb ramps, and installing right turn lanes and cross walks on North University Drive at Circle Drive. The study will look at the feasibility of completing the work in phases. One of SIUE’s on-call architectural firms will assist in determining the extent and estimated cost of the project. University Plant funds would cover the cost.
• Replacing windows in the Art and Design East Building. Cracked, damaged and leaking glass block windows require replacement. The study will examine the feasibility of combining windows, metal panels and limestone to create a look similar to the new Art and Design West Building. A qualifications based selection will be conducted to select a consultant. Funding would be from University Plant funds.
• Waterproofing the Vadalabene Center’s exterior walls. One of SIUE’s on-call architectural firms will evaluate designs and costs for covering the permeable exterior plaster finish with a metal panel system. University Plant funds would cover the expense.
• Developing improvements to the baseball clubhouse and construct an indoor practice facility to support the Cougars’ intercollegiate baseball program. The baseball indoor facility would be similar to the recently completed softball indoor facility. One of SIUE’s on-call architectural firms will examine the extent and estimated cost of the work. Donations are expected to fund the project.

The Board also approved a salary increase plan for fiscal year 2014. It will provide eligible SIUE employees with an average increase of up to two percent.

Chancellor Appears on Charter’s Conversation with Lee Presser

SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe was interviewed on Tuesday, Sept. 10, by Charter Communications’ Lee Presser for his show “Conversation with Lee Presser.” The half-hour show is scheduled to run on both Monday, Oct. 7, and Monday, Oct. 14, on Charter. Watch Presser and Furst-Bowe discuss her first year as SIUE’s chancellor and issues in higher education on Youtube.

SIUE Campus Site of ADA Metro-East Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes

The American Diabetes Association is dedicated to changing lives one step at a time during its annual walk Saturday, Oct. 5 on the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus.

According to the ADA, a donation of $26 supports the 26 million people living with diabetes in the U.S.

The Metro-East Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes will begin and end in parking lot A, and wind through the walking trails that showcase the beauty of The Gardens at SIUE.  The Gardens at SIUE is a Missouri Botanical Garden signature garden. There will be two walks; one measuring 1.5-miles and the other is 3-miles. Check in for both treks is 8:30 a.m. The start time will be 9 a.m.

There are numerous ways individuals can actively participate in the event:

• Through serving as team captains in honor of friends or loved ones
• By becoming a red strider, which is an individual with diabetes who walks
• Through raising more than $1,000 to become a champion to stop diabetes

Individuals raising more than $100 before race day will receive a free official 2013 Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes T-shirt commemorating the event. Additionally, other fundraising prizes will be awarded.

Those who cannot physically attend are encouraged to participate in the event as virtual walkers. These individuals can garner donations through online registration.

The event is presented by Simmons Attorneys at Law. Event sponsors include Impact Strategies, Alton Steel Inc., PohlmanUSA.com and Alton Memorial Hospital. Media sponsors are The Telegraph and WBGZ 1570 Radio in Alton.

Registration for the event is available online at www.diabetes.org/stepout. More information is available at 1-888-DIABETES.

Annual Celebration of World Faiths at SIUE

The colloquium as part of the Annual Celebration of World Faiths will take place from 7-9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Center for Spirituality and Sustainability.

The interfaith colloquium is titled, “What’s Your Vision of the Divine? Exploring the Singularities and Similarities of Diverse Spiritual Traditions.” The Center is located in the Geodesic dome on the SIUE campus.

Since its inception in 1971, the Center has been dedicated to its foundational principle of interfaith dialogue and cooperation. During the discussion, a panel of representatives from diverse spiritual traditions will talk about their experiences.

Panelists will include:

• Maryl Walters, a Christian Science practitioner and interfaith advocate who serves on the Cabinet of the Interfaith Partnership in St. Louis

• Cindy Conner, who is of Cherokee ancestry and deeply connected to the Cherokee spiritual traditions

• Satnam Singh, a member of the St. Louis Sikh community and president of the Sikh Study Circle of St. Louis.

The public is invited to join the Friends of the Center in discussion, fellowship and refreshment. Free will donations will be accepted.

Parking is free in visitors’ parking lot B on South Circle Drive, between Morris University Center and the dome.

U.S. News Tabs SIUE Among Top Midwest Regional Universities For 10th Consecutive Year

U.S.News & World Report ranks Southern Illinois University Edwardsville among the best Regional Universities Midwest for the 10th consecutive year and among the top 10 public universities in that category. The listing is in the magazine’s “Best Colleges of 2014” issue that was released today.

SIUE moved up seven spots overall in the Regional Universities Midwest category from 49 a year ago to 42 in this year’s rankings. SIUE improved three spots to eighth overall among public universities in that category. The U.S. News overall scores are based on the reputation of SIUE in higher education, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources and alumni giving.

“Moving up in U.S. News’ annual rankings is particularly noteworthy as we position SIUE among the top universities in the Midwest ,” said SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe. “Our efforts to improve in all areas are showing impressive results.

“Providing academic excellence at an affordable price and producing exceptional leaders for our community and region is SIUE’s hallmark. Our distinguished faculty and talented staff provide the type of individualized attention and unique experiences that prepare SIUE students for career success.”

SIUE’s steady growth during the past decade has continued with record enrollments for the Schools of Engineering, Nursing and Pharmacy for fall 2013. Meanwhile, undergraduate programs in the Schools of Education, Business and Nursing are enjoying enrollment increases.

SIUE is nearing completion of a nearly $300 million planned campus infrastructure update and construction phase. The new Science Building has opened for fall classes and renovation of the current Science Building will begin during 2014.  The Art and Design Building addition was dedicated in March 2013. Earlier this month, the Art and Design Building was named a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold building. It is the first SIUE campus building to achieve that distinction from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Regional universities are considered to have a full range of undergraduate majors and master’s programs, but few doctoral programs. The 621 universities in this category are ranked against their peer group in one of four geo­graphic regions (North, South, Midwest and West), because they tend to draw students most heavily from surrounding states.

The latest U.S. News rankings come on the heels of last month’s recognition by Washington Monthly that ranks SIUE among the top 60 master’s universities in the nation. In March, SIUE also was named by the Corporation for National and Community Service to the annual President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, which is a list of colleges and universities demonstrating a commitment to volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement.

Associate Professor Dr. Panico is In the News

In the Sept. 5 issue of The Edwardsville Intelligencer, Dr. James Panico, associate professor in the SIUE Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders, was quoted. Panico specializes in fluency disorders. For more information, visit the article.

SIUE STEM Center’s Locke is in The Telegraph

SIUE’s Sharon Locke is serving on a committee to improve STEM learning initiatives in the Edwardsville School District. Read about Locke, executive director of the SIUE Center for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Research, Education and Outreach in a Sept. 6 article in The Telegraph in Alton.

SIUE Associate Professor Talks about Occupied Palestinian State

Dr. Denise DeGarmo, associate professor and chair of the Department of Political Science at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, spoke passionately about human security in the occupied Palestinian State on Thursday evening.

A group of 20 people attended the discussion at the Main Street Community Center in Edwardsville. The presentation, titled The Quest for Human Security: The Case of the Occupied Palestinian State, examined the model of human security set forth by the United Nations Development Programme in 1994, and assessed the status of human security in the occupied Palestinian state. The event was part of the SIUE Office of Educational Outreach Lifelong Learning program.

Some of DeGarmo’s SIUE students joined her during the discussion to recount their own experiences studying and visiting the chaotic region.

“People here don’t know anything about this and they should,” said T.J. Pearson, a junior with a double major in political science and philosophy. “They’re not going to get this on Fox News or CNN.”

DeGarmo talked about Israeli occupation, and specifically the government’s practices regarding the usurping Palestinian lands. She noted experiencing this first hand while staying with a longtime friend during a trip to Palestine last Christmas. She awoke to find about 10 of 13 acres that had been in her friend’s family for many years had been claimed during a “land grab” by the Israeli government.

“Imagine you have a home in your family and someone just comes in and takes it over,” DeGarmo said. “This is not leading to a state of great human security.”

She added the Israeli government not only takes the land, but often tags buildings on the property as not meeting code requirements. Adding insult to injury, the government then bills individuals for demolition. In the case of her friend, DeGarmo said she demolished her own buildings to avoid penalties.

People who are subjected to land grabs often need to reside in refugee camps or flee the country. Some of the countries taking in displaced Palestinians are Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Ireland. DeGarmo shared maps of the region showing Palestinian loss of land from 1946, 1947, 1967 and 2005.

“It’s been progressively worse as more and more demolitions have been taking place,” she said. The once densely Palestinian populated region now only has smatterings of Palestinian residents in non-contiguous properties in the West Bank and the overall region.

DeGarmo said the current state of Israeli occupation in formerly Palestinian lands has meant total economic control, meaning the types of jobs and financial security Palestinian individuals can get is dictated by the Israeli government. Israel also determines access to health care, schools, water, housing and sanitation, as well as predicates the cultural norms and the location of refugee camps.

“There are a lot of Palestinians who profit from this occupation,” DeGarmo said. “Palestinians are employed by Israelis in service jobs, stores, government and non-government agencies. But overall there is rampant unemployment.

“Economic development is so important to human security. If people feel like they are safe and they have dignity, they can mobilize politically. They have to be provided the proper safety net to mobilize. If they sit passive, nothing will change. It’s just a passive resistance at this point.”

For details about upcoming programs, contact Cheryl Brunsmann, assistant director of Educational Outreach, (618) 650-3209.

SIUE’s Karnes Receives Distinguished Service Award

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Kelly Jo Karnes will receive the Sue Kraft Fussell Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA) at its annual December meeting.

Karnes joined SIUE in July as its director for student involvement in the Kimmel Leadership Center. She  shares the award with Florida State University alum Andre Fuller Cooper. The duo will be honored in Orlando, Fla., on Saturday, Dec. 7.

Prior to arriving at SIUE, Karnes held positions in Greek life at the University of Iowa, Old Dominion University and her alma mater, the University of Kansas. She served as the AFA president in 2012 and the AFA annual meeting chair in 2006.

In 1999, Karnes began volunteering with AFA. She is a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority and currently serves as member of its National Panhellenic Conference delegation.

A Lawrence, Kan., native, Karnes has been a lead facilitator for LeaderShape Institute, Inc., since 2005. She has volunteered with the Association of Fraternal Leadership & Values (AFLV) since 2000. She has held the role as a National Black Greek Leadership Conference logistics coordinator since 2007.

Karnes came to SIUE from the University of Iowa where she served as the associate director for Student Involvement and Leadership.

ICHP Taps SIUE’s Bergman for Leadership Award

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Dr. Scott Bergman will receive the New Practitioner Leadership Award from the Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists (ICHP). Bergman will be honored at the ICHP annual meeting Thursday, Sept. 19, at the Drury Lane Theatre and Conference Center in Oakbrook Terrace.

The ICHP award recognizes an individual whose early accomplishments distinguish them as future leaders in the profession. The candidates are individuals whose performance demonstrates a high degree of professionalism, leadership and innovation.

“This award provides well deserved recognition for Scott’s efforts with ICHP, as well as his efforts to increase local pharmacist participation in this state organization,” said Dr. Mark Ruscin, professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacy Practice. “It is critically important for the profession and for the School of Pharmacy to have faculty members, like Scott, develop as leaders within professional organizations.”

Bergman joined SIUE School of Pharmacy in 2006. He has developed his own clinical practice in collaboration with infectious disease physicians at the SIU School of Medicine in Springfield. He has been providing patient care at local hospitals and at an international travel clinic. He has conducted research to improve antibiotic use and patient outcomes.

Additionally, Bergman has received praise from his nominators for innovative teaching methods involving infectious diseases pharmacotherapy, which is a challenging topic for students. He helps students become proficient healthcare providers. In 2012, the Springfield resident developed a postgraduate training program in infectious diseases pharmacy.

At the organizational level, Bergman is a leader by example as he stays actively involved in state and national pharmacy organizations. He has served ICHP in many capacities and worked with the ICHP office to develop monthly continuing education programs for local pharmacists. Drawing upon the local pharmacy residents and preceptors, Bergman has been able to deliver timely and interesting educational offerings.

It’s the second-consecutive year that ICHP has honored Bergman. He received the Excellence in Innovation award in fall 2012.

A Slayton, Minn., native, Bergman earned a doctorate in pharmacy from South Dakota State University in 2004. He completed residencies in Pharmacy Practice and Infectious Diseases Pharmacotherapy at West Virginia University Hospitals and School of Pharmacy.

Photo: SIUE’s Dr. Scott Bergman.

SIUE Students Learn Business Customs in Germany

Students from the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Business will learn first-hand about the culture of doing business in Germany.

For the first time, SIUE business majors, traveled to Germany for a fall session. The SIUE School of Business has been sending students to Germany in the spring and summer for more than seven years, said SIUE School of Business Interim Dean John Navin.

The trips are part of SIUE’s annual student exchange with Hochschule Hanover University. Two SIUE students, Eric Allard and Megan Melliere, recently left for Europe for their German experience.

“Part of their education is cultural awareness, as it relates to Germany,” said Navin. “They get to learn a different kind of business practice.”

It’s important to learn the culture, so that students don’t make mistakes that could cost them business, Navin added. The dean, who speaks German, is a product of a German school exchange. Navin attended a semester at the University of Salzburg in Austria.

“I enjoy visiting Germany and return often,” he said.

This past summer, a total of 10 students traveled to Munich, Berlin and Hanover. Accompanying them were Navin, James Klenke, dean of Students and associate vice chancellor for Student Affairs, Henning Austmann, a professor from Hochschule Hanover, and five German students. The German members of the group served as hosts and trip planners.

While in Germany, the students visited such sites as various businesses, factories, museums, the Berlin Wall and Sachsenhausen concentration camp.

Among the many benefits of the trip for SIUE students, according to Dean Klenke was “Engaging the German students and making friends with them. They have continued this friendship technologically and two students are returning to study full time at the Hochschule Hanover.”

Louisiana Engineers Study SIUE’s ERTC as Potential Model

A delegation from Louisiana visited the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Environmental Resources Training Center (ERTC) on Friday in hopes of duplicating the unique Center’s successes in Baton Rouge.

“It’s hard to find places that train people in this field, which is surprising as everybody needs waste water and water treatment,” said David R. Gullory, public works director for the Department of Public Works for the City of Baton Rouge and the Parish of East Baton Rouge.

Gullory was one of four engineers who traveled to the University to tour the ERTC, the SIUE School of Engineering and the campus. Others accompanying Gullory included: Dr. Patrick Carriere, associate dean and professor at Southern University College of Engineering in Baton Rouge; Joshua R. Crowe, program manager at CH2M HILL in Baton Rouge; and Dr. Joshua Joseph, senior technologist at CH2M HILL. CH2M HILL is a consulting, design, design-build, operations and program management firm with offices in Baton Rouge. The company’s world headquarters is located in Englewood, Colo.

Paul Shetley, ERTC director, explained the purposes and functions of the Center to the Louisiana contingent. Leading the tour were Shetley and three of his staff members: Kim Bateman, operations manager; Rick Lallish, program director for Waste Water Operations; and Kurt Neuhaus, ERTC instructor.

Two sump pumps pull water from the SIUE Waste Water Treatment Plant to ERTC, where it goes through water and waste water training scale treatment plant. Then it is sent back down the hill to the treatment plant, according to Bateman.

“It’s a perfect teaching tool,” said Shetley. “We don’t discharge any waste water. Everything goes right back to the SIUE Waste Water Treatment Plant. It’s a closed loop.

“No one drinks the drinking water that we treat,” he said. “This is one of the greatest teaching tools. We’re the most unique training center in the nation.”

The Center does two things, according to Shetley. The first is to offer a one-year program for students, who work eight hours a day, four days per week and learn everything about drinking water, treatment and waste water operations. The class of 27 full time students will graduate in July 2014. Secondly, the ERTC trains those people who are already in the field and provides them with continuing education to keep abreast of new technology.

The ERTC building was constructed in 1978 and will graduate its 32nd class in July 2014. The training center is equipped to enroll 25-30 students a year.

“I’m really interested in the hands on aspect of it, and how much the students learn” said Crowe. “I also like how ERTC has worked with the community and formed partnerships. It’s really progressive. I don’t know of any other place like this. Hopefully, we’ll have a center like this one day.”

The City of Baton Rouge and Southern University College of Engineering are collaborating to create a center similar to ERTC, said Carriere. “It’s a first-class training center,” he said. “After one year of training, I understand that a very high percentage of students go on to become certified.”

“ERTC continues to be a tremendous opportunity for students to enter a thriving and necessary water/waste water profession,” said Joseph. He came to SIUE early on Thursday to make a presentation to those students interested in engineering and sustainability. Joseph discussed projects his company, CH2M HILL, is working on.

“We’re thankful to be here,” said Joseph, who first visited the ERTC in 2010 on a fact-finding mission. “We’re thankful for Baton Rouge to be able to learn and grow from this experience.”

“We’re happy they’re here,” Shetley said. “We think they’ll be able to learn from the best.”

Photo Information:

Rick Lallish, program director for Waste Water Operations, explains one of the facets of the water treatment process to David R. Gullory, public works director for the Department of Public Works for the City of Baton Rouge and the Parish of East Baton Rouge; and Joshua R. Crowe, program manager at CH2M HILL in Baton Rouge.

Kurt Neuhaus, ERTC instructor, gives more details about SIUE’s Environmental Resources Training Center (ERTC) to the engineers from Louisiana.

SIUE Schools of Engineering, Nursing and Pharmacy Set Record Enrollments

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s 2013 fall semester is highlighted by record total enrollments in the Schools of Engineering (1,462 students), Nursing (1,062 students) and Pharmacy (325 students). Undergraduate programs in the Schools of Education (4.7 percent), Business (4.5 percent) and Nursing (11.8 percent) all are enjoying enrollment increases.

”We expect to continue to grow and adapt to successfully compete in an evolving educational environment, so that we serve the needs of both our current and prospective students,” said SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe. “The awareness of SIUE’s academic programs and services is growing regionally, nationally and internationally. Our intent is to expand the SIUE brand and capitalize on new opportunities.”

The School of Engineering’s undergraduate enrollment has climbed 11.8 percent (128 students) since last fall and 44 percent during the past five years. Dean Hasan Sevim has overseen steady growth from 1,054 total students in 2008. The School also is experiencing a rise in the ACT scores. This year’s 143 freshmen directly admitted into the School had average math and composite ACT scores of 28.5 and 27.5, respectively.

“Ultimately, we have faculty dedicated to teaching excellence and mentoring,” Sevim stated. “Our reputation in teaching and research is spreading fast, and our 2+2 agreements with regional community colleges are providing highly qualified students. Plus, we have a growing international reputation with exemplary cooperation from our overseas partners.”

Scott Belobrajdic, associate vice chancellor for enrollment management said, “With our Schools of Nursing, Pharmacy and Dental Medicine at capacity, the interest in our professional schools reflects that prospective students are making decisions based upon career aspirations.” He pointed to online programs bolstering Nursing.

The new freshman class average ACT (23.0) increased two-tenths of a point over last year and is the highest in University history. The increase is six-tenths of a point better than 2011.

“Our new direct entry options in business, engineering, nursing and pharmacy attracted 170 first time freshmen entering the University, which had a direct impact on the average ACT,” Belobrajdic said. “Their mean ACT is 28. Direct entry allows us to compete for high achieving students who were opting for direct admit options with private and public competitors in previous years.”

The School of Education also is developing early-entry options for students interested in its undergraduate programs.

New transfers are up to 1,252 students, an increase of 31, which is the highest since 2006.

“An increase in transfer students is a trend that we expect to see continue as families consider financing a college education,” Belobrajdic said. “The debt accrued to attend college is a highly visible issue, and families are analyzing options to minimize their cost. So, attending a community college to obtain transferable credits and then transferring into a four-year university is a viable option. SIUE’s positive relationships with local and area community colleges benefit all parties in those situations.”

SIUE Fall 2013 Enrollment Facts & Figures

• Undergraduate enrollment is up 11.8 percent (128 students) in the School of Engineering
• Undergraduate enrollment is up 4.7 percent (51 students) in the School of Education
• Undergraduate enrollment is up 4.5 percent (41 students) in the School of Business
• Undergraduate enrollment is up 11.8 percent (84 students) in the School of Nursing
• Schools of Engineering (1,462 students), Nursing (1,062 students) and Pharmacy (325 students) all have record total enrollments
• New transfer students are up 2.5 percent (31 students)
• Total of new transfer students is 1,252, largest since 2006
• Total international enrollment is up 6 percent (19 students)
• New graduate international enrollment is up 66 percent (36 students)
• Total new students (freshmen, transfers and international) exceeds 3,000 for 11^th consecutive year
• Freshman Enrollment: 1,966, fourth largest freshman class in SIUE history
• Total undergraduate enrollment is down 1 percent (112 students)
• Total graduate and professional enrollment is down 4.6 percent (101 students)
• Total 2013-14 Enrollment: 13,850, which ranks fifth all-time at SIUE

Belobrajdic pointed to a decline in high school populations in Illinois and throughout SIUE’s recruiting base as a critical factor for the smaller freshman class this year.

The School of Education’s graduate program accounts for the majority of the decrease in graduate enrollment. Three online programs – master’s in education instructional technology; post-baccalaureate certificate in web-based learning; and master’s in education in kinesiology with a specialization in physical education and sport pedagogy – were added in late August to help the graduate program.

Belobrajdic acknowledged that one of the most challenging aspects of this year’s enrollment trends has been reflected in graduate programs specific to K-12 audiences. These challenges are due in large part to the state’s current economic climate resulting in school budget cutbacks and decreases in professional funding for teachers.

Also impacting graduate enrollments are new state requirements regarding the preparation of school-based administrators, which have been implemented to increase quality and reduce the number of licensed principals in the state through legislated higher program admission requirements and rigorous program standards.

SIUE’s School of Education is proactively meeting the current needs of districts and teachers by offering endorsements in high need specializations, as well as providing flexible scheduling options including online and hybrid courses and programs taught off campus to enhance access.

Photo:  SIUE Class of 2017.

NCERC Biofuels Team Takes Advocacy Message on the Road

The NCERC at SIUE team will crisscross the country next week, presenting research findings and advocating for federal biofuels policy as staff members participate in national conferences in St. Louis, Omaha, Neb. and Washington, D.C.

“Advocacy, education and research are core elements of the Center’s mission,” said NCERC Director John Caupert. “Whether meeting with legislators on Capitol Hill, presenting research breakthroughs or learning about the latest industry innovations, these efforts extend the NCERC’s influence, allowing us to better meet market demands and stay on the forefront of biofuels research.”

In Washington, Caupert and Director of Communications Courtney Breckenridge will educate lawmakers on the positive impacts of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) during the Growth Energy Advocacy Conference from Sept. 8-11. Caupert and Breckenridge will join ethanol and advanced biofuels producers, technology innovators, and other industry leaders in meetings with White House staff and members of the Illinois delegation. The focus of these conversations will include the effects of the RFS on the NCERC’s research and other recent breakthroughs at the Center.

At the National Advanced Biofuels Conference in Omaha, Research Director Dr. Sabrina Trupia will again take the stage to present her groundbreaking work on advanced biofuels feedstocks. Trupia’s presentations are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 10 and 11. Focusing on her breakthrough work on corn kernel fiber to cellulosic ethanol, she also will present her sweet sorghum research in collaboration with the United Sorghum Checkoff Program.

Trupia’s 2012 breakthrough conversion of corn kernel fiber to cellulosic ethanol established her leadership in the fermentation of cellulosic feedstocks. She most recently addressed an international audience of plant breeders, agronomists and scientists during a U.S. Department of Agriculture Workshop on Sweet Sorghum for Biofuels and Chemicals.

The NCERC also will take part in the Agriculture Innovation Showcase in St. Louis from Sept. 9 -11. Director of Operations Frank Romano will represent the Center as he meets with potential clients and learns about the latest industry ideas and agriculture innovations.

Photo: NCERC Director John Caupert addresses at tour group at the Center.

SIUE School of Engineering to Work with USTRANSCOM

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Ann Boyle has signed a three-year cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) for the School of Engineering to work with the U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) at Scott Air Force Base.

The collaboration will facilitate investigation of innovative technologies and techniques in multiple disciplines to provide new opportunities and understand potential solutions to address USTRANSCOM information technology capabilities and supply chain needs, while providing SIUE with diverse and complex research problems facing the management of worldwide logistics.

USTRANSCOM is a unified, functional combatant command of the Department of Defense which provides support to the eight other U.S. combatant commands, the military services, defense agencies and other government organizations.  It provides full-spectrum global mobility solutions and related enabling capabilities as required.

SIUE’s expertise in information technology and supply chain management practices was attractive to USTRANSCOM.  The relationship will provide opportunities for USTRANSCOM to understand the feasibility, utility, and risk of new concepts and logistics techniques as applied to its missions.

“This will initiate, challenge and advance SIUE research to benefit faculty and students toward reaching their academic goals,” said Hasan Sevim, dean of the School of Engineering. “Faculty and student research will be enhanced by the introduction of new topics and challenges aided by government subject matter expertise and data.”

SIUE faculty and students will have access to selected information on USTRANSCOM and federally operated information and logistics systems. They will learn about USTRANSCOM architectures, business processes, operational and security challenges, and emerging government information technology and logistics techniques.

“This information will expand our understanding of current federal information and logistics practices,” said Cem Karacal, associate dean and professor in the School of Engineering. “It also will promote creation of innovative approaches to future supply chain management capabilities and, ideally, realize reduced costs.”

USTRANSCOM uses the same “Technology Transfer” authorities as federal laboratories to partner with industry and academia, collaboratively exploring future concepts and technologies and sharing expertise for mutual benefit. The outside party obtains access to government expertise and techniques and possibly technology or special facilities, while the government achieves deeper understanding of the potential benefits, risks and feasibility of new concepts and systems.

Both parties thereby advance their ideas and innovations and may use the information gained for their own benefit and future planning purposes.  USTRANSCOM cannot pay the non-federal party, but otherwise either partner can contribute resources of their own choosing to make the teamed research possible.

Rob Beutel, USTRANSCOM chief technology officer, promoted the use of the CRADA and is the government’s principal investigator for the effort.  “The CRADA is initially investigating some new techniques in information security,” Beutel said. “Improving that is key to so many aspects of logistics.

“However, the agreement is actually a flexible relationship for study of any aspect of logistics from information management to economic considerations and even energy conservation.  Both sides benefit from these voluntary partnerships, and we can easily choose to work on new and promising concepts together as we go forward, as our shared expertise and teamwork reveals.”

Photo: SIUE School of Engineering Associate Dean Cem Karacal.

SIUE Educational Outreach Offers Programs, Opportunities for All

September is alive with engaging programs through Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Office of Educational Outreach.

There is still time to sign up for two Leisure Learning Activities:

• “Wedding Photography 201,” led by Mike Nichols, master photographer and craftsman, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursdays, Sept. 5-26 in SIUE’s Peck Hall, room 0307. The class is $214.

For more information or to register for Leisure Learning Activities, contact Educational Outreach, (618) 650-3210, or visit https://aceweb.siue.edu/Wconnect/ace.

Also through Educational Outreach, Lifelong Learning Programs have returned with four remaining topics for the month:

• “The Quest for Human Security: The Case of the Occupied Palestinian State” will take place from 7-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5. SIUE Associate Professor and Chair of Political Science Denise DeGarmo will discuss the model of human security set forth by the United Nations Development Programme in 1994 and offer an assessment of the status of human security in the occupied Palestinian state. The event is free and will take place at the Main Street Community Center, 1003 N. Main Street, in Edwardsville.

• “Confessions of a Broadcast Journalist” will be held from 3:15-4:15 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10 at Meridian Village, 27 Auerbach Place in Glen Carbon. The event speaker will be Stephen Jankowski, director of SIUE’s Alumni Affairs and executive director of the Alumni Association. Jankowski spent more than 35 years as a broadcast journalist.

• “Healing Oils of Ancient Scripture” will be presented by Don Clair, “Young Living” business owner and health and wellness coach, from 10:30-11:45 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 200 University Park, room 1127. The program will focus on the use of essential oils and herbs in scriptures, and how these ancient remedies work on a scientific level. The cost to attend is $2 for SIUE Lifelong Learning members and $5 for general admission.

• “The Food & Culture of Travel: A Taste of the World,” presented by Cathy Passananti, assistant director of the Morris University Center, will take attendees on a discovery of the tastes of Italy, Ireland and places in between. Passananti offers to teach travelers how to skip tourist traps and become authentic travelers. The event will take place at 200 University Park, room 1127 from 1:15-2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11. The cost to attend is $2 for Lifelong Learning members and $5 for others.

Half year memberships to the Lifelong Learning program are available for $15 per person. Membership benefits include reduced program fees, opportunities to meet SIUE faculty and staff, a special joining gift and more. For details or to become a member, contact Cheryl Brunsmann, assistant director of Educational Outreach, (618) 650-3209.

SIUE Art & Design Building Receives LEED Gold Rating

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has certified Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Art and Design Building as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold building. It is the first building on the SIUE campus to achieve that distinction.

LEED certification is an official recognition that a project complies with the requirements prescribed within the LEED rating systems as created and maintained by the USGBC. The LEED certification program is administered by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI).

“SIUE is committed to environmental stability both inside and outside the classroom, and the Art and Design building is testament to that,” said SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe. “Providing state-of-the-art facilities supports our mission to provide an excellent educational experience for faculty and students.”

SIUE’s Art and Design LEED construction review submission scored 63 points out of a possible 110. The following categories were scored:

• Sustainable sites
• Water efficiency
• Materials and resources
• Energy and atmosphere
• Innovation and design
• Indoor environmental quality
• Regional priority credits

This will make SIUE fourth in the number of LEED buildings on University campuses in Illinois and Missouri. The three ahead of SIUE are University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Missouri-Columbia.

“The Trivers team was committed to the collaboration, helping to manifest the University’s goals and approach to a sustainable environment,” said Joel Fuoss, lead architect on the project from Trivers Associates in St. Louis.  “The building design itself celebrates the wonderful and extensive natural environment that surrounds the campus, reminding the occupants within of the surrounding beauty.

“With buildings consuming nearly 40% of the U.S. primary energy use, we must be prudent in our approach to how we plan, construct, and utilize all of our structures for the long-term, and the Art and Design building embodies that process.  This building consumes nearly 28% less energy than a comparable building not held to these standards.

Fuoss pointed out that nearly 95% of all waste generated during construction on-site was recycled or reused. Most importantly, the building’s systems technology is able to safely exhaust, in an energy efficient manner, the many potential hazardous off-gasses integral during art creation. That allows for an enhanced interior environment for all University users.

The grand opening of the $9 million addition to the Art and Design Building was held earlier this year on March 21. The project added 29,000-square-feet of space including a new art gallery, additional office space, graduate student studio space and classrooms. The addition is located to the west of the existing Art and Design Building. An enclosed bridge joins the existing building and the addition.

When all on-going construction is complete, SIUE will have seven LEED certified buildings:

• Art and Design Building
• The Lucas Athletics Annex
• The new Science Building
• Existing Science Building renovation
• The School of Engineering addition
• The Cougar Village apartment building
• The School of Dental Medicine simulation lab in Alton

LEED silver is mandatory for all Illinois State buildings over 10,000 square feet.

Photo:  SIUE Art and Design Building.

SIUE School of Pharmacy Annual Golf Fundraiser is Hugely Successful

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy raised more than $20,000 at its 7^th annual golf scramble on Friday, Aug. 23. The event at Stonebridge Golf Course in Maryville raised funds for student scholarships.

“Pharmacy board members, corporate donors and recruiters, faculty, staff and students came together to make this year’s event our most successful ever,” said School of Pharmacy Dean Gireesh Gupchup. “The event’s success is directly related to the collective efforts of our golf committee and the generous support of the entire School of Pharmacy community.”

Matt Lewis, School of Pharmacy alum and pharmacy advisory board member, teamed with Gupchup as golf committee co-chairs. The committee recruited more than 120 golfers and 24 hole sponsors, who were treated to a sunny, fun-filled day complete with great food and an evening program.

Event sponsors included:

• Walgreens
• H.D. Smith
• CVS Caremark
• Metro-East Pharmacists Association
• Catered Affair
• Enclave
• Shop ’n Save
• Gateway East Pharmacy Association

More than 30 community businesses and individuals contributed contest prizes, goodie bag items, sponsorships and raffle prizes.

Photo: Dr. Bill Wuller, Dr. Cindy Wuller, John Gloss and Dr. Mark Luer celebrate a great shot at the SIUE School of Pharmacy’s 7th annual golf fund raiser.

Sigma Phi Epsilon Chapter Offers Seven Scholarships to SIUE Students

The local Illinois Eta Chapter Alumni and Volunteer Corporation (AVC) has announced that seven scholarships will be available annually to members of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity.

According to Lyle Ward, AVC president, four of the new awards are the result of the Brotherhood Forever Pledge Campaign.

“Over $35,000 was pledged at the 40th anniversary banquet,” Ward said, adding he hoped the organization would increase that amount to $50,000 by December.

Pledged funds are arriving on schedule to provide annual member excellence scholarships for each of the four academic classes. Criteria for scholarships, which focus on leadership and community service, are set high. The intent is to recognize the “best of the best” in the chapter, Ward said.

Two additional awards will be given each semester to recognize the highest GPA increases. This will be funded from the chapter’s Illinois Eta Scholarship Fund. Ward said the intent of these scholarships is to encourage academic performance through recognitions.

The annual Lyle W. Ward Balanced Man Scholarship has been given for the past five years. An endowed SIUE Foundation fund provides $1000 to an incoming student selected through an application process demonstrating previous performance in academics, leadership and service. All of these recognitions are part of the fraternities’ Balanced Man Program.

Scholarship information for male SIUE students is available at www.sigepsiue.com. For more information, contact Ward, lward47@charter.net, or (618) 973-3312.

Popular Construction Leadership Institute 2014 Registration Opens

Success in the highly competitive building industry requires exceptional leadership, management and communication skills.  The innovative Construction Leadership Institute (CLI) has packaged those skills into a convenient, accelerated, nine-week program.  Southern Illinois University Edwardsville announced today that it is now accepting registrations for the 2014 session of this highly popular program.

Over the course of its 10-year history, CLI has seen many of its 200+ graduates advance to prominent positions across the building industry.

“Professionals, who have participated in our program, now serve in leadership roles for several St. Louis area building contractors, facility owners and professional services firms,” said Chris Gordon, co-director of the CLI and chair of the Department of Construction in SIUE’s School of Engineering.

The 2014 CLI will convene on nine-consecutive Fridays from 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. beginning Jan. 10 through March 7 on the SIUE campus. CLI is a joint program of the SIUE School of Business and the School of Engineering’s Department of Construction.

The curriculum is designed to develop and hone leadership as well as effective communications skills.  Other segments focus on crucial professional skills such as strategic thinking, networking, negotiation, finance, construction contracts, insurance and bonding, risk management and conflict management.  The instructional team includes building industry professionals and subject matter experts.

Attendees also will discover emerging methods of delivery such as lean construction and integrated project delivery, and become attuned to legislative issues impacting the industry.  The final session of the program features a panel of building industry leaders sharing their strategies for success.

“This program builds knowledge and skills that would otherwise take years of experience to develop,” said Sandra Hindelang, co-director of the CLI and director of Executive Education in SIUE’s School of Business.

Early registration is available through Nov. 15, at a cost of $2,950. After Nov. 15, registration is $3,150 per person. A $200 discount per person is given for multiple company registrations.

To register, call Sandra Hindelang at 618-650-2668 or visit: http://www.siue.edu/cli/.

Photo: CLI 2013 attendees focus on a presenter.

SIUE Hosts Diversity Conversations with Nationally Known Filmmaker

The campus community of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, as well as members of the public, had a chance to be part of discussions of the diverse kind on Aug. 27 and 28.

About 850 people, including SIUE faculty, staff and students, listened to the internationally renowned documentary filmmaker and master diversity trainer Lee Mun Wah. The program entailed a student dialogue session, a faculty and staff training session, and a public showing of his film “IF These Halls Could Talk” followed by a discussion.

“I love it. I think everyone should be here,” said Anne Hunter, office support specialist at Lovejoy Library, at the faculty and staff training session. “It’s a completely different way of looking at diversity. Sometimes when we talk about diversity, we talk about it from an employment aspect.

At the onset of the faculty and staff training session Lee Mun Wah engaged the audience. When addressing men, he used their names and showed warm, inviting body language. When he asked women the same question, Lee did not call their names and used body language that could be perceived as cool or dismissive. The purpose of the exercise, according to Lee, was to demonstrate the sometimes subtleties of the “isms.”

“It’s not something I’m unaware of intellectually,” said Dr. Stephen Tamari, associate professor in historical studies, “to show respect and fairness to people. But he offers a way to get beyond the talk and take risks.”

For more information about Lee Mun Wah visit, stirfryseminars.com, facebook.com/leemunwah or youtube.com/stirfryberkeley.

The SIUE Campus Wide Diversity Event was sponsored by the Department of Anthropology, the Department of Psychology, the School of Education’s Diversity Committee, the Department of Theater and Dance; the College of Arts and Sciences; Student Affairs, Faculty Development Council and the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion.

Photo Information:

Lee Mun Wah, master diversity trainer, makes a point during the Faculty and Staff Diversity Conversations portion on Wednesday. In the background is Tianlong Yu, associate professor in the Department of Educational Leadership.

SIUE Shaw Lecture Features Nobel Prize Winner John Mather

The annual William C. Shaw Lecture presented by SIUE’s Physics Department will pair up with the 2013 season of Arts & Issues to present Dr. John C. Mather, one of the world’s most prominent astrophysicists, on Thursday, Sept. 26, at 7:30 p.m. in the Morris University Center’s Meridian Ballroom.

Mather, co-recipient of the 2006 Nobel Prize in physics, is a senior astrophysicist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and specializes in infrared astronomy and cosmology.

He was the Project Scientist for NASA’s Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) satellite, which measured the spectrum (the color) of the heat radiation from the Big Bang, discovered hot and cold spots in that radiation, and hunted for the first objects that formed after the great explosion. He and co-researcher George Smoot were awarded the Nobel Prize for this work.

Mather currently serves as Senior Project Scientist for the development of the James Webb Space Telescope, the successor to the great Hubble Space Telescope

Mather’s presentation titled “History of the Universe from the Beginning to End” will discuss the history of the universe in a nutshell, from the Big Bang to now, and on to the future. He will tell the story of how we got here, how the Universe began, how it could have produced an Earth where sentient beings can live, and how those beings are discovering their history.

In addition, Mather will explain Einstein’s biggest mistake, how Edwin Hubble discovered the expansion of the universe, how the COBE mission was built and how the COBE data supports the Big Bang theory. He will discuss NASA’s plans for the next great telescope in space, the James Webb Space Telescope that will look even farther back in time than the Hubble Space Telescope, and will peer inside the dusty cocoons where stars and planets are being born today.

Tickets for the general public are $15. Tickets for SIUE faculty, staff, retirees, alumni and seniors 65 or older are $10. Admission is free for students. For ticket information, visit www.artsandissues.com.

The William C. Shaw Lecture is presented by SIUE’s Department of Physics. It features outstanding scientists who speak on primarily astronomy-based topics. The series commemorates the teaching career of Professor William Shaw, who taught at SIUE between 1959 and 1973 and passed away in 1977. The talk is also the kickoff event for Arts & Issues’ 2013-14 season.

Photo: Dr. John C. Mather.

SIUE Precinct Grows with Voter Registration Drive

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students had a chance to register to vote from Tuesday, Aug. 27 through today, Aug. 29 in the Morris University Center.

“I was registered in Chicago, but I wanted to register here at school,” said Jessica Mims, a freshman majoring in accounting.

SIUE’s Kimmel Leadership Center held a two-day registration for students as part of its community service efforts, said Sarah Laux, assistant director for civic engagement. For years, the University has held voter registration for students at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters.

“Voter registration is one of many ways for students to be involved in civic engagement,” Laux said. “As citizens, voting is one way for them to fulfill their duties and responsibilities toward their community and their fellow citizens.”

Andrew Buffey, of Caseyville, registered for the first time on Wednesday. “I did, so I can have some say in politics,” said the freshman majoring in computer management and information systems.

“SIUE is in its own precinct,” Laux said, “so that makes it nice for our students.”

Student interest seemed to be good during the time that Kylie McCarver, graduate assistant majoring in social work, volunteered to staff the voter registration table.

“I had about 10 students to register in one hour,” McCarver said. “It’s important to give students the opportunity to get involved and let their voices be heard.”

About 50 students registered to vote from Aug. 27-28. Today is the last day to register to vote from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Photo Information:

Charles Jones, a SIUE student, registers to vote.

Washington Monthly Ranks SIUE Among The Top 60 Universities in The Country Fourth Year in a Row

For the fourth-consecutive year, national magazine Washington Monthly has ranked Southern Illinois University Edwardsville among the Top 60 out of the 684 master’s universities in the nation. SIUE is 23^rd among public institutions on that list.

Unlike conventional college rankings, Washington Monthly evaluates an institution’s “contribution to the public good” in three broad categories: Social Mobility – recruiting and graduating low-income students; Research – producing cutting-edge scholarship and PhDs; and Service – encouraging students to give something back to their country.

“We are certainly proud of Washington Monthly’s consistent recognition of our talented faculty and staff’s efforts to provide students with a high-quality, energized academic environment,” said SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe. “Our students’ strong commitment to community service demonstrates that we follow through on our mission to encourage students to be highly engaged, productive citizens.”

Washington Monthly ranked SIUE 57^th overall, nationally, among its Top 60 Master’s Universities category, which includes public and private institutions. SIUE ranked No. 7 in expenditures for research, having invested nearly $34 million in research and public service projects in fiscal year 2012. This investment allows a significant number of SIUE students at the graduate and undergraduate levels the opportunity to participate in research projects in their fields of study.

Under the service sub-category, SIUE was ranked eighth in the percent of federal work study funds dedicated to students employed in community service programs.

In March, SIUE also was named by the Corporation for National and Community Service to the annual President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, a list of colleges and universities demonstrating a commitment to volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement.

SIUE students have many opportunities to work on service projects throughout the year through the University’s Kimmel Leadership Development Center. Students completed approximately 107,000 service hours during the 2012-13 academic year. Those service hours include service-learning hours through coursework, volunteer projects, the SIUE Experience service day, scholarship service requirements, the AmeriCorps America Reads program and student organizations that track their service hours.

SIUE also landed on Washington Monthly’s “Best Bang for the Buck” lists. SIUE is in the top 10 percent of both all schools surveyed and public master’s universities. The publication attempts to list the colleges in America that do the best job of helping non-wealthy students attain marketable degrees at affordable prices.

Gov. Quinn Presents $23 Million Check to SIUE

Press Conference Video

Southern Illinois University President Glenn Poshard and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe welcomed Governor Pat Quinn to the SIUE campus this afternoon. The governor presented a check for $23 million to the SIUE administration to complete the existing Science Building remodeling.

Poshard began by thanking the governor for his support. “This was a project that was a longtime coming,” Poshard said. “The renovation of this building will provide state-of-the-art STEM programs for SIUE students.”

The Science Building renovation is phase two of the SIUE Science Building Complex. The recently completed $52 million new Science Building has provided space for classrooms and laboratories as well as for faculty and student research initiatives in a state-of-the-art learning environment.

Quinn thanked the legislators for their support and determination during the four-year process to make the project a reality. “We believe in STEM education in Illinois,” he said “It’s important to have good jobs, to have good students from K-12 to junior colleges and universities like SIUE.

“SIUE buildings have served a lot of people in four decades. We have to make investments if we want to grow.”

Furst-Bowe was grateful for the resources necessary to complete the project. “For so many years, we have endured creative stop-gap measures to keep the building effective and functional,” she said. “This is so important to our faculty and students.”

The $30 million renovation of the existing structure will involve completely refurbishing classrooms and office spaces.

Chairman of the SIU Board of Trustees Randal Thomas also spoke, while Jim Underwood represented the Illinois Capital Development Board.

Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Belleville) related his experience with SIUE while growing up in the area and noted SIUE’s growth and increased stature among academic institutions statewide and nationally.

Photo:  SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, SIU President Glenn Poshard.

Ruckh Named Interim Honors Program Director

SIUE Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Ann Boyle has named Dr. Eric W. Ruckh as interim Honors Program director and chair of the Honors Advisory Council. Ruckh is an associate professor of history in the College of Arts and Sciences. As chair of the BRIDGE Committee, he led the general education reform on campus that resulted in the Lincoln Program.

“Dr. Ruckh has a deep, passionate interest in interdisciplinary teaching and scholarship,” Boyle said. “He is looking forward to beginning an inclusive campus conversation about formulating an innovative honors program that builds on the strengths of the University and is aimed at cultivating self-reflection and self-development among our students.”

Ruckh has been offering innovative seminars in SIUE’s honors program since 2005. These courses have examined the history of friendship, myth and meaning, examinations of the good life and the meaning of the modern apocalyptic imagination. This semester, he is offering a freshman honors seminar that is examining our fascination with monsters.

Ruckh has written about the historical work of Georges Bataille, the politics of friendship in the work of Herman Hesse and the contemporary state of higher education. He is currently working on a series of articles dealing with the modern literary representation of friendship.

The work of Ruckh and the Honors Advisory Council will coincide with and inform a renewed search for a permanent honors director. That search will begin this semester.

Ruckh earned his bachelor’s in liberal arts from Bucknell University in 1989 and his Ph.D. in history and critical theory from the University of California-Irvine in 1997. He joined the SIUE faculty in 1999.

Thousands Enjoy Music, Food and Fun at Block Party

Thousands of people met at the intersection of Second and St. Louis streets in downtown Edwardsville for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and the city of Edwardsville’s 14th Annual Block Party.

On Friday, Aug. 23, SIUE students, faculty and staff, and the community took part in the outdoor party that included music, food and games.

The event was sponsored by the city of Edwardsville, SIUE, the Edwardsville Intelligencer, the SIUE Campus Activities Board and Student Government, the Edwardsville-Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce, SIUE Marketing and Communications, and SIUE University Relations.

Photo Information:

Enjoying some block party festivities from left to right are Zachary Mills and Tiarra Hill.

Megan Burton takes time to enjoy a game of frisbee.

A group of students relax during the outdoor Welcome Back Concert. Sitting from left to right are Edgar Huichapa, Emma McCann, Ashley Sneed and Claire Schoedel.

SIUE Foundation Supports Metro East Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes

The SIUE Foundation is one of the sponsors of the annual Metro East Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes event slated for Oct. 5 on the SIUE campus. Former SIU Board of Trustees members Mark Hinrichs and John Simmons are actively involved in raising awareness, participation and corporate sponsorship. Alton Telegraph writer Dan Brannan featured the event in a story posted Aug. 26.

SIUE’s Gorlewicz to Present at Frontiers of Engineering Ed Symposium

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville assistant professor Dr. Jenna Gorlewicz has been selected to attend the National Academy of Engineering Frontiers of Engineering Education (FOEE) Symposium. She is a new faculty member in the School of Engineering’s Department of Mechanical Engineering.

The FOEE Symposium will be held on Sunday, Oct. 27 – Wednesday, Oct. 30, at the National Academies’ Beckman Center in Irvine, Calif. It brings together some of the nation’s most engaged and innovative engineering educators in order to recognize, reward and promote effective, substantive and inspirational engineering education through a sustained dialogue within the emerging generation of innovative faculty.

Gorlewicz will present her research efforts on the creation, integration, and assessment of haptic (touch) devices and associated curriculum in enhancing student learning in engineering education.

“Dr. Gorlewicz’s participation will positively impact the quality of both present and future teaching and courses in our department,” said Majid Molki, distinguished research professor and chair of the SIUE Department of Mechanical Engineering. “Her involvement will strengthen future courses such as mechatronics and robotics, and will bring a host of new ideas to our program.

“Her work on haptic devices has the potential to revolutionize teaching and learning, and help include all types of students, especially the visually impaired. Being a first-year assistant professor at SIUE, her expertise and interest in the educational aspects of engineering is an invaluable asset to our program.”

“Being selected to attend is both personally fulfilling and professionally valuable to me as an engineering educator,” Gorlewicz said. “I will have the opportunity to share my engineering education research efforts, learn from best practices and network with many innovative engineering educators.

“The innovations discussed and developed at FOEE will be used to enhance our engineering classrooms and the student learning experience at SIUE. I am humbled and excited to participate in enhancing and sustaining excellence in engineering education for all students. It is tremendous to be a part of this effort and also to represent SIUE’s commitment to education.”

Selection into the symposium is a competitive process, involving both a nomination and an application phase.

A Bartelso native, Gorlewicz earned a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from SIUE in 2008. She achieved a doctorate in mechanical engineering in 2013 from Vanderbilt University.

Photo: SIUE’s Dr. Jenna Gorlewicz.

SIUE’s Stacey Howard Featured in Alton Telegraph

Stacey Howard, an SIUE speech communication instructor in the College of Arts and Sciences, is featured in an Aug. 26, Alton Telegraph story about Alzheimer’s disease. She will honor her father, Stephen Lieurance, by participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28, at SIUE.

Unfortunately, Mr. Lieurance lost his battle with Alzheimer’s this past weekend. Read the complete obituary.

SIUE Solar Race Team in Edwardsville DARE Event

SIUE’s Solar Race Team displayed its solar car at the Edwardsville Police Department’s DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Car, Truck and Motorcycle show on Sunday, Aug. 18, at Edwardsville High School. The annual event benefits the area schools’ DARE programming.

Through Edwardsville P.D. Officer Christopher Williams, the SIUE team secured a slot in the show among the classic Mustangs, Oldsmobiles, and super cars.

Graduate student and team captain Amy Sunderlin said the solar car was placed next to a bright yellow Ferrari. “The juxtaposition was an interesting contrast: a super car with a lot of power next to a car that runs on nothing more than the sunshine,” said the Rockford native. “Our team attracted most of the attention.”

Sunderlin described the response from the event’s attendees as very welcoming. “So many people walked by the solar car and took the time to examine the car, asking questions about it,” she said.

The Solar Race Team filled out the paperwork necessary to get the car judged along with all of the other gasoline powered cars at the show. Although the car did not win any awards, the team was more than satisfied by the encouragement and praises from the attendees.

“A lot of people had a brighter outlook on the future of transportation, and the future in general, after seeing the car and talking to our dedicated team members who helped build the car,” said Sunderlin, whose team was proud to be part of the community event. “Now, more people than ever know of the solar car, and they can be proud of it being built at their local university.”

Photo: SIUE Solar Race Team displays its car at Edwardsville High School.

International Trade Center and SIUE Grad Students Boost Lamboo’s Success

When Illinois Governor Pat Quinn congratulated a dozen companies with the 2013 Governor’s Export Awards, Lamboo, Inc., of Springfield was one of three businesses cited in the New Exporter of the Year category. The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) International Trade Center (ITC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville played a significant role in the young company’s success.

The Governor’s annual awards, which were handed out in late July in Chicago, are for outstanding accomplishments in the export of Illinois goods and services. The ITC at SIUE has served Lamboo since 2007 and has its own award-winning history. The ITC was named 2011 International Trade Center of the Year and also received the Governor’s Export Award that same year.

Lamboo manufactures performance-based engineered bamboo for structural, architectural and industrial applications worldwide. Products include structural components, beams, window and door components, panels and veneer.

Lamboo began exporting in 2009. During 2012, the company increased its export sales 63 percent over 2011. Primary international markets include Europe, Africa/Middle East, Canada and Latin America/Caribbean.

“Lamboo has maintained a dynamic relationship with the International Trade Center that has proven to be extremely fruitful over the last few years,” said Lamboo, Inc., President Luke Schuette. “It began with an international market research project utilizing the aggressive and thorough skills of graduate students from the SIUE School of Business.

“That research, as well as the ongoing and guidance from the ITC, has helped Lamboo to solidify countless business relationships worldwide. As a result, we’ve established the Lamboo brand in innovative markets globally.”

Director Silvia Torres points to many ITC success stories:

• Advanced Power International, Carterville
• Elastec, Inc., Carmi
• MSSC, LLC., Collinsville
• Natural Enrichment Industries, Herrin
• The ROHO Group, Belleville
• Turner Electric, Edwardsville
• V-Tec, Inc., Glen Carbon

The Illinois International Trade Center at SIUE has been in operation since 1984 providing trade assistance and resources to Illinois exporters. The ITC reported over $186 million in economic activity for the southwestern region as a result of the export assistance provided in the last two years, having contributed to the creation of 117 jobs and over 400 jobs have been retained. Learn more by visiting the ITC website.

Photo: Iwona Bochenska (Illinois Trade Office), Luke Schuette (Lamboo, Inc.) and Silvia Torres (International Trade Center at SIUE).

SIUE School of Pharmacy Receives Visit from European Exchange Student

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy hosted its first exchange student from Aug. 3-18. Klaudie Gregorova, a recently graduated pharmacist from Prague in the Czech Republic, had the chance to observe some aspects of pharmacy at SIUE and in the community.

She also had an opportunity to share her knowledge and experiences with faculty and students. “What stood out for me were all the Walgreens,” said Gregorova. “We have chains, but ours are completely different. “We don’t sell cigarettes, diapers, perfume or anything like that. We only sell drugs.”

Gregorova’s visit was part of the exchange program through the International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF), said Dr. Kelly Gable, associate professor in SIUE pharmacy practice.

Gable, who also is the chair of the SIUE School of Pharmacy Global Education Task Force, hosted Gregorova at her home during the trip. “By participating in the student exchange program, we are expanding global opportunities for our own pharmacy students,” Gable said. “Next year an SIUE pharmacy student will have the opportunity to go abroad. It is truly an amazing opportunity for students to learn about the practice of pharmacy in other countries while also immersing themselves in the culture.”

Drugs are only sold at pharmacies in the Czech Republic. Customers cannot buy medications such as aspirin or pain relievers outside of a pharmacy according to Gregorova. “If I buy something ‘over the counter’ here,” she said, “there may be no professional there to tell me how to use it.

“I like talking and helping people as a pharmacist,” said Gregorova, who has a master’s in pharmacy and is a pharmacist at a community drugstore in a small town outside of Prague.

During Gregorova’s visit, she observed Gable as a clinical pharmacist at Places for People, a non-profit mental health clinic in St. Louis. “It was a nice experience for her to see the social service part of our healthcare system,” Gable said.

“In my country, everyone has health insurance,” Gregorova said. “We have almost everything for free.”

Gregorova participated in non-work related activities while in Edwardsville. Some of them included a trip to see the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium, West Side Story at The Muny, The Cheesecake Factory in St. Louis and various parks in the area.

“It was my first time seeing a baseball game,” she said. “It could have been better if I understood the rules of the game.”

Stores, food and portions are bigger in the U.S., said Gregorova. “Then we went to The Cheesecake Factory, and I wondered if anyone could finish their plate.”

People also seem to drive more in the bi-state area, than they do in Prague, she said. “We walk more and have more public transportation. I don’t have a car, because I don’t need one. I walk to my job, and it takes about 30 minutes.”

Gregorova said she would like to return to the U.S. and SIUE for a visit if the opportunity comes again. “Everyone here has been very good to me. It has been a good trip, and I met good, friendly people.”

Photo Information:

From left to right: Kelly Gable, associate professor in the SIUE pharmacy practice, hosted Klaudie Gregorova, a SIUE School of Pharmacy exchange student from Prague.

SIUE Diversity Events Slated for Aug. 27 and 28

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus community and the public will have a chance to participate in a series of diversity events on Tuesday, Aug. 27 and Wednesday, Aug. 28. “An Unfinished Conversation” will be facilitated by internationally renowned documentary filmmaker and master diversity trainer Lee Mun Wah. All events will be held in the Morris University Center.

“The appreciation of diversity and inclusiveness are important SIUE values,” said Dr. Aminata Cairo, assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology and chair of the department’s diversity committee. “But dealing with diversity is not always easy. Just because we value it, does not necessarily mean we know how to do it or do it well.

“A true commitment to appreciating diversity and living with diversity requires effort. With the help of Mr. Lee Mun Wah, we will address this issue. In anthropology, appreciating the richness of culture and diversity is our bread and butter. The key is to address it together as a university community, which is what the “We Are One” campaign is all about.”

On Aug. 27 from 7-7:30 p.m., Lee, a community therapist, will deliver “What Stands Between Us” for the public. Later, from 7:30-9 p.m., the educator, author and poet will facilitate a student dialogue session “How to Have a Dialogue Across Cultures.”

In one of Lee’s many videos, he gives a vital ingredient in realizing multiculturalism: “Every seat you’re sitting in is just like a neighborhood – the neighborhood you live in. Until you come out of it, you will still be looking at diversity and multiculturalism and thinking that just because we have a room full of diversity that somehow we’re multicultural. That is one of the greatest myths of America. Multiculturalism means you make good use of the cultures that are here.”

On Aug. 28 from 1-5 p.m., the Chinese American will conduct the faculty and staff training, “Diversity Conversations.” Lee is the executive director of Stirfry Seminars & Consulting, a diversity training company that provides educational tools and workshops on issues pertaining to cross-cultural communication and awareness, “mindful” facilitation and conflict mediation.

Lee tells audiences that real open and honest dialogue about diversity can and will be difficult. “We are bound to get upset and to say things that will insult some or be turn off others. But the work will depend on whether or not we’re going to stay in the ‘room’ and/or keep at it.”

On Aug. 28 from 7-10 p.m., the award-winning filmmaker will present the film If These Halls Could Talk to the public with a dialogue session to follow. Lee’s most famous film about racism, The Color of Fear, won the Gold Medal for Best Social Studies Documentary. Part two of the same film, Walking Each Other Home, won the Cindy Competition Silver Medal for Social Science. His first film, Stolen Ground, about the experience of Asian Americans, won honorable mention at the San Francisco International Film Festival. Oprah Winfrey did a one-hour special in 1995 on Lee’s life work, and it was seen by more than 15 million viewers.

In his presentations, Lee takes time to tell his audiences who he is. In one film, the Chinese American had this to say: “What I want to tell you is that these eyes I have are beautiful. They are not slanted, but black, like the black onyx of my mother’s. To me, they are just as American as blue eyes.

“My black hair is just as beautiful as blond hair. This voice that carries the richness of my Cantonese and Mandarin ancestors is beautiful. My name – Lee Mun Wah – is just as American as any president, any senator or any CEO. I will not have it taken from me. Who I am, is who I was. My name is Lee Mun Wah.”

In other dialogues, Lee went on to say: “I think Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was right when he said: ‘We fear each other, because we hate each other. We hate each other, because we don’t know each other. And we don’t know each other, because we are separated from each other.’

“The only way we will come together is to truly know each other and stay in the room, rather than once a year doing a multicultural program. The choice ultimately is always ours.”

For more information about Lee Mun Wah visit, stirfryseminars.com, facebook.com/leemunwah or youtube.com/stirfryberkeley.

The SIUE Campus Wide Diversity Event is sponsored by the Department of Anthropology, the Department of Psychology, the School of Education’s Diversity Committee, the Department of Theater and Dance; the College of Arts and Sciences; Student Affairs, Faculty Development Council and the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion.

For more information and to register for the event, please contact Cairo at acairo@siue.edu.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (siue.edu) provides students with a high quality, affordable education that prepares them for successful careers and lives of purpose. Built on the foundation of a broad-based liberal education, and enhanced by hands-on research and real-world experiences, the academic preparation SIUE students receive equips them to thrive in the global marketplace and make our communities better places to live. Situated on 2,660 acres of beautiful woodland atop the bluffs overlooking the natural beauty of the Mississippi River’s rich bottom land and only a short drive from downtown St. Louis, the SIUE campus is home to a diverse student body of nearly 14,000.

Photo Information: Lee Mun Wah.

NCERC Director to Participate in Congressional Agriculture Advisory Council

NCERC at SIUE Director John Caupert will share his biofuels expertise during a joint Agriculture Advisory Board meeting hosted by U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) and U.S. Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.) next week in Decatur.

“This is an incredible opportunity for the Agriculture Advisory Boards of two sitting congressmen to share ideas and opinions on critically important legislation, including the passage of a comprehensive Farm Bill,” Caupert said. “From the biofuels perspective, we are particularly invested in negotiating continued funding of biofuels research and development initiatives under the Farm Bill’s energy title.”

Caupert is frequently called upon by legislators in Washington D.C. and Springfield to testify on biofuels policy. In April, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), nominated Caupert to participate in a Senate Democratic Caucus briefing on the “Revitalization of Rural America.” He has served on Davis’ agriculture advisory board since its formation in January 2013.

“Congress continues to negotiate vital pieces of agriculture legislation that directly impact those who work and live in the 13th Congressional District and beyond,” Davis said. “My advisory board’s input helps shape my perspective on modern agriculture and allows me to better advocate for these important issues in the House Agriculture Committee and on the House floor.”

The joint board meeting will take place from 8:30-10 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 27, at the National Sequestration Education Center, 3883 Howard Brown Blvd. on the campus of Richland Community College in Decatur.

The event is timed to coincide with the annual Farm Progress Show, the nation’s largest agriculture showcase. The 2013 show features more than 500 exhibitors and more than 300 acres of field demonstrations.

Photo: U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (D-Ill.) with NCERC at SIUE Director John Caupert.

Ice Cream Social Draws Hundreds

Hundreds of students, faculty and staff turned out for the annual Merchant’s Fair and Ice Cream Social on Wednesday in the Goshen Lounge at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Watch SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe and Edwardsvile Mayor Hal Patton hand out free Dairy Queen Blizzards to the crowd.

More than 60 businesses and organizations had informational booths at the fair and provided samples, products and materials.

The fair and ice cream social is sponsored by the SIUE Campus Activities Board Cougar Welcome Committee.

SIUE Awarded $1.2 Million Grant to Train Science Teachers

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has received a $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation. During the next five years, the Robert Noyce Scholarship Program at SIUE will graduate and certify 36 secondary science teachers to serve in high-needs rural and urban communities in southwestern Illinois.

The program provides funding for scholarships, stipends and programming to recruit and prepare STEM majors to become middle school and high school science teachers. The program is a partnership of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), School of Education, SIUE STEM Center, master teachers, community-based organizations, local community colleges and the cooperating school districts.

“The need for teachers, who can not only educate but truly inspire our children to become the next generation of engineers and scientists, is absolutely paramount for keeping our economy strong and discovering innovations to solve the challenges of our growing population,” said Jerry Weinberg, associate provost for research and dean of the Graduate School.

This  multi-disciplinary effort will be led by Jessica Krim, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction in the School of Education; Kelly Barry, associate professor of biological sciences in CAS; Sharon Locke, director of the Center for STEM Research, Education and Outreach in the Graduate School; and Susan Wiediger, associate professor of chemistry in CAS.

Three novel elements of the program design are a self-efficacy framework, a focus on recruitment of pre-health professional students and regional capacity building. The objectives of the project are to:

• Recruit highly qualified STEM students that demonstrate an aptitude for teaching
• Provide these students with an enhanced experience in STEM education and research
• Supply high-needs middle and high schools with exemplary science educators
• Increase outreach in the communities of southwestern Illinois
• Disseminate project findings for use in other STEM education settings

The program will implement strategies for recruiting and nurturing cohorts of STEM teacher candidates during their college years and into their early teaching careers in high-needs schools. Key components of the program are:

• A self-efficacy framework that imparts confidence and skills to developing teachers
• A two-phased recruitment strategy that exposes underclassmen to the rewards and challenges of education and offers scholarships and research opportunities to upperclassmen
• The development and support of a STEM teacher network in southwestern Illinois high-needs schools

Ten summer internships will be awarded annually to SIUE and local community college freshmen and sophomores with an intended or declared major in STEM disciplines who show promise to be strong teachers. Interns will teach in a variety of educational outreach programs at SIUE or with community partners for a total of 200 hours during the summer. They will receive training in science pedagogy for informal learning, meet regularly with project staff to reflect on their experiences and give a culminating presentation at the end of the summer.

Competitive Noyce Scholarships valued at $11,500 per year will be awarded to juniors and seniors with a STEM major who are committed to pursuing STEM education careers. Noyce Scholars will conduct outreach with disadvantaged middle and high school students, observe master teachers in high-needs schools and take on the challenges of formal research in their content area or STEM education. Scholars also will receive funding to attend the National Science Teachers Association annual conference.

After graduation, new teacher support will include a summer face-to-face workshop, online mentoring and support, and professional development events to maintain a collaborative network of peers and supportive master teachers in southwestern Illinois. The new teachers will have access to and support from the SIUE STEM Center, which provides numerous services to educators, including a lending library and professional development opportunities.

“SIUE has a strong history of K-12 STEM programs that educate and inspire,” Weinberg added. “The NSF Robert Noyce Scholarship Grant is an exciting opportunity for SIUE to pass these ideas on to a group of STEM teachers who will impact hundreds, if not thousands, of regional students to become that next generation.”

Through outreach activities built into the program design, the Noyce interns and scholars will reach an additional 2,500 middle and high school students, providing “minds-on” STEM activities designed to generate interest and enthusiasm in STEM and STEM careers.

SIUE Students to be Dancing in City Streets at Annual Block Party

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and the city of Edwardsville welcome back students this week with the 14th Annual Block Party. Music, food and fun are the order of the day starting at 6 p.m. Friday, August 23.

The University and the city host the annual event, which runs until midnight, at the intersection of Second and St. Louis streets in Edwardsville’s downtown. SIUE students, faculty and staff, and the community are invited to attend the party with no admission charge.

“This event has become a grand tradition to introduce new and returning students to the Edwardsville community,” said Michelle Welter, associate director of the Kimmel Leadership Center. “Edwardsville has so many outstanding restaurants and businesses serving a wide variety of tastes and needs. This event showcases Edwardsville’s best and familiarizes our students with the downtown area.”

Back for another performance is local favorite The Smash Band, which features front man Smash, a long-time St. Louis radio DJ. The band plays music from the 60’s through today. A deejay will entertain from 6-8 p.m. before The Smash Band takes the stage from 8 p.m. to closing.

Food vendors will line the downtown streets, along with many non-food vendors offering products, services and information.

The Block Party has grown since it began in 2000, with about 3,500 people attending last year. This year, Welter is expecting about the same numbers, if not more.

The event is sponsored by the city of Edwardsville, SIUE, the Edwardsville Intelligencer, the SIUE Campus Activities Board and Student Government, the Edwardsville-Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce, SIUE Marketing and Communications, and SIUE University Relations.

Photo: SIUE students dance in downtown Edwardsville during the 2012 Block Party.

SIUE School of Engineering Enrollment Surging

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s 2013 fall semester began today highlighted by a projected record total enrollment of more than 1,400 students in the School of Engineering. Undergraduate programs in the Schools of Education (4.5 percent), Business (3.9 percent) and Nursing (2.6 percent) all are enjoying enrollment increases.

The School of Engineering’s projected total enrollment has climbed 12 percent (127 students) since last fall and 34 percent (352 students) during the past six years. Dean Hasan Sevim has overseen steady growth from 1,048 total students in 2008. The School also is experiencing a rise in the ACT scores. This year’s 143 freshmen directly admitted into the School had average math and composite ACT scores of 28.5 and 27.5, respectively.

“Ultimately, we have faculty dedicated to teaching excellence and mentoring,” Sevim stated. “Our reputation in teaching and research is spreading fast, and our 2+2 agreements with regional community colleges are providing highly qualified students. Plus, we have a growing international reputation with exemplary cooperation from our overseas partners.”

“With our Schools of Nursing, Pharmacy and Dental Medicine at capacity, the interest in our professional schools reflects that prospective students are making decisions based upon career aspirations,” said Scott Belobrajdic, associate vice chancellor for enrollment management.

The new freshman class average ACT (23.1) increased three-tenths of a point over last year and is the highest in University history. The increase is seven-tenths of a point better than 2011.

“Our new direct entry options in business, engineering, nursing and pharmacy attracted 170 first time freshmen entering the University, which had a direct impact on the average ACT,” Belobrajdic said. “Their mean ACT is 28. Direct entry allows us to compete for high achieving students who were opting for direct admit options with private and public competitors in previous years.”

The School of Education also is developing early-entry options for students interested in its undergraduate programs.

New transfers are up to 1,252 students, an increase of 27, which is the highest since 2006.

“An increase in transfer students is a trend that we expect to see continue as families consider financing a college education,” Belobrajdic said. “The debt accrued to attend college is a highly visible issue, and families are analyzing options to minimize their cost. So, attending a community college to obtain transferable credits and then transferring into a four-year university is a viable option. SIUE’s positive relationships with local and area community colleges benefit all parties in those situations.”

SIUE Fall 2013 Projected* Enrollment Facts & Figures

• Undergraduate enrollment is up 10.4 percent (111 students) in the School of Engineering
• Undergraduate enrollment is up 4.5 percent (49 students) in the School of Education
• Undergraduate enrollment is up 3.9 percent (40 students) in the School of Business
• Undergraduate enrollment is up 2.62 percent (26 students) in the School of Nursing
• New transfer students are up 2 percent (27 students)
• Total new students (freshmen, transfers and international) exceeds 3,000 for 11^th consecutive year
• Freshman Enrollment: 1,963
• Total undergraduate enrollment is down 1.1 percent
• Total graduate and professional enrollment is down 4 percent
• Total Projected 2013-14 Enrollment: 13,825, which ranks fifth all-time at SIUE

*Figures are fluid until 10-day census figures confirmed on Sept. 3

Belobrajdic pointed to a decline in high school populations in Illinois and throughout SIUE’s recruiting base as a critical factor for the smaller freshman class this year.

The School of Education’s graduate program accounts for the majority of the decrease in graduate enrollment.

Belobrajdic acknowledged that one of the most challenging aspects of this year’s enrollment trends has been reflected in graduate programs specific to K-12 audiences. These challenges are due in large part to the state’s current economic climate resulting in school budget cutbacks and decreases in professional funding for teachers.

Also impacting graduate enrollments are new state requirements regarding the preparation of school-based administrators, which have been implemented to increase quality and reduce the number of licensed principals in the state through legislated higher program admission requirements and rigorous program standards.

SIUE’s School of Education is proactively meeting the current needs of districts and teachers by offering endorsements in high need specializations, as well as providing flexible scheduling options including online and hybrid courses and programs taught off campus to enhance access.

Students Perform Community Service within SIUE Experience

Approximately 700 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students participated in four community service projects on Saturday, Aug. 17, as part of the SIUE Experience.

The four projects included:

• Greenwood Cemetery: An historical African-American cemetery in North St. Louis that no longer receives federal funding, creating an on-going need for maintenance and clean-up. Volunteers removed overgrown weeds and vegetation to preserve the cemetery. Dred Scott’s wife is buried in this cemetery. 
• Watershed Nature Center:  An organization dedicated to providing environmental education, passive recreation and enjoyment of native habitats. Their mission is to promote environmental stewardship and provide opportunities for the community to understand and appreciate nature.  Volunteers were needed to plant native plant species and remove invasive species to preserve the watershed habitats.  As part of the Cahokia Creek watershed, the Watershed Nature Center is comprised of over forty acres of wetlands, prairies, and upland and lowland forests.
• Granite City Community Garden:  A network that brings neighbors together to create and sustain gardens that benefit the Granite City community.  GCCG needed assistance with planting crops, tending to growing crops and weeding.
• Sunshine Cultural Arts Center:  The Community Performance Ensemble of East St. Louis engages children and youth through a holistic cultural arts program. With a vision to impact the lives of more youth, the organization acquired a building with a plan to transform it into the Sunshine Cultural Arts Center. Volunteers were completing light construction and painting to transform the building’s rooms into music and dance classrooms.

The SIUE Experience allows freshmen to make connections with the University and each other. Activities began with Move-In Day on Thursday, Aug. 15, and continued throughout the weekend. Some of the events included the Chancellor’s Welcome and Playfair, the Class of 2017 photo by the Cougar Statue and the Cougar Kick-Off at Korte Stadium.

Photos: 1) Gary Sims Jr. (left) and Rebekah Bartholomew work at Greenwood Cemetery.

2) SIUE students carry cleared brush to a dumpster in Greenwood Cemetery.

3) SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe (center, left) with Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs flanked by student volunteers at the Sunshine Cultural Arts Center in East St. Louis.

SIUE Sets World Record During Men’s Soccer Match

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville established a world record tonight during halftime of the Cougars men’s soccer match against UW-Milwaukee as 1,134 fans simultaneously popped the tops on cans of Pepsi Next at Ralph Korte Stadium. See the video.

The event was all part of the SIUE Experience as the University welcomes students for the 2013 fall semester which officially begins on Monday, Aug. 19.

Learn more about Pepsi Next here.

Photo: SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe celebrates world record with Korte Stadium crowd.

NCERC’s Trupia is Featured Speaker during USDA Summit

Dr. Sabrina Trupia, director of research at the NCERC at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, will address an international audience via teleconference Tuesday to share her expertise on sweet sorghum, an emerging advanced biofuel feedstock.

Trupia will present her findings on “Sweet Sorghum Inclusion Rates in Ethanol Production.” The audience will include plant breeders, agronomists and scientists from Mexico, Uruguay, Argentina and China. All are studying the conversion of sweet sorghum to biofuels and bio-based products.

Trupia will address the group as they participate in the Workshop on Sweet Sorghum for Biofuels and Chemicals sponsored by the Foreign Agricultural Service, Agriculture Research Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The worship is being held simultaneously in Philadelphia and Wyndmoor, Pa.

“With EPA’s approval of grain sorghum as an advanced biofuels pathway, an increasing amount of attention and research is turning to the use of sweet sorghum as a feedstock for biofuels and bio-based products,” Trupia said. “Our collaborative research on sweet sorghum with the United Sorghum Checkoff Program demonstrates that interest.”

“We heard a lot of great things about Dr. Trupia’s sorghum presentation at FEW this summer,” said Kevin Hicks, ARS Sustainable Biofuels and Co-Products Research leader. “Since the topic is highly relevant to our workshop, we invited her to update our participants.”

Trupia’s 2012 breakthrough conversion of corn kernel fiber to cellulosic ethanol cemented her reputation as a leader in the fermentation of cellulosic feedstocks. She is a highly sought-after presenter at industry conferences and symposiums. In June, Trupia was the only presenter selected to give three highly anticipated talks during the International Fuel Ethanol Workshop in St. Louis.

In September, Trupia is set to deliver two presentations at the National Advanced Biofuels Conference in Omaha.

Photo: Dr. Sabrina Trupia.

Freshmen Learn, Laugh and Link Up at SIUE Experience

How can more than 1,950 incoming freshmen understand the values of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, begin to feel a part of the campus community and get to meet some of their classmates? The answer is The SIUE Experience.

Freshmen continued today to make connections with the University and each other. Activities were scheduled throughout the day and night, and through the weekend. Some of the happenings included the Chancellor’s Welcome and Playfair, the Class of 2017 photo by the Cougar Statue and the Cougar Kick-Off in the Korte Stadium. The SIUE Experience began Thursday with Freshmen Move-In Day and continued with Freshmen First Night at the Morris University Center.

SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe greeted freshmen at Playfair: “You’ve come to the right place. We are excited about what we have to offer, and what you have to contribute.

“This is not going to be an easy time,” said Furst-Bowe. “I remember my first semester of college. It was a balancing act. The key is to use your time wisely. Make sure your education is your priority. We want to see you walk across the stage four years from now.”

“This has been really fun,” said freshman Sarah Turner at the Playfair. The student from Petersburg was sitting on the ground in a large circle with about 100 of her fellow classmates who were all born in the month of July. “At first, I was having a hard time meeting people. But this has made it real easy.”

Freshmen piled onto the Rec Plex field to the booming tunes from such artists as Macklemore, Robin Thicke, Rihanna and Justin Bieber. Students enjoyed a series of ice-breakers and eventually were grouped together by their birthday months.

Then they were hurled a series of questions, of which they had to meet in the center or cross over the circle if answering in the affirmative. “Are you the only child in your family? Do you consider yourself to be a trustworthy person? Have you told your parents you were going one place and then went another?”

“I like it because it’s getting people involved with each other,” said Janice Cooper of Calumet Park.

Earlier in the day, freshmen gathered in various classrooms around the campus, where a Cougar Guide talked about the five SIUE values: excellence, inclusiveness, wisdom, integrity and citizenship.

Leading one class was Tiffany Maglasang, a senior with a double major in psychology and Spanish. She had students participate in an “excellence exercise” that required them to write things that both add and take away from achieving excellence. The list included:

• Staying focused

• Being prepared for class

• Wanting to succeed

These were three of several answers from the group consisting of Kelsey Lepper, Meghan Campbell, Brianna Langland and Kellie Horrell.

Caleb Baker and Rebecca Taylor wrote some of their thoughts about factors that hinder success:

• Partying

• Not going to class

• Being lazy

The Chancellor summed up her message of excellence to students by quoting Katherine Dunham, the legendary late dancer, choreographer and anthropologist who was an artist in residence at SIUE, “I always believe if you set out to be successful, you already are.” Katherine Dunham Hall on the SIUE campus houses the departments of Theater and Dance, Music and Mass Communications.

The SIUE Experience continues Saturday and Sunday with such activities as community service projects, campus exploration and residence hall meetings. It was started in 2012 to increase freshmen retention and success, said Kara Shustrin, program specialist in the SIUE Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.

“One of the biggest things we hope to accomplish,” said Shustrin, “is to build connections among the freshmen, between them and upper classmen and between them and the campus community.”

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville provides students with a high quality, affordable education that prepares them for successful careers and lives of purpose. Built on the foundation of a broad-based liberal education, and enhanced by hands-on research and real-world experiences, the academic preparation SIUE students receive equips them to thrive in the global marketplace and make our communities better places to live. Situated on 2,660 acres of beautiful woodland atop the bluffs overlooking the natural beauty of the Mississippi River’s rich bottom land and only a short drive from downtown St. Louis, the SIUE campus is home to a diverse student body of nearly 14,000.

Photo Information:

SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe welcomes the 1,800 incoming freshmen at Friday’s Playfair.

One freshman group at Playfair lifts a willing participant to rousing cheers and applauds.

Eddie the Cougar is hoisted high by freshmen at the Playfair.

SIUE Mourns Passing of Paul Maynerich

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville community today is mourning the death of undergraduate student Paul Maynerich, who passed away Tuesday in an automobile accident.

A native of Virden, the 19-year-old Maynerich was about to enter his sophomore year in the School of Education.

Counseling services are available to students by calling 650-5666 or visiting the Counseling Health Services Office in the Student Success Center lower level adjacent to the Morris University Center.

Prayer service will be at 2:45 p.m. today at Sacred Heart Church in Virden followed by visitation from 3 to 8 p.m. at the church.  There will be a one hour visitation prior to the 11 a.m. funeral Mass on Saturday Aug. 17, at St. Joseph The Worker Church in Chatham.

For a complete obit, visit Calvert and Ferry Funeral Homes.

Entrepreneurial Alum Promotes Diversity

SIUE alum Veronica Armouti recently founded the Senala Group, a company that assists businesses on the topics of diversity and inclusion. Alton Telegraph writer Natasha Sakovich featured Armouti in a story published Aug. 15. Armouti was a double major earning a bachelor’s in sociology and history (’86) and a master’s in policy analysis (’88) from SIUE’s College of Arts and Sciences.

SIUE Alum Takes SWIC Appointment

SIUE alum Frank Miles has been appointed  executive director of the Sam Wolf Granite City Campus at Southwestern Illinois College. Alton Telegraph writer Kathie Bassett wrote about Miles’ new position in a story published Aug. 15. He has a bachelor’s in government and public affairs (’83) and a master’s in public administration (’88) from SIUE’s College of Arts and Sciences.

SIUE Lecturer Named Director of Greene County Economic Development Group

Jim Mager is a lecturer in the SIUE School of Business for management and marketing, and is a former director of the SIUE Small Business Development Center. He has been named managing director of Greene County Economic Development Group. Read about Mager’s appointment in the Jacksonville Journal-Courier.

SIUE Freshmen Move into Residence Halls with Help from New Friends

Incoming freshmen, buoyed with anticipation and vehicles loaded down with personal belongings, moved into residence halls today at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. “Movers and Shakers,” aka sophomore, junior and senior SIUE students, helped their new classmates make the transition to college life. Watch the video on youtu.be

It took about seven hours for 500 “Movers and Shakers” to help 1,400 freshmen move into Woodland, Prairie and Bluff residence halls, according to Michael Schultz, director of University Housing.

The first vehicle to arrive at Prairie Hall was carrying Gurnee native Sarah Von Kampen and her mom, Sandy. “We were the first ones here this morning,” said Sarah, “and they were all smiles. It was a welcoming sight.”

“We packed our SUV so full, I needed a crow bar to get me out,” said Sandy Von Kampen. “And they had us unpacked in about five to 10 minutes.”

Freshman Alex Lukert of Chatham was also impressed with the speed in which his SIUE classmates helped him and his family unload. “I didn’t have to carry my own stuff. I’m looking forward to this year, new people and new experiences.”

The “Movers and Shakers” program began in 1996 and is critical in welcoming students to SIUE, said Schultz.

“I love SIUE, and I love helping out,” said David Hinkl, a junior, rolling a dolly piled high with the belongings of Kamrie Payne of Chicago.

Further down the driveway, sophomore Courtney Skaggs reached for boxes inside a SUV, showing words written on the inside of both her forearms. “criminal justice” is written in black magic marker on her left and “psychology” is scribed on her right.

“I’m a double major,” Courtney said. “If people ask, I can tell them about my major.”

“One girl we moved in today said, ‘You guys have a tough job,’ Courtney said. “I told her, ‘No, it’s really a lot of fun.’ ”

Logistically, moving a student into a new home can be hard work, said Mallory Sidarous, marketing specialist with University Housing. “We encourage our volunteers to not only carry heavy items,” she said, “but also to welcome new students, talk to them about their campus experiences and answer questions.”

Sitting outside of Woodland Hall waiting for his son (Elijah Adams) was Lee Langon of Flossmoor. “It was fantastic, a godsend,” Langon said. “We could have been forever trying to move in.”

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville provides students with a high quality, affordable education that prepares them for successful careers and lives of purpose. Built on the foundation of a broad-based liberal education, and enhanced by hands-on research and real-world experiences, the academic preparation SIUE students receive equips them to thrive in the global marketplace and make our communities better places to live. Situated on 2,660 acres of beautiful woodland atop the bluffs overlooking the natural beauty of the Mississippi River’s rich bottom land and only a short drive from downtown St. Louis, the SIUE campus is home to a diverse student body of nearly 14,000.

Photo Information:

“Mover & Shaker” Nick Glandon helps Kamrie Payne, a freshman from Chicago, move her belongings into Prairie Hall.

Freshman Shelby Tomanovich receives a welcome from SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe. Kim Durr, executive assistant to the chancellor and one of the “Movers & Shakers” is in the foreground. Furst-Bowe both welcomed students and helped carry items during the Move-In Day.

SIUE School of Business’ Tim Jacks Presented at Malaysia Conference

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Tim Jacks, Ph.D., presented two papers during the Global Information Technology Management Association (GITMA) June conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Jacks is an assistant professor of computer management information systems (CMIS) in SIUE’s School of Business.

GITMA was created in 2000 by Prashant Palvia, Ph.D., who is currently at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The annual conference brings educators, researchers and practitioners together to share ideas on international aspects of information technology.

Jacks first became affiliated with GITMA through Palvia who was his dissertation chair. Since he was first introduced to GITMA, Jacks has attended four conferences. This year, he presented papers on the topic of e-health.

His first paper, “Provider vs. Vendor Perspectives on EHR Implementation Issues,” explained differing views of stakeholders, namely medical providers and vendors, in the implementation of electronic health record (EHR) systems. His second paper was a manuscript regarding “attitudes toward risk taking as a moderator between hospital firm culture and CEO/CIO identification of key healthcare information technology issues.”

With his participation in GITMA, Jacks is always reminded that the world is getting “flatter.”

“It’s always good to see my friends and colleagues from Turkey, Germany, New Zealand, China, India, Pakistan, Ghana, Malaysia, Canada, etc., but it’s amazing when you pause to think about it,” said Jacks. “I collaborate with these people via email and skype all the time. The scope of my work is truly global!”

Jacks also updated the status of the World IT Project. The project is designed to examine important worldwide issues confronting IT employees in both staff and management. Requiring extensive research of different countries, he is part of a seven-member core research team to collect data from the various countries.

While in Malaysia, Jacks experienced the culture outside of the conference.  He visited a large Mosque in Putrajaya and the Batu Caves north of Kuala Lumpur that involved climbing up 272 steps to the Hindu temple.

Having traveled to many different countries, Jacks said he enjoyed Malaysia’s very friendly people.

“My favorite local custom was to put your hand over your heart any time you said ‘hello’, ‘thank you’ or ‘you’re welcome’,” said Jacks.

“I strongly believe that this global perspective benefits our students, which is why I am such a supporter of SIUE’s international travel programs,” noted Jacks.

Photo: Assistant Professor of Computer Management Information Systems Tim Jacks, Ph.D. presented at the Global Information Technology Management Association (GITMA) conference.

SIUE Appoints Retzlaff as Faculty Athletics Rep

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe has appointed Dr. Bill Retzlaff as NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) for the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Retzlaff succeeds Dr. John Meisel who has served as the University’s FAR since 1979. The FAR serves as a faculty voice, ensuring balance between academics and athletics for the benefit of the student-athlete. The FAR plays a key role in administering NCAA policies at a local as well as a national level.

SIUE Director of Athletics Dr. Brad Hewitt said Meisel’s service to the University should be commended.

“It has been my privilege to work with Dr. Meisel since coming to SIUE in 1989,” Hewitt said. “John’s tireless service to the University as the FAR will be missed. He has been a selfless presence in helping to build a solid athletic foundation at SIUE while promoting academic excellence.

“I look forward to continuing this work with Dr. Retzlaff as the program moves forward at the NCAA Division I level.”

Retzlaff joined the faculty at SIUE in August 1999 with a joint faculty appointment in the Department of Biological Sciences and the Environmental Sciences Program. He is currently a tenured professor of biological sciences and serves as one of the three associate deans in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS).

During the last two years, Retzlaff has served as a faculty representative on the SIUE Intercollegiate Athletic Council (ICAC). Retzlaff chaired the SIUE ICAC during the 2012-2013 academic year. Retzlaff also formerly served as a graduate student representative on the Athletic Council at Clemson. During SIUE’s transition to Division I certification, Retzlaff served on the SIUE NCAA Division I Certification Committee – Academic Integrity Sub-Committee.

Administratively, Retzlaff is responsible for student and faculty research, student travel, and physical assets of the CAS. Academically, he has taught SIUE undergraduate and graduate courses in biological sciences and environmental sciences at SIUE along with freshman seminar courses on sustainability. Since joining the SIUE faculty, graduate students mentored by Retzlaff have completed 33 master’s theses or research papers.

Retzlaff earned a bachelor’s in forest management in 1981 and a master’s in forestry in 1984 from Auburn University. He earned a doctorate in forestry with a minor in plant physiology from Clemson University in 1987.

He has published 38 peer-reviewed articles in a broad array of research arenas including forestry, air pollution, horticulture, and environmental science and engineering. Along with his students, Retzlaff has presented scholarly work more than 180 times at regional, national, and international conferences.

Research on greening of the urban environment conducted by Retzlaff, his collaborators, colleagues, and students is internationally recognized. He currently serves as the co-director of the Green Roof Environmental Evaluation Network (GREEN) housed at SIUE. He also is Chair of GREEN’s Research Committee and is a member of the Board of the international trade organization Green Roofs for Healthy Cities.

Retzlaff, Dr. Susan Morgan, and three of their former MS students have recently published a book chapter based upon their green roof research in a McGraw-Hill book titled “Green Roof Construction and Maintenance.”

Wind tunnel testing conducted at SIUE under the direction of Retzlaff, Morgan, and Dr. Serdar Celik has become part of the building code standard for wind uplift of green roofs in the International Building Code. Recent innovative work by Retzlaff and his undergraduate students is incorporating native plantings into green roof installations.

Photo: SIUE’s Dr. Bill Retzlaff.

SIUE to Set World Record During Men’s Soccer Match

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will attempt to establish a world record on Friday, Aug. 16, during halftime of the Cougars men’s soccer match against UW-Milwaukee. Nearly 2,000 fans will simultaneously pop the tops on cans of Pepsi Next at Ralph Korte Stadium.

The Cougars and Panthers are set for kick-off at 7:30 p.m. The Cougar women’s soccer team entertains Western Illinois at 5 p.m.

The event is all part of the SIUE Experience as the University welcomes students for the 2013 fall semester which officially begins on Monday, Aug. 19.

Ticket prices are: general admission – $7; SIUE faculty/staff – $5; senior citizens – $5; and students ages six to college with ID – $4. Admission is free for children five-years-old and younger.

Learn more about Pepsi Next here.

SIUE Archives Featured in Belleville News-Democrat

SIUE Archivist and Special Collections Librarian Steve Kerber has been managing the school’s historical documents and items since 1995. Belleville News-Democrat writer Teri Maddox interviewed Kerber in an article published Aug. 11.

Edwardsville, Glen Carbon Businesses Ready to Welcome SIUE Students

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Office of Admissions on Friday delivered about 50 signs to merchants in Edwardsville and Glen Carbon. Business owners displayed the “Welcome SIUE Students” signs either inside or outside of their stores.

“We’re happy to do it,” said John George, co-owner of Bev George & Associates, Realtors, 235 North Main St. in Edwardsville. “Our daughter, Sarah, graduated with her master’s in English from SIUE this year.” John’s wife, Bev George, is a SIUE alumna. She received a bachelor’s in English in 1975 and a master’s in education in 1978.

Laura Lynch, owner of Bailey Cakes, 229 N. Main St. in Edwardsville, said she was displaying her sign because of the importance of SIUE in the community.

“The purpose of SIUE Sign Distribution Day is to allow businesses to welcome SIUE students,” said Kelley Brooks, admissions coordinator of recruitment.

Students begin arriving on campus Thursday, Aug. 15. SIUE classes start on Monday, Aug. 19.

The practice is more than 10 years old, according to Todd Burrell, director of the Office of Admissions. The office has additional signs for any merchant desiring one. For more information and to obtain a sign, please call (618) 650-3705 or visit their website.

Photo Information:

Elizabeth Fillback, SIUE graduate student, and John George, co-owner of Bev George & Associates, Realtors in Edwardsville, show the University’s new welcome sign.

Laura Lynch, owner of Bailey Cakes in Edwardsville, accepts a “Welcome SIUE Students” sign from Elizabeth Fillback, SIUE graduate student.

IERC: Illinois HS to College Success Report Useful, Needs Refining

The Illinois Education Research Council (IERC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has released a report with findings from an evaluation of the newly designed Illinois High School to College Success Report (HS2CSR).

The new HS2CSR is one of the first collaborative endeavors among the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to combine their fairly disparate data systems. The first HS2CSR report was released in June 2011 followed by the second report during February 2013.

“As Illinois develops its longitudinal data system, it is critical to evaluate the dissemination and usefulness of the HS2CSR,” said Brenda Klostermann, associate director for administration for the IERC and an assistant research professor at SIUE. “There also is a need for suggestions for improvement, in order to guide development of future reports,”

The evaluation study examined the dissemination, usefulness, and impact on collaborative efforts. IERC also solicited stakeholders’ suggestions for improving the report.

Based on responses from an online survey, focus groups, and feedback from postsecondary administrators and faculty, the report’s findings include:

• Widespread dissemination of the HS2CSR was limited. Based on survey responses, 33 percent received both reports. However, 43 percent of respondents reported not receiving either report.

• Of those who received the HS2CSR, many have found it useful, primarily to monitor student success and to collaborate within institutions.  A focus group participant commented, “The one piece that was very helpful was where it identified the actual courses, especially for math, when we were trying to speak to students and parents about college readiness.”

• More collaborative activity utilizing the report occurred within the K-12 sector and occurred within institutions, rather than cross-institutions.

• Concerns were expressed about reliance on self-report data and comprehensiveness of the data. For example, the report only contains information on students attending Illinois public institutions. Inclusion of all postsecondary schools would provide a more complete picture.

• Suggestions from study participants to improve the report included increasing the report’s ease of use, increasing the data’s representativeness and providing additional data elements.

“Experiences with the first two HS2CSR releases provided opportunities to learn what went well and where improvements can be implemented,” Klostermann said. “Results from this evaluation show that the report is not as widely disseminated as hoped. However of those who did receive it, many are finding it helpful in their collaborations within their institution. Some are utilizing it across institutions.”

Klostermann pointed out that increasing the representativeness of the data and ease of use, along with improving dissemination and providing training to more fully utilize the report would likely result in expanded use. These steps would foster communication and collaboration among secondary and postsecondary educators to improve student achievement.

For more information, contact Klostermann, the author of the report, (618) 650-2840 or (866) 799-4372.  The Research Brief and the Technical Report, with a detailed description of the study and findings, are available at siue.edu/ierc.

SIUE Among Largest Life Science Research Organizations in St. Louis

SIUE ranks fifth among top life science research organizations in St. Louis according to the St. Louis Business Journal. Writer Nicholas Ledden did the ranking by number of local research employees. Read the ranking at bizjournals.com.

SIUE Alum Is Among Top 10 History Teachers in Illinois

SIUE alum Stephanie Berry is a fifth grade teacher at Smithton Community Consolidated School District. The Illinois State Board of Education selected her as one of the top 10 history teachers in the state. Read about Berry in the Belleville News-Democrat. She earned a master’s in education from SIUE.

SIUE Workshop Geared to Faculty Infusing Sustainability into their Classroom

Professors, researchers and others discussed ways to integrate sustainability into the classroom, campus and life at a special workshop offered on Tuesday at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The Summer 2013 Mississippi Project III: “Green Curriculum, Green Campus, Green Community” was held from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. in the Third Floor Conference Room of the Lovejoy Library. The same workshop will be repeated on Tuesday, Aug. 13.

The seminar facilitators were Dr. Connie Frey Spurlock, associate professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice Studies and SIUE sustainability faculty fellow; and Kevin Adkins, SIUE sustainability officer. Each participant received a copy of “Earth in Mind” by David W. Orr.

Those attending the workshop included:

• Dr. Aminata Cairo, assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology in the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences

• Dr. Susan Murray, assistant professor in the Department of Accounting in the SIUE School of Business

• Kris Schachel, sustainability coordinator at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

• Janet Donoghue, assistant to the sustainability coordinator at SIUC

• Dr. Lisa Martino-Taylor, instructor II in sociology at St. Louis Community College-Meramec

• Lisa Ciszczon Brennan, English instructor and assistant director of the Writing Center at McKendree University

• Steve Taylor, mathematics graduate student at the University of Missouri-St. Louis

“The faculty provides the expertise,” Frey Spurlock said. “We are here to facilitate the process. The workshop gives an opportunity to enhance teaching through questions about sustainability.”

Sustainability is defined loosely and will be for each faculty member to determine, said Adkins. “A chemist and an English professor will both look differently at how they can include sustainability in their curriculum,” he said.

Workshop participants discussed the need for and development of sustainability. They learned about the origins and achievements of the SIUE Sustainability Office.

The best part of the workshop is to explore options, according to Frey Spurlock. “Curiosity is part of sustainability,” she said. “Asking questions about issues involves critical thinking and good things can transpire as a result of critical thinking.”

As it relates to accounting, Murray said, she wants her students to consider the “Triple Bottom Line.”

“Today, it’s not just enough to ask the question of whether or not we made money,” she said. “We have to consider – people, the planet and profits – that is the Triple Bottom Line.”

The first thing to consider as it relates to sustainability is culture, according to Cairo.

“My students will benefit from learning cultural navigation and people skills,” Cairo said. “When you have cultural standards, it will affect how you relate to others, your environment and your world.”

The day-long workshop included two guest presenters:

• Don Corrigan, environmental journalist, professor of journalism and global journalism at Webster University, and editor-in-chief and co-publisher of the Webster-Kirkwood Times & South County Times newspapers

• Martino-Taylor, sociologist and environmental crime researcher and SIUE alumna

The workshop is modeled after the Ponderosa Project at Northern Arizona University and the Piedmont Project at Emory University. Both received national attention for their innovative approach. It was named after the Mississippi River to reflect the bi-state area.

The idea of sustainable discussion with SIUE faculty began in 2009 with luncheons. The lunch meetings evolved into the Mississippi Project I in 2011.

“I’m encouraged about the progress we’ve made with SIUE faculty,” Adkins said. “We’re continuing to work towards a more sustainable future for us all.”

When looking at the problems of the environment, one can get overwhelmed, Frey Spurlock said. “One big hurdle to get past is the thought that you can’t make a change,” she continued. “But in fact, you can in so many different ways. We have just to be persistent.”

For more information, visit sustainability at SIUE.

Photo Information:

Pictured from left to right are: Dr. Susan Murray, assistant professor in the Department of Accounting of the SIUE School of Business; Kevin Adkins, SIUE sustainability officer; and Dr. Connie Frey Spurlock, SIUE sustainability faculty fellow.

Dr. Aminata Cairo, assistant professor in the department of Anthropology in the College of Arts and Sciences, discusses the importance that culture places in sustainability.

Perry Appointed Interim Dean of SIUE School of Nursing

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Ann Boyle has named Dr. Anne G. Perry as interim dean of the School of Nursing. Perry, RN, EdD, FAAN, is a professor of nursing and the School’s former associate dean for academic programs.

Perry earned a bachelor’s in nursing from the University of Michigan, a master’s in nursing from Saint Louis University, and a doctorate in education from SIUE. She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing.  She joined the SIUE faculty in 2004 while serving in both teaching and administrative roles. Prior to SIUE, Perry held academic appointments at SLU.

“I am honored and pleased to be appointed interim dean,” said Perry. “During the past 10 years under Dean Maurer’s guidance, the School made significant strides in advancing our mission.

“During my tenure as interim dean, we will continue to advance excellence in education as we move forward with preparing new programs, such as the post baccalaureate doctor of nursing practice (DNP) and an accelerated registered nurse to baccalaureate (RN-BSN).

“We will continue to collaborate with our clinical partners as this shapes the practice of nursing in the southern Illinois region. An emphasis on faculty scholarship will remain, so that students receive the best academic preparation.”

Perry is the author and co-author of textbooks and references in nursing fundamentals and clinical skills. “Basic Nursing,” “Fundamentals of Nursing,” “Clinical Nursing Skills and Techniques,” and “Nursing Intervention and Clinical Skills” are required reading in nursing schools in 13 countries and are translated into 10 languages.

As a clinician and researcher, Perry’s contributions to pulmonary nursing and nursing language development involve both research and policy-making. She has investigated and published findings regarding topics that include weaning from mechanical ventilation, uses of the therapeutic intervention scoring system, selected critical care topics and validating nursing diagnoses.

Dr. Laura Bernaix, professor and chair of primary care and health systems nursing in the School, assumes the role of interim associate dean for academic programs. Bernaix earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from SIUE and the University of Evansville, respectively. She achieved a doctorate from Saint Louis University.

More than 90 percent of Bernaix’s 26-year teaching career has been at SIUE. Most recently, Bernaix has five years of experience as chair of the largest department in the School.

“In Dr. Bernaix’s role as chair, she created an environment for faculty to succeed and achieve tenure,” said Perry. “She facilitated teaching assignments to support faculty during their doctoral course work. She also worked with faculty to be successful in didactic and clinical teaching.

“She expects excellence in her own endeavors. However, most important is her willingness and tireless efforts to assist young faculty to succeed.”

Bernaix has multiple peer-reviewed publications and serves as an editorial advisory board member to the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing. She also is a member of the Research Advisory Panel for the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrical, and Neonatal Nursing (WHONN).

Photo: SIUE School of Nursing Interim Dean Ann Perry.

SIUE School of Nursing Dean Marcia Maurer Retires

Dr. Marcia Maurer, dean of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing since 2003, has retired effective July 15, after leading the School to preeminence during the last decade.

“Dean Maurer’s passion, energy, and demand for excellence positioned the School as a leader in nursing locally, regionally and statewide,” said Ann Boyle, interim provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs.  “She has been a highly respected campus leader during an era of immense growth at SIUE. She definitely will be missed.”

Maurer holds a doctorate in higher education administration along with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing. She came to SIUE from Loyola (Ill.) University where she served as associate dean of nursing and graduate program director. With her 20 years of experience in higher education, national recognition for her expertise in perinatal medicine and a reputation for commitment to excellence, she joined SIUE with the goal of moving the School to higher levels of achievement and recognition.

As dean of the School of Nursing, Maurer’s vision and leadership set the trajectory for the School’s expansion and growth during the last 10 years. She partnered with many clinical agencies in the region to position the School as a leader in clinical nursing, shaping the quality of nursing practice in both Southern Illinois and metropolitan St. Louis. In 2004, the University was honored when Maurer was selected for a Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellowship.

With her focus on growing the School’s reputation on all fronts, the number of doctorally prepared faculty in the School increased by 45 percent. Also under Maurer’s leadership, undergraduate and graduate enrollment in the School more than doubled to more than 850 students.

Several new programs were added, including the accelerated bachelor of science in nursing program which began in 2006; the traditional bachelor of science in nursing program which was extended to the regional campus in Carbondale in 2010; and the addition of the doctor of nursing practice (DNP) program which began in fall 2011.

These new programs continue to remain highly competitive, selecting students with the highest qualifications as they fuel enrollment growth. Under Maurer’s leadership the School’s undergraduate and graduate programs, including the program in nurse anesthesia, have maintained full and complete accreditation status.

During the last semester, Maurer has worked on a special project for the provost. She completed substantial research and produced a comprehensive report on the concept of building a senior living community in SIUE’s University Park. The facility would feature a unique Health and Wellness Center staffed by SIUE faculty and students in health care and related disciplines.

During the last semester, Dr. Anne Perry served as interim dean and she will continue in that role this year. A search for a permanent Dean for the School of Nursing is anticipated to begin in 2014.

Photo: Retired SIUE School of Nursing Dean Marcia Maurer.

SIUE Graduates 500+ During August Commencement Ceremonies

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville celebrated more than 500 graduates today during its August commencement exercises. The summer ceremony took place this morning in the Vadalabene Center. Watch commencement on siue.edu/tv.

SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe along with Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Ann Boyle addressed the graduates.

Furst-Bowe complimented the grads for their achievement and impact. “You’ve come from a wide variety of backgrounds with a broad base of experience and interests,” she said. “And yet, you all have in common the fact that you’ve forever changed this University.”

The chancellor challenged the graduating class to maintain its values and focus. “Those who develop a long-term plan and fully engage in the opportunities presented along the way and who give back, you will experience the most success. As a part of this long-range view, and to help those following you, remember to support public higher education in the years to come.”

The student speaker was Alyssa Patton of Bethalto. She graduated with a bachelor’s in political science from the College of Arts and Sciences. Patton focused on the various surprises that a student experiences during one’s matriculation.

“Although we’ve had both good and bad surprises, we’ve all succeeded, triumphed and overcome,” Patton said. “We didn’t do it by ourselves as we’ve had the help of a teacher, family member, spouse or friend. There are difficult and delightful times ahead, but I challenge you to persevere. You just might surprise yourself!”

Kevin Nesselhauf, president-elect of the SIUE Alumni Association board of directors, welcomed all the graduates into the alumni association.

Photo:  SIUE student commencement speaker Alyssa Patton of Bethalto.

Noted Author and Speaker Ignites Educators to Motivate Minority Students

Baruti Kafele, a best-selling author who calls himself “America’s Principal” and an advocate for the potential of black and Latino students, spoke to a group of Metro East educators yesterday at the request of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School.

“Educators must see themselves as the number one determinant to the success or failure of black and Latino students,” said Kafele, author of Motivating Black Males to Achieve in School and in Life and a former New Jersey high school principal.

Kafele held a day-long workshop on the Charter High School teachers’ first day of fall orientation. Also invited to the opening session were educators from the SIUE Upward Bound programs, the East St. Louis School District #189 and other area school districts. About 40 individuals were in attendance.

“We were elated to host Principal Kafele,” said Gina Washington, director of the SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School. “His message is encouraging, applicable and invigorating. I saw him at a conference in Philadelphia, and it changed the way I viewed my students.”

Success, according to Kafele, begins with one’s view about black and Latino students. But in considering their gains in the classroom, people will typically mention the “Achievement Gap.”

“I can’t accept the ‘Achievement Gap,’ ” he said, “because it implies there is something wrong with those on the other side. We need to close the “Attitude Gap,” which is the gap between those who have the will to strive for excellence and those who do not.”

The problem, Kafele added, is not about reading, writing and math, particularly in providing support for black male students.

“A man is someone who has love, respect, appreciation and responsibility for himself,” said the motivational speaker. “They don’t have a reading and writing problem. They have a manhood problem.”

“It’s sad that many young black males don’t see themselves coming from centuries of greatness,” the author said, “because they haven’t been taught their history.”

Kafele said he incorporates the richness of black history into shaping and encouraging the young minds of his students. “I have to introduce them to themselves,” he said, “because many of them don’t know where they came from. No one has told them.”

Kafele also said when he was a high school principal, he enlisted men to serve as mentors to high school students.

But at the crux of what Kafele said he is trying to accomplish now, and is traveling from city to city to achieve, is to challenge and “fire up” the way educators think about black and Latino students.

“What’s wrong with these boys?” Kafele asked the crowd. “Nothing. What’s wrong with us?”

“America’s Principal” gave educators three criteria to teach students:

• A passion for children

• A passion for teaching and learning

• A passion for your own personal and professional development

“His perspective on the criteria for effective teaching is an important one to embrace,” said SIUE School of Education Dean Bette Bergeron. “Educators, who are passionate about who and what they teach, will give students the motivation to soar and achieve at the highest levels every day.”

After the presentation, Charter High School Language Arts teacher Colin Neumeyer, arrived at an assessment of himself.

“I have established a reputation here at the Charter High School to be all academics and discipline,” Neumeyer said. “I am sort of the no-nonsense teacher here.

“I want to now build on that foundation, employ Principal Kafele’s message about turning it back onto the students and making them want from themselves what I want from them.

“I am also going to expose the students to the rich African American literary perspective,” Neumeyer continued, “and provide them that part of their identity that Principal Kafele was talking about.”

School starts Monday, Aug. 12 for SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School students.

Kafele’s eventual successes in education did not come easily. The now sought-after speaker and author was a high school dropout. He quit school in the ninth grade, only to go back one year later and graduate with a 1.5 grade point average.

“I had a high school guidance counselor tell me I’d never amount to anything,” Kafele said. “He couldn’t dream of me being successful.”

After graduating from high school, he went back to the streets for five years but grew weary of his lack of direction and ambition. Kafele then went to Kean University in New Jersey, where he graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s in management science/marketing.

He later received a master’s in educational administration from New Jersey City University. It was in college that one professor told Kafele, much to his dismay, that he would be a public speaker. Another instructor said he was a good writer.

Key to Kafele’s transformation was his study of the life of Malcolm X. Kafele said he named himself and selected “Baruti,” which means teacher in the southern African language of Tswanna.

For more information on Kafele, visit principalkafele.com.

SIUE Holds Summer Commencement Exercises Saturday

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will celebrate more than 500 graduates during its August commencement exercises later this week. The summer ceremony takes place at 10 a.m. Saturday, August 3, in the Vadalabene Center. Watch commencement on siue.edu/tv.

SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe along with Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Ann Boyle will address the graduates.

The student speaker will be Alyssa Patton of Bethalto. She is graduating with a bachelor’s in political science from the College of Arts and Sciences. Kevin Nesselhauf, president-elect of the SIUE Alumni Association board of directors, also will speak.

High School Students Enjoy SIUE Healthcare Diversity Summer Camp

Holding a baby mannequin in both arms like a pro, high school student Taylor Robinson takes in all the sights and sounds of the simulated nursing lab on Tuesday at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Robinson, a 16year-old student at Edwardsville High School, was one of 19 high school students who participated in the weeklong SIUE Healthcare Diversity Summer Camp, which was held June 17-21.

Area high school juniors and seniors with an interest in health care came to the University on June 16 to get exposure to SIUE's Schools of Pharmacy, Nursing and Dental Medicine. The health care professional schools targeted minority students because they understand the need for more diversity in these fields, said Dr. Lakesha Butler, clinical associate professor in the School of Pharmacy and current coordinator of the diversity summer camp.

In 2009, the SIUE School of Pharmacy established a three-day, non-residential summer camp for high school seniors interested in pursuing a pharmacy degree. Recognizing the value of increased diversity in the Doctor of Pharmacy student body, the School created the camp as an opportunity to expose students to careers in pharmacy and guide them along their journey to pharmacy school. Four years later, the program has seen great success and has expanded into a six-day, inter-professional program.

Thanks to funding from Walgreens, Express Scripts and Target, high school minority students have the opportunity to live in the residence halls and learn about the professions of pharmacy, nursing and dental medicine at no charge to the students' families. "Without this partnership, the opportunities provided to these students through the health care diversity camp would never have happened," said Dr. Mark S. Luer, associate dean of professional and student affairs in the School of Pharmacy.

Students spent their first day at camp touring the SIUE campus and learning about student resources available at the University. On Tuesday, students spent the day in the School of Nursing, including the Simulated Learning Center for Health Sciences Laboratory. Sheila Pietroburgo, coordinator of the Skills/Simulation Lab, explained how SIUE nursing students learn needed information and gain valuable experience from work in the laboratory and with the simulators. They also learned about careers in nursing and met with key faculty members.

Students visited the School of Dental Medicine in Alton on Wednesday. They toured the campus and participated in hands-on anatomy and physiology activities, including inspection of their own cheek cells under a microscope, an x-ray review of cavities and electronic cadaver simulation. Students also created impressions of teeth models in the School's Multidisciplinary Lab. Dr. Cornell Thomas, assistant dean for admissions and student services, led a discussion about dentistry as a career and the School's admissions requirements.

Thursday was spent learning about careers in pharmacy. Activities in the School of Pharmacy included touring the School and hearing about memorable patient moments and sharing lunch with faculty members. Students had the opportunity to try their hand at various assessment skills in the Advanced Pharmacy Practice Lab including blood pressure, pulse, glucose, heel scan, cholesterol and inhalers. They also attended community pharmacy site visits at Maryville Pharmacy, Walgreens and Schnucks Pharmacy.

The last day of the camp was focused on helping students prepare to take the ACT. "Not only do we recognize the value of increasing the diversity in our student body, we also recognize the need to help prepare minority students to get to the finish line," Butler said.

The opportunity to explore careers in health care and experience life on a college campus was inspiring for the students. "The students are so motivated and driven," Butler said. "I've been impressed with their interest and the types of questions they have asked."

Tracee Williams, a 17-year-old student at Belleville West High School, said she is considering attending SIUE to major in nursing or pharmacy. "I didn't think I wanted to go to SIUE because it was close and my mother graduated from here," Williams said. "But I've found out that it's a really good school." Williams' mother, Yvette Sanders, graduated from SIUE with a bachelor's in business.

Christian Watts, a 17-year-old at Hazelwood Central High School in St. Louis, is considering a career as a pharmacist. "Ever since I was young, I wondered how a small pill could make someone healthy."

Robinson is considering three areas of study: optometry, dermatology and oncology. "I think the eye is an intriguing thing," he said. "The skin is a beautiful thing to me, and oncology research is interesting."

Winston Jackson, however, is interested in becoming a neurologist. The 17-year-old Edwardsville High School student said the weeklong workshop has proven to be important and useful.

According to Luer, the camp was designed to encourage minority students to explore all types of professional careers. "This was a university-wide, interprofessional effort," he said. "If we can inspire these students and equip them with the confidence they need to pursue a professional education and a career in a health care field, then the camp was a success."

Photo Information:

Winston Jackson of Edwardsville High School checks the "patient Gary" as Destany Ulmer of Parkway South High School observes. In the background, Taylor Robinson from Edwardsville High School peers over their shoulder.

Rhyiannon Ike, 17-year-old Belleville East High School student, holds the mannequin baby she named "Niguel" with the help of Tracee Williams, 17-year-old student at Belleville West High School.

SIUE Engineering Camp Provides High School Students with Engineering Insight

The SIUE School of Engineering is hosting its annual Engineering Summer Camp for high school students interested in learning more about engineering and the career options within that field. This summer, the camp held its first session June 9-14. The second session began on June 16 and will close on Friday, June 21. Watch the SIUE Engineering Summer Camp news video.

Students at the camp are scheduled for various hands-on activities that introduce them to the fields within the engineering discipline. Activities during the camp encompass principles of mechanical, industrial, electrical and civil engineering, as well as construction management and computer science.

"We provide an overview of all the programs offered by the School of Engineering," said Dr. Chris Gordon, associate dean of the School of Engineering, and coordinator of the engineering camp. "The campers get a feel for what these programs entail and the incredible range of rewarding opportunities available in these fields."

In the course of the camp, students participate in several projects, including building fuel cell cars, rockets and robots. Before embarking on their own projects, they get to see demonstrations of projects built by SIUE engineering students to inspire their work.

This year, students from various parts of the nation as well as from the Metro East and St. Louis-area have participated in the camp. Gordon says the camp has reached a record number of 56 total students enrolled. Each year, the camp attracts students from Illinois and neighboring states, including Indiana, Tennessee, Kentucky and Missouri. This year's camps also included applicants from as far away as Alaska and Idaho.

Sisters Casey Beard, 14, and Reese Beard, 12, travelled from Howser, Idaho, to attend the Engineering Camp. They are home-schooled students who attend the Idaho Virtual Academy, which is an online home schooling program. Despite their ages, they are at high school academic levels, and they both have come to the camp to explore their career and college options.

"I know I want to go into engineering," Casey said, "but I don't know if I want to be an electrical engineer or an industrial engineer. This program has the best survey of all the different fields of engineering."

Chris Couch, 16, of O'Fallon (Ill.) Township High School came to the camp knowing he wanted to be an engineer but unsure of which field he wanted to focus on.

"I didn't know what field of engineering I wanted to go into, but after coming here, I think I have a better idea," Couch said. "The camp has done a good job of separating the fields and saying how they're different and how they also can be related."

Brent Ellis, 16, of Bloomfield (Ind.) Junior-Senior High School, finds the several fields of engineering each fascinating in different ways. He has also found that having knowledge in all of the fields can be helpful in starting a career.

"I have already found more fields that I'm interested in," said Ellis. "I've learned that sometimes you can get one degree in engineering but then still go into a different field because the fields can overlap."

Gordon believes that bringing together promising young students with varying engineering interests and showing them the diversity within the broader field has garnered enthusiasm among SIUE engineering faculty and students.

"Our campers bring incredible dynamism to the school," Gordon said. "We get to work with them as they learn what they are most excited about and which direction they might want to go. It's a great opportunity for us as faculty members to work with future engineers and learn about their ambitions and their approaches to the various challenges they experience during the week."

SIUE School of Engineering offers one of the most comprehensive and affordable engineering programs in the St. Louis region with eight undergraduate degrees, five master's degrees and a cooperative doctoral program, all housed in a state-of-the-art facility. Students learn from expert faculty, perform cutting-edge research, and participate in intercollegiate design competitions. Companies in the metropolitan St. Louis area provide students challenging internships and co-op opportunities which often turn into permanent employment. All undergraduate programs are accredited by their respective accreditation agencies.

Photo Information:

Pictured on left is Wesley Neal (16) of Peoria High school with Dan Kornell (16) of Edwardsville High School.

SIUE School of Engineering faculty member Steve Muren (in the middle) explains a point to Amber Holt (17) of Edwardsville High School and John Wicks (16) of the SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School.

Cultural and Historical Study in Havana, Cuba Enlightens Students and Faculty

From June 5-14, four students and three faculty members from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville gained an enriching cultural experience in Cuba. The students who traveled to Cuba took coursework in Cuban History and Culture, and will interact with an additional 17 students who are taking a tandem online course. The trip provided first steps for SIUE faculty and students to take part in the Cuban Academic Exchange program, which was established between University of Havana and SIU in late September 2012.

The four students who attended the trip were an undergraduate geography major; Allys Diaz, an undergraduate special education major; Dean Gunderson, a geography graduate student; and Roberto Saenz, an undergraduate historical studies major.

In Havana, these students were led by Drs. Larry LaFond and Wendy Shaw, who are instructors for the course. LaFond is the associate dean for student development and general education in the College of Arts and Sciences. Shaw is the associate dean for academic programs and faculty development in the College of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Andrew Theising, political science associate professor and director of the Institute for Urban Research, also attended the trip to enrich his own cultural experience.

During the trip, the faculty and students followed a rigorous itinerary that allowed them to view historical and cultural landmarks with a knowledgeable guide. In Havana, the group visited sites of key importance such as the Museum of the Revolution and the Morro Fortress. In addition to field-work in Havana, students were able to visit the Che Guevara Mausoleum near Santa Clara, as well as the city of Matanzas and the Bay of Pigs. In addition to this busy itinerary of site visit students also attended lectures and meetings at the University of Havana.

The faculty and students were all enthusiastic to gain insights into Cuban culture and history, as well as the everyday life of Cubans. LaFond found that the students who attended the trip were especially keen to learn and discuss the culture they were eagerly absorbing. He felt that the "extended conversations" students were having with him during their free time about the places they had seen, the people they had met, and the information they had learned was an especially rewarding aspect of the trip.

"This was the special kind of experience that travel study makes possible, and it is that kind of interaction that can lead to deep, memorable learning that goes far beyond the traditional classroom," said LaFond.

The object of the trip was to gain a view of the political and economic culture of Havana, which the students and faculty gained from both their scheduled activities and the interactions they were able to have with Cuban people. The people in Havana were very open to their questions and willing to provide a more detailed glimpse into Cuban culture.

"We certainly moved through our itinerary," said Shaw, "but students were also able to ask the people we interacted with and our guide questions about specific topics they were studying. They were able to tailor their questions to their academic focus, and we had some excellent people in Cuba who were able to support that."

Some of the topics students studied while on the trip were agriculture, architecture and education. Upon their return to SIUE, the students are continuing with the course, which ends with an all-day meeting on July 20. In the meeting, students who went to Cuba will share their experiences with those who were not able go.

Saenz, who visited Havana with an interest in architecture, is working on a paper about the restoration of buildings in Old Havana. Although Saenz is not a stranger to traveling overseas-he participated in a study abroad program that took him to Spain, Italy and Germany in 2010-he feels enlightened by his experience with Cuban culture. Like the other students, he was excited to gain new information, but he feels that this visit to Havana encouraged him to broaden his perspective on politics, economy and life in general.

"I was able to get a European perspective when I studied abroad, and now I also was able to find out more about the Cuban perspective," Saenz said. "The more we travel, the more we interact with people around the world. The more interaction we experience, the more understanding we gain, and with this understanding between cultures, we can really benefit from each other."

Having been to Cuba, Shaw, LaFond and the four students have much to share with the other 17 students in the course. With their insights, LaFond and Shaw are both enriching their curriculum to reflect their experiences and to include the information they gained. At the end of the course, a website detailing the Cuban experience will be developed for the campus community and public to explore.

College of Arts and Sciences: Central to SIUE's exceptional and comprehensive education, the College of Arts and Sciences has 19 departments and 85 areas of study. More than 300 full-time faculty/instructors deliver classes to more than 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Faculty help students explore diverse ideas and experiences, while learning to think and live as fulfilled, productive members of the global community. Study abroad, service-learning, internships, and other experiential learning opportunities better prepare SIUE students not only to succeed in our region's workplaces, but also to become valuable leaders who make important contributions to our communities.

Photo Information: The travel group standing at the Centro de Estudios Hemisféricos y sobre Estados Unidos (CEHSEU) of the University of Havana. Back row from left to right: Roberto Saenz, undergraduate student in Art and Design; Dean Gunderson, graduate student in geography; and Dr. Andrew Theising, faculty participant in political science. Front row from left to right: Dr. Larry LaFond, co-instructor in English Language and Literature; Dr. Wendy Shaw, co-instructor in geography; Allys Diaz, undergraduate student in special education; Raul Rodriguez, director at CEHSEU University of Havana.

IERC Study Focuses on State Charter Schools' HR Management

Nearly $160,000 was awarded to the Illinois Education Research Council at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville by The Joyce Foundation for a two-year project studying how charter schools organize teaching differently than other public schools.

The Joyce Foundation is an organization that supports the development of policies aimed at improving the quality of life in the Great Lakes region and across the country. It serves as a model for the rest of the country.

Established in 1948 by the late Beatrice Joyce Kean of Chicago, the organization provides grant opportunities to focus on policy development in the areas of education, employment, the environment, gun violence, money and politics and culture.

Human resources management policies and practices in Illinois charter schools will be the primary area of focus for the study. This will allow researchers to learn more about the extent and consequences of teacher-focused school reform in charter schools and help address gaps in the research literature. The IERC plans to examine learning conditions, school staffing and spending data, and teacher mobility patterns in Illinois charter schools, and explore the relationships between these factors.

The research team also hopes to conduct in-depth investigations of teacher hiring, evaluation, compensation, and retention policies and practices in sites that have been identified as innovators in these fields.

"It is our hope that these analyses yield findings that can help guide personnel policies in both the charter and traditional public school sectors, where appropriate, as well as demonstrate the degree to which Illinois charter schools are leveraging the flexibility allowed by the state's charter law to drive more strategic management of their human capital," said Brad White, senior researcher for the IERC.

The study will conclude in May 2015. White added, "Charter schools are public schools of choice that are open to all students and operate under a performance contract, or charter, whereby they are granted increased autonomy with regard to inputs-such as human resource management-in exchange for increased accountability with regard to outcomes, such as student achievement."

For charter school operators, one advantage of this autonomy is the freedom from "the numerous reporting requirements from their local and state education agencies," White said. "For researchers however, the flexibility granted to charter schools means that there is often little data available with regard to inputs to these schools."

So, while charter schools often are described as being more innovative and flexible than traditional public schools, especially when it comes to the management of human resources, very little is known about their actual practices, at scale or longitudinally, White said. He added even less is known about the impact of these practices on student achievement.

According to White, potential future studies could focus on teaching and school climate for charter school teachers; how much autonomy the teachers themselves have; how the career path or career ladder differs between charter and public schools; opportunities for advancement in these institutions, and how working conditions compare across institutions.

School of Business Interim Dean Navin Featured in Belleville News-Democrat

Recently named SIUE School of Business Interim Dean John Navin is featured in the June 17 edition of the Belleville News-Democrat. Reporter Will Buss did a quick Q&A with Navin. Read it here.

University Park at SIUE Seeks to Expand Tenant List

With 16 private company tenants and nine university units already functioning within Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's University Park, SIUE is seeking to expand its client base at the 330-acre site.

"University Park provides a unique opportunity for private sector emerging industries and businesses to enhance their competitive positions through beneficial relationships with SIUE," said Jim Pennekamp, special assistant to the chancellor for economic development and University Park executive director.

Tenants of University Park at SIUE are close to valuable human resources, including a capable base of student interns, a highly skilled pool of potential employees and faculty researchers. Today, University Park includes:

• 151,071 square feet of space-95 percent of which is occupied
• 169 full-time and 93 part-time employees, and 103 student workers
• University Park companies have hired 50 SIUE graduates
• Five SIUE-owned buildings, four privately owned buildings and two UP owned buildings

"The University plays a critical role in advancing the region's economic development and future success," said SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe. "It is the commitment of all parties involved that make SIUE a destination University-not only for students, but also for researchers and entrepreneurs."

Private companies are a major component to the success of the region and University Park. A total of 16 private companies in University Park provide 71 full-time jobs, 74 part-time positions and opportunities for 20 student workers. Nine SIUE units in University Park employ 98 people full-time and provide 19 part-time opportunities along with 83 student worker jobs.

The American Red Cross (ARC) recently returned 15 prime acres to University Park. The ARC had planned to build a blood processing center and national testing laboratory on the SIUE site to replace its 50-year-old St. Louis facility. The ARC will not build the project in University Park or any other location in the foreseeable future.

SIUE Announces Participation in Summer Food Program

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville announced today it is participating in the Summer Food Service Program. Meals will be provided free of charge to all SIUE East St. Louis Center Summer Program enrolled children.

Acceptance and participation requirements for the program and all activities are the same for everyone, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service.

Any person who believes that he or she has been discriminated against in any USDA-related activity should write to: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Meals will be provided at the sites listed below beginning June 24, 2013 and ending July 26, 2013. For further information contact DaWanda Gresham at (618) 482-6909.

SIUE Morris University Center

University Drive

Edwardsville, IL 62026-0001

SIUE East St. Louis Center

601 James R. Thompson Blvd.

East St. Louis, IL 62201

NCERC Kicks Off 10th Anniversary Celebration

The NCERC at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville began its 10 ^th anniversary celebration Thursday by hosting more than 100 guests who were in St. Louis for the annual International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo (FEW) at America's Center. See the video story.

"What we're truly celebrating is the biofuels industry's growth and development during the past 10 years," said Center Director John Caupert. "This continues to be the only facility in the world where research for ethanol, advanced biofuels and specialty chemicals are all occurring simultaneously."

Caupert and his staff conducted tours of the Center's pilot plant, analytical laboratories and fermentation suite. They also hosted a lunch for "A Celebration of Feedstocks and Fuels."

The majority of domestic and international visitors touring the facility were biofuels industry vendors and those interested in biofuels and specialty chemicals research and development along with ethanol producers and farmers. Representing SIUE were Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Ann Boyle and Vice Chancellor for University Relations Patrick Hundley.

Government representatives from Illinois included Mary Shalapin for U.S. Rep. William Enyart (D-12 ^th district), Philip Lasseigne for U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-13 ^th district) and Steve Tomaszewski for U.S. Rep. John Shimkus (R-15 ^th district). Jim Larkin filled in for state Dept. of Agriculture Director Bob Flider.

Caupert is equally proud of the Center's history in workforce training. "More than 600 individuals have received work force training here," he said. "More than 92 percent of those folks are gainfully employed in the biofuels, specialty chemicals and refining industries."

Arisdyne was the Tour Day sponsor while Center corporate donors Burns and McDonnell, CPT and Siemens also were represented.

Photo: NCERC at SIUE Director John Caupert addresses visitors to the Center's 10 ^th birthday celebration.

SIUE Alums Make Exclusive "30-Under-30" List

Three Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumni were included in the St. Louis Business Journal's "30-Under-30" list for 2013. Oliver Coulson, Jonathan Frech and Kristopher Steffen were among those spotlighted in the annual rankings released Monday, June 10.

The trio was among 30 honorees selected from more than 270 nominees. The awards recognize the St. Louis area's future business leaders.

Coulson is a senior project engineer at Tarlton Corp. The Troy, Ill., native earned a bachelor's in construction management in 2007 with a minor in business administration.

"Industry scholarships from groups such as Southern Illinois Builders Association, St. Louis Concrete Council, Illinois Ready Mix Concrete Association and American Concrete Institute's Missouri Chapter helped develop my network while I was at SIUE," said Coulson, who now resides in Highland. "That led to an internship and eventually a project engineer position with Tarlton. I'm still active within some of those organizations."

Jonathan Frech is a senior business analyst - functional analysis delivery at MasterCard Worldwide. The Granite City native earned a bachelor's in computer management and information systems in 2009 and followed with a master's in business administration in 2012.

"My SIUE experience contributed to becoming a more well-rounded business professional", said Frech, who now lives in St. Charles, Mo. "My SIUE School of Business undergraduate and graduate courses provided the skills to manage and simplify complex problems, and make informed decisions.

"I appreciate my colleagues and how we all play a role in MasterCard's success because of my classes in management and organizational behavior. SIUE's Career Development Center helped with finding an internship that provided the practical experience necessary to successfully enter the corporate world."

Kristopher Steffen is a strategic sourcing champion at Monsanto. He earned a bachelor's in business administration in 2006.

SIUE Alum Callis Wins Trip to MLB Fan Cave

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alum Emily Callis is spending a few days in New York City after winning a contest to "crash" Major League Baseball's Fan Cave.

The Bloomington native graduated in 2012 with a bachelor's in political science from SIUE's College of Arts and Sciences.

The 23-year-old Callis submitted photo evidence in a MLB social media contest that she is an ultimate St. Louis Cardinals fan. She was rewarded with an expense-paid trip for two to New York and the MLB Fan Cave. The Cardinals are in the midst of a three-game series with the Mets at Citi Field.

Read about Callis' adventure in The Pantagraph .

SIUE Professor Nominee Hillaire Wins NEA Award

As an author, storyteller, artist and teacher, Pauline Hillaire of the Lummi Tribe has produced and amassed a lifetime of invaluable work in regard to Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest. She also has, for the past five years, collaborated with Dr. Gregory Fields, professor of philosophy at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

It was because of the significance and impact of her contributions that Fields nominated Hillaire of the state of Washington for the 2013 National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship. She is one of nine cultural artists selected nationwide. The 83-year-old will additionally be awarded the Bess Lomax Hawes NEA National Heritage Award.

The Bess Lomax Hawes Award is the nation's highest honor that recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to the preservation and awareness of cultural heritage.

"She has done so much to keep the culture alive and help it regenerate by means of her work with tribal youth," Fields said, "and her teaching people of all ages and cultures, by means of her books and recordings. She is a magnificent and humble person."

Hillaire works to carry on the heritage of Washington's Lummi Nation and has been crucial in providing authentic research and information about the Northwest Coast's arts and culture. Hillaire, known as Scälla, "of the Killer Whale," is a Coast Salish Indian elder.

She has two books forthcoming from the University of Nebraska Press: A Totem Pole History (available in December) and Rights Remembered: A Salish Grandmother Speaks on American Indian History and the Future (to be released following). For more information about A Totem Pole History, visit the publisher's page.

The books and media collections are collaborations with Fields and some of the recording for the projects was done at SIUE.

At an early age Hillaire learned about her culture from various elders of the Lummi Nation, also known as "People of the Sea." Her grandfather, Frank Hillaire, was the last chief of the Lummi and a spiritual leader. Her father, Joseph Hillaire, was a legendary orator and master carver of totem poles.

Hillaire has helped preserve the ways of the Lummi Nation by carrying on the efforts of her grandfather and father, who founded the song-and-dance group, Setting Sun Dancers. The group performed for over a century in Washington and nationally. She has also taught classes on Lummi arts and culture at the Northwest Indian College as well as public schools, museums and cultural organizations in Washington.

The award will be presented Sept. 25 in Washington, D.C. Hillaire's family will travel to the Capitol to receive the award on her behalf, and Fields will be in attendance as her nominator. Lummi tribal members will also perform at a public concert Sept. 27 in honor of this year's NEA National Heritage fellows. To learn more, visit 2013 Fellowship recipients.

"I am truly thankful to see, after all her years of sacrifice," said Fields, "that Scälla is recognized with the nation's highest honor for cultural heritage preservation."

Photo Information: Pictured is Pauline Hillaire. Photo courtesy by Jill Sabella

NCERC's Trupia is Featured Speaker at International Fuel Ethanol Expo

Dr. Sabrina Trupia, assistant director of biological research at The NCERC at SIUE: Advancing Biofuels Research, will be a featured speaker at the annual International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo (FEW) June 10-13 at America's Center in St. Louis.

Trupia is one of 35 Growth Energy members speaking or presenting at the event. Growth Energy represents the producers and supporters of ethanol who fuel America in ways that achieve energy independence, improve economic well-being and create a healthier environment.

Trupia has over a decade of experience in renewable energy research. Prior to joining NCERC, Trupia worked on biodiesel and anaerobic fermentation research, both in the United States and in Europe. Trupia holds a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Vermont.

SIUE Student-Athletes Extend Streak of Academic Excellence

SIUE student-athletes continue to excel in the classroom and have now posted 14 consecutive semesters (seven years) of a cumulative grade point average (GPA) better than 3.0.

Completing its first season as a fully certified NCAA Division I member, SIUE Athletics continued its run of outstanding performance in the classroom with a 3.095 grade point average among the 245 student-athletes during the 2013 spring semester. More than 64 percent of SIUE's student-athletes finished with a GPA of 3.0 or better.

"The SIUE Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is committed to the academic excellence of our student-athletes," said Director of Athletics Dr. Brad Hewitt. "Inspiring tradition, pride, commitment and excellence is something we work towards daily. It's about more than winning the game, acing the match or bringing home the championship. It's about more than teamwork, leadership and discipline.

"At SIUE, intercollegiate athletics is a team effort aimed at achieving success both on the playing field and off," Hewitt added." It's about student-athletes who give their personal best, on the court and in the classroom.

"It's about a collegiate institution that provides a liberal arts education that prepares our student-athletes for the next game as well as for the next decade. It's about providing resources that make these goals a reality."

Hewitt also credited the Academic Support Staff and the changes that have been implemented since completing certification to NCAA Division I status.

"The expansion of study space for student-athletes in the Vadalabene Center provides the resources needed to make sure timely graduation is a focal point of their personal mission and the mission of the Athletics Department," Hewitt continued. "Our coaches continue to recruit top-notch student-athletes who are committed to academic success as well as athletic success.

"The academic success of our student-athletes is a reflection of the academic resources the university provides, the outstanding faculty and support of university leadership."

There were 80 student-athletes (32.7 percent) who earned a spot on the Dean's List with GPAs of 3.5 or higher.

The women's golf team finished with the highest team GPA for the second straight semester with a 3.7. Women's tennis was next with a 3.423. Men's cross country was next at 3.343.

Of the 16 SIUE athletics programs, 11 teams finished the spring semester with a GPA better than 3.0. That includes women's basketball (3.059), women's track and field (3.101), women's cross country (3.276), men's golf (3.333), softball (3.277), men's soccer (3.224), women's soccer (3.227) and volleyball (3.256).

SIUE's Berry to Continue Basketball Career in Denmark

SIUE women's basketball standout Raven Berry has signed to play professionally for Lemvig Basketball Club in Denmark. Read about the Collinsville native's journey abroad in the Belleville News-Democrat.

CosmoQuest@SIUE Hosting Hangout-a-Thon Fundraiser June 15-16:Tune in to Support Science Education & Research

Faced with governmental funding cuts to science education and research, the CosmoQuest Virtual Research Facility (CosmoQuest.org) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has decided to host a telethon with a twist using Google Hangout on Air from June 15-16.

Google Hangout on Air is a live web based format used to communicate in real time. The group will focus on raising money to support public engagement in science. The Hangout-a-thon will begin at 11 a.m. (CT) June 15 and extend through June 16. The event is being hosted by Drs. Pamela Gay and Nicole Gugliucci of the SIUE STEM Center.

The weekend will be filled with numerous guests, including scientists who will perform science demonstrations, artists and musicians who connect to science in innovative ways, and researchers who will discuss citizen science. Each segment will be featured as a stand-alone YouTube video on AstrosphereVids channel following airing. This will create a library of content, while raising money for future programs, said Gay, an SIUE research assistant professor and CosmoQuest's co-designer.

Gay and Universe Today Publisher Fraser Cain came up with the design concept for the widely popular CosmoQuest virtual research facility. The virtual research facility is a place where everyday people can participate in modern research, while enjoying the same facilities (in virtual form) that professional researchers have at top universities. It was launched under the technological leadership of SIUE STEM Center lead programmer Cory Lehan.

The facility supports online citizen science programs, weekly seminars, virtual star parties, and educational programs for both kids and adults. According to Alexa.com, a web tracking service, CosmoQuest.org is the most trafficked astronomy related citizen science site on the internet.

Confirmed guests are being announced at http://CosmoQuest.org/blog /2013/06/24-hour-hangout-a-thon. Individuals can follow the event's planning on Google+ at http://bit.ly/15ynxKr

"Planning for the hangout-a-thon was triggered by the cuts created by sequestration, and by the current plans to transition education out of NASA," Gay said.

She continued, "CosmoQuest is working to raise the funds needed to keep its programs going and to build new citizen science programs for researchers that won't otherwise have the means to accomplish their projects. With adequate funding, the group will be able to contract extraordinary people laid off by other institutions so they can keep doing great things through CosmoQuest."

"CosmoQuest wants to make sure astronomy education survives and remains strong," said Gugliucci, an SIUE postdoctoral fellow. "We know one team and one telethon can't fix everything, but we hope this event can raise awareness, while protecting one small corner of astronomy research and education."

Saturday Marks Kickoff of International Knit in Public Week: SIUE University Museum to Host Knitting Activities

Dust off your knitting needles and crochet hooks. International Knit in Public Week kicks off Saturday and the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville University Museum is marking the occasion.

Individuals will be knitting and crocheting in the Stratton Quadrangle from 11 am.-1 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The Museum is encouraging local fiber artists to join in the fun and bring public attention to the once commonplace form of art.

The artworks, along with contributed works from the community at large, will be collected through October. All the work will be displayed October 17 as part of a "yarn bomb" or "art bomb" on the SIUE campus. The event will coincide with the Midwest Artists Art Symposium.

It is the hope of museum administrators that creations from artists will be collected from around the world. Items will be draped over sculptures and other outdoor museum property across campus. Donated pieces will be sewn together to create fiber art installation coverage. Items will be displayed on museum collection sculptures across campus.

"We would like this to be an international experience," said Eric Barnett, University Museum director. "We're searching for knitted and crocheted pieces from around the world."

All pieces to be used for installation should be submitted no later than October 12. Items can be addressed to SIUE University Museum, Campus Box 1150, Edwardsville, IL 62026. For more information, contact the Museum, (618) 650-2996.

SIUE Tabs Navin as School of Business Interim Dean

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Ann Boyle today named John C. Navin, Ph.D., as interim dean of the School of Business. Navin has agreed to serve for a period of two years to accommodate other leadership changes within the University and retains the option to be a candidate for the permanent position.

Navin takes the leadership reins on July 1 from Gary Giamartino, Ph.D., who resigned to assume the same duties at La Salle University's School of Business in Philadelphia. Giamartino has led the SIUE School of Business since 2002.

"Dr. Navin's leadership capabilities will be important for the School of Business during this interim period," Boyle said. "We must continue to meet the continuing challenges of a changing fiscal environment and adjusting our academic programming to meet emerging paradigms for learning and evolving student expectations."

"I want to thank Dr. Giamartino for his 11 years of dedicated service to the School and wish him great success at La Salle," Navin said. "Our faculty appreciated all of his hard work, and we look forward to keeping the School moving in a positive direction."

Navin said he will work closely with the School's current administrators and the Provost's office. "We need to ensure continuity of operation for the School. That includes strategic enrollment growth, on-going budget development, exploration and development of online programming and expanded international focus. It is imperative that our academic quality supports renewed accreditation status, and we continue to be successful in fundraising and alumni relations."

A professor of economics and finance, Navin has been a member of the School of Business faculty since 1991 and serves as chair of his department. He also is the undergraduate program director for the bachelor's program in economics and finance, and the bachelor's programs in economics.

At the University level, Navin has held key leadership roles as chair of the University Planning and Budget Council (UPBC) from 2007 to 2010; chair of the chancellor's Search Advisory Committee in 2011-2012; chair of the Salary Equity Task Force from 2009-2010; and chair of the E-Textbooks Committee in 2011-2012.

"Dr. Navin is known for his fair-minded approach to decision making coupled with a firm grounding in pragmatic problem solving," Boyle said. "His experience and leadership at SIUE have been characterized by a clear commitment to both fiscal planning and academic excellence."

SIUE Alumni Association Distributes Scholarships

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Alumni Association awarded nine scholarships last night at its annual meeting in the University Club located in the Morris University Center.

Matthew Horton, of Moro, and Mariah Huelsmann, of Alton, each received full Legacy Scholarships. Horton enters his sophomore year at SIUE this fall and is studying industrial engineering. Huelsmann is an incoming freshman and will major in history and anthropology with the goal of becoming a museum curator.

The Legacy Scholarship is a program for children, grandchildren, siblings and spouses of SIUE alumni. The Association's Board of Directors annually awards two full scholarships, one to a current undergraduate student and one to an incoming SIUE freshman. In addition, five $500 scholarships are distributed. The full scholarship covers tuition and fees.

Emily Fabry, of Granite City, received both a Stahlschmidt Family Scholarship and a Board of Directors Scholarship worth a total value of $2,500. Fabry plans to study pharmacy. Alyse Duncan, of Highland, also received a Stahlschmidt Family Scholarship worth $1,500. She will study marketing with the hope of managing her own marketing firm.

In honor of their parents Dorothy and Raymond, the Stahlschmidt children established the scholarship in fall 2009, which awards two scholarships per year to incoming SIUE students.

The Board of Directors Scholarship, funded by the members of the SIUE Alumni Association board of directors, awards a $1,000 scholarship to one incoming freshman, current undergraduate student, college transfer or non-traditional SIUE student each year. The candidate must demonstrate exemplary leadership skills, and campus and community involvement.

Elijah Counts, of Highland and Madison Frank, of Alhambra each received $500 Legacy Scholarships. Counts will major in music theory and composition and hopes to become a composer for films. Frank's major is undeclared.

Unable to accept their $500 Legacy award in person were Elsa Wible, of Alton; Caroline Sepe, of Villa Ridge; and Kristina Copeland of Wood River. Wible enters her junior year this fall and is pursuing a double major in speech language pathology and psychology. Her goal is to work with speech-impaired children.

Copeland is a senior this fall and is finishing a degree in genetics/chemistry before pursuing pharmacy or graduate school. Sepe plans to major in nursing with a goal to become a nurse anesthetist.

Cougars Long Jumper La'Derrick Ward Featured on KSDK-TV

SIUE sophomore La'Derrick Ward will be the first Cougar track athlete to compete for a NCAA Division I national title when he traveled to the men's outdoor track and field championships this week in Eugene, Ore. View the KSDK-TV feature on the Cahokia native from earlier this week.

D. Hastings Jr., 1952-2013; Was Alumnus and First Student Trustee

Donald L. Hastings, Jr., 61, of Edwardsville, died Saturday, June 1, at Relais Bonne Eau Hospice Home in Edwardsville.

He was a Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumnus. In 1973, he was elected as the first student from the Edwardsville campus to serve on the SIU Board of Trustees.

An online obituary is available at obitsforlife.com. A memorial mass is pending. Arrangements are being made by Kalmer Memorial Services in Lebanon.

SIUE Hosts Illinois Commission on Access to Justice Listening Conference

Nearly 70 faculty, staff members and students attended a listening conference Wednesday hosted by the Illinois Commission on Access to Justice. The focus was improving access to the court system throughout the state. The event took place in Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Founders Hall.

The standing room only crowd prompted organizers to open another room for attendees. Another 20 people took part in the conference virtually through the SIU Carbondale School of Law.

There were two panel discussions held during the three-and-a-half hour program. The first panel covered the topic "Access to Justice Needs, Challenges and Responses in the Fifth Appellate District." Afterwards, attendees discussed issues laypeople face when navigating the court system. They talked about measures currently being taken to increase support through advocacy-particularly to the poor, the elderly and victims of domestic violence.

Panelists for the first topic included Chief Judge Stephen G. Sawyer of Wabash County, Joan Spiegel of Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance, and Margarette Trushel of Oasis Women's Center. The moderator was Commissioner Timothy W. Kelly of the Commission on Access to Justice.

"It's a scary process spoken in a language they don't understand," Trushel said of the experience many people encounter when they step into the court system with no legal background or help.

Because of the recession and economic downturn, more people than ever are encountering legal issues, said Spiegel. Land of Lincoln is a non-profit corporation that was established in 1972 and serves 65 Illinois counties. It provides legal help to lower-income individuals and families.

"People are presented with more complex legal issues than ever before," Spiegel said. "We are seeing more foreclosures, and the number of senior citizens in our country is increasing dramatically. They don't have enough income and assets to support themselves."

Spiegel suggested that lawyers looking for experience should work with Land of Lincoln and like agencies to assist those without access to attorneys.

"That way this population will have a better understanding of the system and a better experience overall," she said.

The topic of the second panel was "Looking Ahead at Innovative Programs to Help Meet the Need in the Fifth Appellate District." Panelists included Woody Thorne from Southern Illinois Hospital, Russell K. Scott from Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C., which has offices in St. Louis, Chicago and Belleville, and SIU School of Law Assistant Dean Mike Ruiz. The moderator was Judge and Commissioner Debra B. Walker from the Commission on Access to Justice.

A wrap up and closing remarks were made by Danielle Hirsch, executive director of the Commission on Access to Justice.

Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride said the idea for the Commission came from the Illinois Coalition for Equal Justice. Kilbride attended the event with Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier and members of the Commission on Access to Justice.

The SIUE Listening Conference was one in a series of five events held across the state to address lack of access to justice. Each conference was designed to focus on a Supreme Court appellate district. The first three were held at Bradley University in Peoria, Northern Illinois University in DeKalb and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The final conference will take place at the John Marshall Law School in Chicago on Thursday, June 13.

Four SIUE Teams Earn NCAA Public Recognition Awards

Four SIUE athletics programs were listed among the nation's best for their high marks academically.

The SIUE men's cross country, women's tennis, women's soccer, and softball teams were among the teams listed by the NCAA as having earned Public Recognition Awards based on their most recent multi-year Academic Progress Rates (APR). A total of 976 NCAA Division I sports teams (594 women's teams and 382 men's or mixed teams) were honored for scoring in the top 10 percent in each sport with their APRs.

The APR is an annual scorecard of academic achievement that the NCAA uses to track classroom performance of student-athletes in every Division I sports team.

"We are very proud when Cougar student-athletes' commitment to SIUE's value to pursue excellence is publicly recognized," said SIUE Director of Athletics Dr. Brad Hewitt. "We are excited to be part of the NCAA's recognition and are pleased to show our dedication to the value of academic performance. This success is a reflection of the daily efforts and support of the student-athletes and departments on campus, including Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Intercollegiate Athletics, and faculty and staff members who provide services."

SIUE was one of eight OVC schools to have a least one sport earn a public recognition award. There were 23 OVC teams honored overall, the most overall in the eight-year history of the awards. Belmont led all OVC schools with seven followed by four from SIUE, three from Eastern Illinois, three from Morehead State, two from Murray State, two from Tennessee Tech, and one each from Austin Peay and Jacksonville State.

NCAA President Mark Emmert said top-performing teams this year posted APR scores ranging from 978 to a perfect 1,000. A list of Public Recognition Award winners is available at www.ncaa.org.

"The NCAA's quintessential student-athlete exhibits dedication and commitment both on the playing field and in the classroom," said Emmert. "These teams and programs truly embody the overall values of the NCAA, and have exceeded standards to post fantastic academic scores. We are delighted by such a clear example of our membership's commitment to providing well-rounded experiences to student-athletes. "

The APR provides a real-time look at a team's academic success each semester or quarter by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete. The APR includes eligibility, retention and graduation in the calculation and provides a clear picture of the academic culture in each sport. The APR awards two points each term to student-athletes who meet academic eligibility standards and who remain with the institution. A team's APR is the total points earned by the team at a given time divided by the total points possible, multiplied by 1,000. It includes four years (this year's numbers included the school years of 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12).

A total of 268 institutions, out of 346 Division I colleges and universities, placed at least one team on the top APR list.

List of Award Winners (Searchable) | Complete NCAA Release

SIUE Engineering's Popular High School Residential Programs Begin in June

Two sessions of a popular residential camp through the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering will bring roughly 60 high school freshmen, sophomores and juniors to campus during two week-long sessions. About 30 students will take part in each of the programs, which will take place in mid-June.

The sessions of the High School Outreach programs will take place from June 9-15 and June 16-22. Both sessions will include a week of exploration in the areas of engineering, science and technology. While on campus, students will learn about various engineering disciplines, including computer science and construction management. The campers will have the opportunity to discover first-hand how engineering impacts lives on a daily basis. They will participate in hands-on laboratory experiences, design contests and field trips.

"The camps have been successful over the years because of the tremendous enthusiasm shared by our faculty and our campers," said Dr. Chris Gordon, associate dean of the SIUE School of Engineering. "The exceptional hands-on activities illustrate the rewarding opportunities for our participants."

As part of the residential experience, students live with a roommate in the University residence halls, have meals in the Morris University Center and build lasting friendships with their fellow campers from other schools. The participating students can have access to the University's athletic facilities and the Morris University Center in the evenings. They are allowed to engage in activities such as bowling, swimming, rock wall climbing, volleyball, basketball and arcade games.

"This is a great opportunity that generates awareness across the state and promotes the wealth of resources available through the School of Engineering," Gordon said. "It also introduces the students to the wide array of programs and services available through the University.

"We are thrilled to see that many former campers apply to SIUE afterwards with an interest in engineering. It is rewarding to welcome our campers back as freshmen, informed and impassioned about the opportunities ahead of them."

The $350 fee for the High School Outreach program includes accommodations, food, round-trip transportation for field trips, as well as all necessary materials and supplies. For more information about the program, visit http://www.siue.edu/engineering/summercamps/index.shtml.

Limited scholarship opportunities are available each year for students who can demonstrate inability to pay the full cost of the program. For more information regarding scholarships, contact Gordon at engineering@siue.edu.

Cardinal Glennon Honors SIUE's Lubsch with Ambassador's Choice Award

The Cardinal Glennon Children's Foundation has presented Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy faculty member Dr. Lisa Lubsch with an Ambassador's Choice Award. Lubsch received the honor at a ceremony at the Children's Medical Center on Sunday, June 3 in St. Louis. The Sweeney family voiced its appreciation for Lubsch's work in this video.

The Ambassador Choice Awards is an annual event that honors caregivers who profoundly impact the lives of children and families. Past and present families nominated caregivers who profoundly impacted their experience. From the stories submitted, Glennon Ambassadors selected 11 honorees, who represented what they believed exceptional care "looks like" to families.

Earlier this year, Cardinal Glennon honored Lubsch as a "Light of Hope." She was one of 11 individuals acknowledged for exceptional care and compassion.

Photo: Dr. Lisa Lubsch.

SIUE School of Engineering Hosts Students from India

Five undergraduate students and an administrator from Guru Nanak Institution's (GNI) Engineering and Technology Campus in Hyderabad, India, visited Southern Illinois University Edwardsville over the past six days. They met with faculty from SIUE's School of Engineering and School of Business. View the story.

"SIUE is looking for opportunities to collaborate with India and other international partners," said Dr. Ron Schaefer, director of the SIUE Center for International Programs. "The potential for partnership between two universities increases when both share similar values."

"The GNI students were in search of an affordable and safe campus that provided a quality graduate education," said SIUE School of Engineering Dean Hasan Sevim. "The School of Engineering is interested in recruiting quality students to its graduate programs and exploring the exchange of faculty and research opportunities."

Students who visited SIUE included: Peddu Reddy Sreeja Reddy, Sardani Harpreeth Kour, Gosukonda Sai Alekhya, Konijeti Vamshi Krishna and Perla Shruti Purushottam.

SIUE has made a big effort to show various aspects of the School of Engineering and the campus, said Alekhya. "I would like to come to SIUE," she said. "I've liked everything I've seen so far."

Three professors from the Department of Computer Science; Drs. Mark McKenney, Igor Crk, and Hiroshi Fujinoki, helped the visiting students with various hands-on projects to give them a flavor of computer science education at SIUE.

"I feel at home here," said Purushottam. "The campus is good and serene. It's interesting to learn about the different projects the computer science department is working on. It inspires me."

The potential for collaboration between SIUE and GNI came about when Sevim and Schaefer participated in a conference in Hyderabad in September 2012. They met Harvinder S. Saini, GNI managing director, and gave him an overview of SIUE. "We thought SIUE was a good match for us," Saini said.

"If we can get good students like these five, we would like to collaborate with GNI," said Dean Sevim. "And hopefully some of their faculty can come here to work on research and some of our faculty can go there for seminars, workshops and teaching."

Photo Information: Pictured are the five students from Guru Nanak Institutions (from left to right): Gosukonda Sai Alekhya, Perla Shruti Purushottam, Konijeti Vamshi Krishna, Sardani Harpreeth Kour and Peddu Reddy Sreeja Reddy.

SIUE Students Excited to Visit Cuba's University of Havana

Students are excited as Southern Illinois University Edwardsville takes its first step in enacting the educational agreement between SIU and the University of Havana (UH) in Cuba this week.

SIUE College of Arts and Sciences colleagues Larry LaFond, faculty member with expertise in linguistics, and Wendy Shaw, faculty member who focuses on social geography, will lead a group of four students to Havana. In addition to the students visiting Cuba, 17 students will take a tandem course online. All 21 students will come together as part of the course to share what they have learned.

Senior Roberto Saenz is a history major with a double minor in philosophy and art history. An Aurora native, Saenz is of Puerto Rican descent and is curious about the similarities between Cuba and Puerto Rico.

"My focus has been on Latin American history, and I'm interested in how other Latin American countries' relationships with the U.S. differ from Cuba's," he said. "I'm looking forward to meeting new people and experiencing a different lifestyle and culture. Cuba always has been that forbidden fruit, so to speak, so it's exciting to take advantage of what could be a once in a lifetime opportunity.

"With a better understanding of Cuba and its people, maybe someday I'll help bring the embargo to a lesser extreme, and people will look with less of a blind eye to the island."

Junior Alyss Diaz, a special education major from Chicago, was curious about study abroad and wanted to experience it before she graduates.

"This is probably my only chance to experience Cuba in my lifetime, so I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity," she said. "I'm interested in 1800s history and am studying Cuba in general. So, I'm interested in the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Bay of Pigs invasion and Guantanamo Bay."

Along with lectures at UH and a meeting with the University Students Federation, SIUE students will study interrelated aspects of Cuban culture and history. The group will visit various historical and cultural venues during the 10-day visit.

CAS Dean Aldemaro Romero's goal is to demonstrate that a Midwestern university with no apparent connection to Cuba can create a variety of diverse programs to develop academic diplomacy by establishing connections both academically and culturally. Romero has worked vigorously on the project since 2009 to define the cooperative relationship between the universities.

This interdisciplinary studies class allows students to visit Cuba for 10 days and then return to SIUE to complete the course. Romero believes the alliance between the universities will give students a broader world perspective in an ever-growing global economy, while providing faculty with opportunities for the development of new academic initiatives.

The initiative between the University of Havana and SIUE is only the second in the nation - the first being with Harvard University.

Packed Crowd at SIUE Celebrates Dental School Graduation

2013 SDM Commencement Video

A total of 46 graduates from the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine took the stage in the SIU Edwardsville Meridian Ballroom on Saturday morning dressed in traditional regalia to mark their special day. They walked into the facility as students. They left as doctors of dental medicine.

"It certainly is an honor to be with you here today," said commencement keynote speaker, Dr. W. H. "Bert" Milligan, director of the Center for Continuing Education at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. Milligan is a graduate of the SIU School of Dental Medicine and a former faculty member.

Milligan, who had earned a Ph.D. in microbiology, served first as a faculty member at the school for four years. After the death of his father, who was a dentist, Milligan decided to enroll as a student, while continuing to teach . He earned his D.M.D. in 1979.

From a podium surrounded by SIUE Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Ann M. Boyle, SIU School of Dental Medicine Dean Bruce E. Rotter and others, he recounted his own experience as a student at the dental school, talking about the changes through the years, and how some things should never change with time.

"Listen to your patients," he said. "Knowledge becomes experience. Information overload can compromise patient care. So, rest your iPhone, relax your thumbs and use your brain. Be leery of new and improved technology. Your patients should not be an experiment. They deserve better."

Dr. Milligan received the SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame Award in October 2012. The SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame annually honors alumni who, through leadership, character and hard work, have made exceptional contributions in their chosen field.

Milligan spent eight years as a SIU SDM faculty member before returning to his native Pennsylvania. He spent 25 years practicing general dentistry, lecturing part-time and giving continuing education courses at Pitt's SDM. Before recently transitioning to his current position, Milligan had served as the Pitt SDM associate dean of Clinical Affairs.

In March 2013, Milligan received the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Presidential Citation, which is awarded to leaders who have demonstrated exceptional service to ADEA and the dental education community.

During the ceremony, five graduates were hooded by family members who also are SIU School of Dental Medicine alumni. The graduates were Dr. Christopher Balda, Dr. Graham Beard, Dr. Kellen Bosma, Dr. Anthony Elger and Dr. Kendall Schumacher.

Student Speaker Dr. Tyler Crews, who was chosen by his peers to deliver remarks, spoke of the roller coaster ride he and his fellow graduates had experienced during the last four years.

"We've all come a long way and we should be proud of our accomplishment," he said. "We should be very proud today and always."

Dr. Dean W. Drake, the SIU School of Dental Medicine Alumni Council president and a 1975 graduate of the Alton dental school's inaugural class, delivered closing remarks. He welcomed the students into the profession and showed them a photo from the first years of the school's existence. The picture showed one student conducting an exam on another student with a third student holding a flashlight over the other two. He explained the proper operatory lighting had not arrived.

Thirty-eight years later, he described the SIU dental school as "among the finest our nation has to offer" and described the institution as "the tie that binds us." He encouraged the students to stay in touch with their alma mater and turning on a flashlight, said: "Shine the light for those students who follow in your footsteps."

Despite the inclement weather from the night before, the ceremony drew an audience of roughly 850 proud family members and friends. A reception followed the ceremony in the Goshen Lounge.

IERC Study Affirms Community College Pathway to Bachelor's Completion

The Illinois Education Research Council released a study today showing that there does not appear to be a disadvantage against community college students transferring to 4-year institutions with regards to bachelor's degree completion.

The study indicated 85 percent of community college transfers earned a bachelor's degree within five academic years of transitioning to a 4-year institution. Comparatively, rising four-year juniors completed at a rate of 86 percent during the same time period.

"Based on our findings, there is no evidence to support the notion that a significant community college penalty exists," said Eric Lichtenberger, associate director for research at the IERC and assistant research professor at SIUE. "Community college transfer students were just as likely to complete a bachelor's degree as 4-year college juniors when matching on key factors."

Lichtenberger said past studies have garnered mixed results; some indicating a clear community college penalty exists, while others showing no support for the claim.

"We analyzed bachelor's degree completion after transfer, while simultaneously controlling for student background characteristics, as well as high school and college contexts," he said. "In other words, community college transfer students were matched to similar rising four-year college juniors from the same high schools who attended similarly selective four-year colleges."

"After making sure the groups were similar on key characteristics, the difference in the rate of degree completion was non-significant."

From a policy perspective, the study indicated policy makers should:

• Continue developing baseline information about transfer performance as the state's longitudinal data system is fully implemented
• Set goals for institutional performance related to community college to 4-year transfer rates
• Help community college transfer students face their financial aid future by developing information and incentives that fully span their undergraduate enrollment from a community college to a 4-year institution.

The study starts with 23,676 Illinois high school graduates from the class of 2003 who went to college and nationally tracks bachelor's degree completion until the end of 2010.

For more information, contact Lichtenberger, the author of the report, (618) 650-2840 or (866) 799-4372. A complete copy of the report is available at siue.edu/ierc/publications/index.shtml

First SIUE Students Set to Visit Cuba's University of Havana

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville takes its first step in the educational agreement between SIU and the University of Havana (UH) in Cuba during June. SIUE College of Arts and Sciences Associate Deans Larry LaFond, faculty member with expertise in linguistics, and Wendy Shaw, faculty member who focuses on social geography, will lead a group of four students to Havana.

In addition to the students who are able to visit Cuba, 17 students will take a tandem course online. All 21 students will come together as part of the course to share what they have learned.

Along with two days of lectures at UH and a meeting with the University Students Federation, SIUE students will study interrelated aspects of Cuban culture and history. Various fieldwork sites will be visited including:

• Old Havana and the Morro Castle
• The Museum of the Revolution and the Community Project of the Office of the Historian in San Isidro
• The town of Regia, the Church of the Black Virgin, and the Morro Fortress
• The Cabilda Quisicuaba to learn about Cuba's Afro-syncretic religions
• The central city of Matanzas, the Pharmacy Museum, and hand-made book publishers
• Santa Clara, explore Revolutionary War memorabilia, and the Che Memorial

CAS Dean Aldemaro Romero's goal is to demonstrate that a Midwestern university with no apparent connection to Cuba can create a variety of diverse programs to develop academic diplomacy by establishing connections both academically and culturally. Romero has worked vigorously on the project since 2009 to define the cooperative relationship between the universities.

This interdisciplinary studies class allows students to visit Cuba for 10 days and then return to SIUE to complete the course. Romero believes the alliance between the universities will give students a broader world perspective in an ever-growing global economy, while providing faculty with opportunities for the development of new academic initiatives.

The initiative between the University of Havana and SIUE is only the second in the nation - the first being with Harvard University.

SIUE Mourns Loss of William Dupree

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville community is mourning the death of undergraduate student William Aaron Dupree, who lost his life in a domestic dispute on Sunday, May 26 in St. Louis.

The 32-year-old Dupree was a semester away from graduating from SIUE with a bachelor's in criminal justice from the College of Arts and Sciences. He was a U.S Army veteran and most recently worked for the St. Louis County Department of Corrections as a correctional officer.

Dupree is survived by his parents, Patricia and Billy Adams; fiancée Paulette McCoy; grandfather Robert Brown; and siblings Telly Dupree and Beatrice J. Adams. A complete obituary is available in The Alton Telegraph.

Visitation will be Friday, May 31 from 4-7 p.m. at Harrison Funeral Chapel in Alton. Visitation will continue Saturday, June 1 from 9 a.m. until the 10 a.m. service at Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church. Interment services will be at Upper Alton Cemetery.

Counseling services are available to students by calling 650-5666 or visiting the Counseling Health Services Office in the Student Success Center lower level adjacent to the Morris University Center.

Alumna finds SIUE connection in Kazakhstan

Making connections is a vital part of recruiting graduate and international students to SIUE, and sometimes these connections occur even before a student sets foot on campus. Zhanna Korneva, an incoming economics and finance graduate student and winner of an SIUE Competitive Graduate Award, has had the benefit of learning about SIUE from an international alumna, Olessya Voblikova, while in Kazakhstan. In their conversation about their educational experiences, choices and goals, Zhanna and Olessya found that they shared a common connection with Sandra Tamari, international admissions counselor and recruiter in SIUE's Office of International Student and Scholar Services.

Olessya attended SIUE during spring 2008, and she thoroughly enjoyed her experience at the University studying linguistics. She currently works at EducationUSA in Almaty, Kazakhstan, where she advises students who are planning to attend a U.S. college or university.

Zhanna received several admission offers from U.S. universities but was confused about which school to choose. She went to EducationUSA for advice in preparing for her U.S. education, and Olessya was her advisor. Going into the session, the two women did not know anything about one another's educational background. When Zhanna told of her admission to SIUE, Olessya was eager to share her positive experience at the University and her connection with Sandra.

Sandra recruited Olessya and assisted with her transition to SIUE by providing advice on housing, budgeting, what to pack and what to expect when she arrived in Edwardsville. Sandra visited Olessya on her first night at her apartment at Cougar Village and made sure she was feeling secure and welcome. That personal touch was the start of a great friendship. Sandra and Olessya have remained in contact over the years.

Likewise, Sandra has been available to Zhanna to answer her questions and ensure that her transition to SIUE is as seamless as possible. Both women found that their interaction with Sandra was extremely helpful and made it easy for Zhanna to choose SIUE.

Sandra makes hundreds of connections to help recruit new students. She advises students on selecting the right program, how to apply, provides updates on their applications, scholarship information and more. Sandra additionally welcomes all the new international students during orientation and provides them with assistance on housing, budgeting and transportation.

Zhanna begins her master's program at SIUE in fall 2013, and while she was already excited to attend an American university, she is even more enthusiastic to meet Sandra and experience SIUE firsthand.

Olessya's positive experiences and Zhanna's excitement about her education attest that SIUE has no ordinary international reputation. SIUE international students benefit from learning in an environment that encourages them to be confident, to be involved in the community and campus, and to gain a unique cultural experience that they can take with them in their future professional and academic endeavors.

Jyoti Dharna, a native of Nairobi, Kenya, who graduated from SIUE in 2004, gave credit to the University for helping her develop both professionally and individually.

"My education fully prepared me for a successful career," said Jyoti. "As a student, I was comfortable enough to have a voice."

Like Jyoti and Olessya, Zhanna has been accepted to SIUE to learn, grow, share her unique cultural perspective, and begin making the connections that foster academic and personal success.

If you are interested in making these connections and fostering your success, feel free to contact Sandra Tamari at satamar@siue.edu to start your journey at SIUE.

SIUE Team Places First at ACG Cup Regional Competition

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Business graduate students won first place in the 2013 Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Mid-America Corporate Growth Conference. The competition was held May 14 at the Chase Park Plaza.

The SIUE team was comprised of School of Business graduate students Stan Blustein, Anne Peterson, Eric Robert and Kirin Satwani. The students won a St. Louis regional competition in April against teams from Washington University, St. Louis University, and the University of Missouri - St. Louis. That victory secured a $5,000 cash prize and ACG memberships. The team then advanced to the regional competition where they beat teams from the University of Missouri - Kansas City and the University of Nebraska - Lincoln.

Organized as a case study competition, the ACG Cup provides business students with learning experience in mergers, acquisitions, investment banking, financial advisory and private equity. The case studies afford those in the competition a chance to interact and work with professionals from within the ACG community.

Robert, an MBA student from Red Bud, said he is proud of the team and believes the experience will benefit their careers. "The skills we refined in the ACG Cup will make us better in the workplace and as prospective employees," he said.

Serving as one of the faculty advisors was SIUE Assistant Professor of Economics and Finance Shrikant Jategaonkar. "This competition is an excellent setting for our students to apply the analytical and communication skills they acquire in school," he said. "Additionally, making a successful presentation in front of corporate executives is a great confidence booster and networking experience."

According to Robert, a major contributing factor to their success was the support they received from the School of Business faculty and staff. "The personal support of our faculty advisors, Dr. Rakesh Bharati and Dr. Jategaonkar, as well as SIUE School of Business Dean Gary Giamartino and Associate Dean Janice Joplin, was invaluable.

"We were very proud to represent SIUE at the regional level after beating the other top-tier business schools in the St. Louis-based competition. There's a deep satisfaction in knowing that SIUE's Business School can prevail over programs throughout the country."

About Association for Corporate Growth

ACG's 14,500 members include professionals from private equity firms, corporations and lenders that invest in middle-market companies, as well as from law, accounting, investment banking and other firms that provide advisory services. Founded in 1954, ACG is a global organization with 58 chapters. Learn more at www.acg.org. ACG drives middle market growth. Learn how at www.middlemarketgrowth.org.

About the SIUE School of Business

The SIUE School of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International, representing the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide. The Princeton Review lists SIUE as one of the top 296 business schools in the U.S. and abroad for the seventh consecutive year. Undergraduate and graduate degrees are offered in accounting, computer management and information systems, economics, finance, management and marketing. More than 23,000 alumni have earned degrees from the SIUE School of Business. For more information, visit the SIUE School of Business.

Photo Cutline: SIUE School of Business graduate captured the first place award at the ACG Cup Regional Competition. Pictured (left to right): Eric Robert, Anne Peterson, Kirin Satwani and Stan Blustein.

SIUE School of Education Program Leadership Team Visits China

Representatives from the SIUE School of Education traveled to Lanzhou, China on the invitation of the Director-General of the Education Department of Gansu Provincial Government and the President of Northwest Normal University (NWNU) in Lanzhou, China. The purpose of the trip was to explore areas of partnership between the School of Education and institutions in China.

In March of 2012, the School of Education signed a letter of engagement with NWNU. With Dean Bette Bergeron's approval and under the leadership of Associate Dean Mary Weishaar, faculty members Yuliang Liu and Huaibo Xin, and Student Services Director Gretchen Fricke, a pilot project for the International Training Program in Pedagogy was implemented. This program brought four faculty members from NWNU to the SIUE School of Education during the fall 2012 semester to focus on enhancing their pedagogical practices and learning more about the American system of higher education. Evaluation data indicated that the program was very successful.

As a result of this success, the Program Leadership Team Members and Dean Bergeron, with support from SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe, visited NWNU from May 5-14, 2013. Discussions were held with hosts from Northwest Normal University and administrators from Gansu Province. The travel included official meetings with university and provincial ministers, meetings with groups of students, a discussion on American education with selected middle and secondary teachers, and several cultural events.

The overall goals included:

• Provide a knowledge base of SIUE and School of Education programs for NWNU students
• Discuss and determine mutual academic needs and interests for NWNU, Gansu Province and SIUE
• Define general parameters of a potential Memorandum of Understanding between NWNU and SIUE
• Orient new visiting faculty from NWNU for their upcoming participation in the SIUE International Training Program in Pedagogy for fall 2013 semester
• Develop first-hand understanding of the culture of northwest China and potential living conditions for prospective SIUE students and faculty

Eight faculty members from NWNU will be joining the School of Education for the fall 2013 semester to participate in the International Training Program in Pedagogy. Find out more about the School of Education's international activities.

Photo(L to R): Xiaodong Zhang, Director for the Division of International Cooperation and Exchanges in Gansu Province; Gretchen Fricke, School of Education Director of Student Services; Mary Weishaar, School of Education Associate Dean; Jiayi Wang, Director-General, Education Department of Gansu Provincial Government; Bette Bergeron, School of Education Dean; Ping Wang, Deputy-Director General, Gansu Provincial Education Department; Huaibo Xin, School of Education Assistant Professor; Yuliang Liu, School of Education Professor

Illinois Commission on Access to Justice to Hold Listening Conference at SIUE

The Illinois Supreme Court will present an Access to Justice Listening Conference on Wednesday June 5 at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. In association with the SIU Carbondale School of Law, the Commission on Access to Justice Listening Conference for the Fifth Appellate District will be held from 1:30-4 p.m. in Founder's Hall, room 2207.

In attendance will be Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride, Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier and members of the Court's Commission on Access to Justice.

The Illinois Coalition for Equal Justice developed the idea for the Commission, Chief Justice Kilbride said at a recent appearance at Northern Illinois University. The Commission's goal is to create ways to improve access to the justice system throughout the state, especially for the poor.

"This presentation should be of interest to all individuals, whether students, faculty, the legal community or interested members of the general community," said P. Ann Dirks-Linhorst, associate professor of sociology and criminal justice studies in the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences. "Justice is such an important concept that we are thrilled to participate in this discussion and certainly enthusiastic to collaborate with the SIU School of Law."

The Illinois Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission was formed in 2012 in an effort to remove barriers and increase the ease of interacting with courts by those who can't afford lawyers. It is comprised of 11 individuals, seven of whom are appointed by the Supreme Court. Jeffrey Coleman, a partner at the Chicago firm of Jenner & Block, chairs the commission. He has been a leader in delivering legal services to the under-represented.

The SIUE Listening Conference is one of a series being held across the state with each focusing on a particular appellate district. Previous conferences were held at NIU and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. After SIUE, the next conference is slated for Thursday, June 13 at The John Marshall Law School in Chicago.

Interested individuals may RSVP to atjcommission@court.state.il.us.

Eddie the Cougar Visits Edward Jones' Save for Education Day

SIUE's Eddie the Cougar appeared at Edward Jones' headquarters in St. Louis today to highlight the firm's "Save for Education Day" promotion. In an effort to raise awareness for 529 College Savings Plans, Edward Jones branches across the country recognized May 29 as "Save for Education Day." The firm-wide holiday is derived from the name of the popular college saving tool.

To remind communities about the importance of setting education savings goals, financial advisors hosted a "529 Day" at their respective branches and dressed in university attire from their favorite colleges or alma maters. Families were encouraged to stop by their local branches to learn more about planning for their children's educational future.

Photos: SIUE alums Emily Taul and Matt Armentrout with Eddie the Cougar at Edward Jones.

SIUE University Museum Needs Your Knitting Projects

Attention all artists, knitters and crochet-ers, and anyone with an interest in having their work on display! In response to International Knit in Public Week from June 8-16, the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville University Museum is organizing a yarn bomb.

During a yarn bomb, also known as an art bomb, artists from across the region and around the world, are asked to contribute their knitted and crocheted creations. The purpose is to promote art awareness and have some fun. The knitted and crocheted pieces will be draped over other artwork, including statues, paintings, sculptures and other media, as well as other stationary objects across campus. Nothing will be immune from being covered, including trees, benches, tables, poles.

The project is part of an awareness generating initiative, said Noelle Norris, a graduate student in English who works at the Museum. The Museum is asking members of the campus and surrounding communities to take the event a step further and continue knitting and contributing their knitted pieces through October.

"We would like this to be an international experience," said Eric Barnett, University Museum director. "We're searching for knitted and crocheted pieces from around the world."

All the work will be displayed on the SIUE campus during the Midwest Artists Art Symposium, which will take place October 17. Barnett and Norris said they hope to have all submitted pieces for the purpose of installation no later than October 12. Items can be submitted to the University Museum, Campus Box 1150, Edwardsville, IL 62026. For more information, contact the Museum at (618) 650-2996.

Asian, European and Canadian University Reps Visit SIUE

View the video.

Photo: SIUE Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Ann Boyle welcomes NAFSA attendees to campus.

Photo: Representatives from international universities visited the SIUE campus Tuesday.

Representatives of 15 universities from Asia, Europe and Canada toured Southern Illinois University Edwardsville today and talked with administrators about prospective agreements between institutions.

The visitors are attending the Association of International Educators (NAFSA) meeting, which is being held in St. Louis. Individuals from Sweden, Russia, France, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Japan, SPAIN and Canada learned more about the SIU system and SIUE.

"It's so exciting to have a wide array of countries represented on our campus," said Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Ann Boyle. "We have a great opportunity to showcase our beautiful campus."

Boyle, who extended a welcome to the guests on behalf of SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe, talked about the importance of building a University of internationally trained students. "We are growing our international footprint and enhancing the educational experience for all of our students," she said to the audience.

Information was made available about the University's variety of programs through the College of Arts and Sciences, and the schools of Business, Education, Engineering, Dental Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy, as well as the Graduate School.

The visitors interacted with the campus community during a morning breakfast, a walking campus tour, a discussion with leaders and faculty members, and a lunch.

"Already we've had discussions about cooperative, direct exchange and research programs, as well as larger numbers of students coming to us as part of 2+2 programs," said Ron Schaefer, SIUE's director of the Center for International Programs.

Boyle referenced a plan that SIUE School of Engineering Dean Hasan Sevim and Schaefer authored five years ago with the assistance of an International Task Force comprised of SIUE faculty members. That plan has been taken off the shelf under the new chancellor's directive to embrace strategic growth. The proposal is to increase SIUE's current total of approximately 300 international students to 800-1,000.

Currently, the University has 2+2 international programs in place with Turkey through the SIUE School of Engineering, as well as study abroad opportunities across the world. Under Furst-Bowe's chancellorship, the plan is to increase SIUE's international presence and offer more collaborative international programs.

SIUE Healthcare Summer Camp to Begin June 16

The healthcare professional schools at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville want to attract more minorities into their respective careers. In an effort to accomplish this goal, the SIUE Healthcare Diversity Summer Camp will be held from Sunday, June 16-Friday, June 21 on the University's campus.

"We recognize the value of increasing the diversity in our student body," said Dr. Lakesha Butler, clinical associate professor in the School of Pharmacy. "Considering the low number of minority students who apply to SIUE professional healthcare programs, we have developed a one-week summer camp for high school juniors and seniors who have an interest in pursuing a future career in healthcare."

Current coordinator of the summer diversity experience, Butler was instrumental in starting the camp in 2009. The camp began as a three-day, non-residential pharmacy only activity that has evolved into a six-day, inter-professional program under her leadership.

This year, the free camp is taking a different spin by coordinating with the School of Dental Medicine and the School of Nursing. The focus is to expose students to careers in healthcare offered at SIUE, said Butler, who was interested in expanding inter-professional collaborations across the university.

Also instrumental in organizing this year's SIUE Healthcare Diversity Summer Camp are Dr. Cornell Thomas, associate dean of student affairs at the SIUE School of Dental Medicine, and Cheryl Jackson, instructor in the SIUE School of Nursing.

U.S. News & World Report rates dental medicine, nursing and pharmacy, in that order, as the top three among its "100 Best Jobs" ranking. The criteria include occupations that offer a mosaic of employment opportunity, good salary, manageable work-life balance and job security.

"We targeted minority students, because we recognize the low minority numbers and the need for more diversity," said Butler. "We also want to help prepare minority students to get to the finish line. We see minority students apply, but they're not as competitive. Hopefully, this camp will provide them with the tools to make them more competitive, especially with the addition this year of an ACT Crash Course."

The response to the 20 slots for the Healthcare Diversity Summer Camp was overwhelming this year, according to Butler. Participants have been selected for the program.

Some speakers and activities on the six-day program include:

• Dr. Gireesh Gupchup, School of Pharmacy dean

• Dr. Venessa Brown, associate provost for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion

• Kelly Brooks, coordinator in SIUE Admissions

• Dr. Anne Perry, interim dean of the School of Nursing

• Careers in Nursing/Advanced Practice

• Anatomy and Physiology Experience (Dental)

• Laboratory Exercise (Dental)

• Introduction to School of Pharmacy/Admission Requirements

• Advanced Pharmacy Practice Lab

• Community Pharmacy Site Visits

• ACT Crash Course

Photo Information: Pictured above is Dr. Lakesha Butler, clinical associate professor in the School of Pharmacy.

SIUE Alum Named Greenview School District Superintendent

The State Journal Register in Springfield reported last week that the Greenview School District has named SIUE alum Janice Kunz as its next school superintendent. Kunz assumes her new duties July 1.

Kunz earned bachelor's and master's degrees in elementary education from the SIUE School of Education in 1985 and 1995, respectively. She achieved a doctorate in educational leadership from Saint Louis University.

Kunz has been principal at Reed-Custer Primary School in Custer Park (Will County) since 2005. Previously, Kunz was principal at Virden Elementary School.

She replaces Gary DePatis, who is leaving Greenview after nine years to become superintendent of the Pekin High School District.

Time Management was Focus of SIUE Alumni Speaker Series

Two Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumni returned to their alma mater last week to discuss successful time management techniques.

A group of students, staff and faculty members, alumni and members of the outside community attended the event. Brian Henry, a 1995 mass communications graduate and senior director of public affairs for Express Scripts in St. Louis, and Zach Schaefer, assistant professor of speech communication at SIUE led the event, which was sponsored by the SIUE Alumni Association and SIUE Educational Outreach.

The group collectively listed prioritization, managing emails, dealing with other people's emergencies, shifting focus and helping others get focused as the top time management challenges they face. Another topic was intent - what individuals say they want, versus behavior - what they actually want.

Henry and Schaefer presented a PowerPoint presentation that referenced a 2008 article from the Boston Globe stating that when identifying what people value most between the following categories: wealth, marriage, career and free time-the majority of respondents, 68 percent, chose free time.

"All of us are wired for inattention and inertia," Henry said. "It's important to consider time management isn't just about your time. It's about that shared time-time with family, friends and colleagues.

"The focus of this program today is to help you reframe the way you think about time; discuss useful strategies, identify your top time management obstacles and develop an action plan."

Schaefer added, "When you stay focused it requires you to make conscious decisions, which means you manage yourself and your time much more effectively."

Some means of incorporating time management tactics included:

• Adopting time management applications on wireless phones and computers to identify how time currently is being used
• Breaking larger projects into manageable pieces and tackling them one task at a time
• Picking up the telephone and calling people if more than two emails are exchanged
• Identifying times of greatest productivity in order to determine when is the best time to take on projects that require the most focus and attention.

The event was free for SIUE students and $10 for other attendees. The Alumni Association and Educational Outreach host monthly Speaker Series events on myriad topics aimed at engaging students, alumni, and the campus and outside communities.

For more information, contact the Alumni Association, (618) 650-2760, or siuealumni@siue.edu, or visit siue.edu/alumni.

SIUE's La'Derrick Ward Earns Spot at NCAA National Championship

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville track and field program began competition on Thursday at the NCAA Division I West Preliminaries in Austin, Texas, and sophomore La'Derrick Ward stole the show with a dominant performance in the men's long jump.

Ward qualified for final round of NCAA National Championships with a mark of 25 feet, 8.25 inches (7.83m) to finish second overall in the long jump. The top 12 finishers punched their ticket for the national finals from June 5-8 in Eugene, Ore.

"It was an outstanding performance," Head Coach Kareem Jackson said. "For La'Derrick to have the opportunity to compete at nationals says a lot about his development over the last two years. He's definitely put in the work."

Ward made his qualifying mark on his final jump of the meet. After fouling on his first two attempts, he not only set a personal best but also broke his own school record in the event.

"Once he made that jump, it raised everyone else's level of competition," Jackson said. "We've been working for the last four years to get to this point and to have someone qualify in our first year at this level is very impressive."

Jackson also extended his appreciation to Dr. Bradley Hewitt, director of Athletics, who called to congratulate Ward and the entire program on their accomplishments.

"He was very excited," Jackson said. "It's great to have your leader excited about the team's accomplishments. I could hear how pleased and proud of he was of the performance."

Also representing SIUE at the meet on Thursday were Ahmad Evans, Darius Smith, Aftan Noon, Colleen McDonough, and Elizabeth Hampl.

Evans and Smith finished 37th and 44th, respectively, in the men's 100 meters. Evans finished in a time of 10.61 while Smith posted a time of 10.67.

Noon competed in the women's 800 meters and 1,500 meters. She finished 45th in the 800 with a time of 2:15.27, and was 33rd in the 1,500 with a finish of 4:31.92.

McDonough and Hampl finished 29th and 32nd, respectively, in the women's hammer throw. McDonough was two inches off her own school record with a toss of 187-7, while Hampl posted a mark of 186-1.

"All of our athletes competed well," Jackson said. "I can't tell you how many people have come up to us at this meet asking about SIUE and our program. It's been a great experience."

The three-day meet continues Friday at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin. A pair of Cougar athletes will be competing, as Jatavia Wright will run in the women's 100 meter hurdles at 5 p.m. before Evans competes in the men's 200 meters at 8:25 p.m.

SIUE Faculty, Staff Presenting at Michigan STEM Conference in June

"Advancing the STEM Agenda," a conference sponsored by the American Society for Quality (ASQ) that will focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics in education, will take place June 3-4 at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Mich.

A number of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville faculty and staff members will take part in the program. A paper titled "Creating a Foundation for Engineering Education in Five K-12 Rural School Districts" will be presented by faculty members:

• Dr. Gary Mayer, assistant professor of computer science
• Dr. Allison Fahsl, associate professor of special education and communications disorders, and chair of that department
• Dr. Stephen Marlette, associate professor of curriculum and instruction through the School of Education and affiliate with the SIUE Center for STEM Research, Education and Outreach
• Georgia Bracey, research associate from the STEM Center.

Other SIUE presenters will include Adam Weyhaupt, associate professor and chair of the SIUE Department of Mathematics and Statistics, on his paper with local collaborators titled, "Intel Math Connections: A Three-Year Study of the Impact of a Math-Based Program on Elementary Teachers."

Bracey, Marlette, SIUE graduate student Molly Brooks and SIUE STEM Center Director Sharon Lockewill present their paper titled, "Teachers 'n Training: Building Formal STEM Teaching Efficacy through Informal Science Teaching Experience." The Teachers 'n Training (TNT) program was made possible thanks to funding from The Boeing Co.

The two-day event will feature keynote speakers, including:

• Paul D. Plotkowki, the founding dean of the Seymour and Ester Padnos College of Engineering and Computing at Grand Valley State
• Reginald McGregor, manager of Engineering Employee Development R&T Strategy at Rolls-Royce Corporation in Indianapolis
• Carrie Houtman, regulatory services leader for Michigan and Minnesota at The Dow Chemical Company
• Glenn Walters, deputy cabinet secretary for the New Mexico Higher Education Department.

The event will highlight promising practices that increase high school students' interest in STEM disciplines and prepare them to pursue STEM majors in college, as well as improve recruitment and retention efforts, and provide mentorship opportunities to bring more scientists and engineers into the workforce. Some of the papers featured at the conference were partially funded by the National Science Foundation. SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe, who has expressed her unwavering commitment to STEM initiatives, is a member of the conference planning committee.

Time Management was Focus of Recent Alumni Speaker Series

Two Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumni returned to their alma mater Monday to discuss successful time management techniques.

A group of students, staff and faculty members, alumni and members of the outside community attended the event. Brian Henry, a 1995 mass communications graduate and senior director of public affairs for Express Scripts in St. Louis, and Zach Schaefer, assistant professor of speech communication at SIUE led the event, which was sponsored by the SIUE Alumni Association and SIUE Educational Outreach.

The group collectively listed prioritization, managing emails, dealing with other people's emergencies, shifting focus and helping others get focused as the top time management challenges they face. Another topic was intent - what individuals say they want, versus behavior - what they actually want.

Henry and Schaefer presented a PowerPoint presentation that referenced a 2008 article from the Boston Globe stating that when identifying what people value most between the following categories: wealth, marriage, career and free time-the majority of respondents, 68 percent, chose free time.

"All of us are wired for inattention and inertia," Henry said. "It's important to consider time management isn't just about your time. It's about that shared time-time with family, friends and colleagues.

"The focus of this program today is to help you reframe the way you think about time; discuss useful strategies, identify your top time management obstacles and develop an action plan."

Schaefer added, "When you stay focused it requires you to make conscious decisions, which means you manage yourself and your time much more effectively."

Some means of incorporating time management tactics included:

• Adopting time management applications on wireless phones and computers to identify how time currently is being used
• Breaking larger projects into manageable pieces and tackling them one task at a time
• Picking up the telephone and calling people if more than two emails are exchanged
• Identifying times of greatest productivity in order to determine when is the best time to take on projects that require the most focus and attention.

The event was free for SIUE students and $10 for other attendees. The Alumni Association and Educational Outreach host monthly Speaker Series events on myriad topics aimed at engaging students, alumni, and the campus and outside communities.

For more information, contact the Alumni Association, (618) 650-2760, or siuealumni@siue.edu, or visit siue.edu/alumni.

The Beat, Writing and Dance Live on Through SIUE Co-Sponsored Event

Music, literary and art lovers gathered Tuesday night for an annual event in honor of three legendary figures who impacted the world with their brilliance and creativity. The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville English Department and the Eugene B. Redmond (EBR) Writers Club of East St. Louis co-sponsored the "Da-Dum-Dun" multi-arts festival at the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus.

Dr. Redmond, namesake of the EBR Writers Club and SIUE English Department emeritus professor, began the celebration to pay homage to musician Miles Davis, author Music, literary and art lovers gathered Tuesday night for an annual event in honor of three legendary figures who impacted the world with their brilliance and creativity. The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville English Department and the Eugene B. Redmond (EBR) Writers Club of East St. Louis co-sponsored the "Da-Dum-Dun" multi-arts festival at the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus.

Dr. Redmond, namesake of the EBR Writers Club and SIUE English Department emeritus professor, began the celebration to pay homage to musician Miles Davis, author Henry Lee Dumas and anthropologist-choreographer-dancer Katherine Dunham.

The commemoration, which included the reading of kwansaba poems and prose, music and dance, also was combined with a book signing for Drumvoices Revue authors.

The program included Sunshine Lee's East St. Louis Community Dance Ensemble and the world renowned Bosman Twins of East St. Louis. Poets who performed included Michael Castro, Roscoe "Ros" Crenshaw, Susan "Spit-Fire" Lively, Jaye P. Willis, EBR Writers Club President Darlene Roy and East St. Louis poet laureate Redmond.

Drumvoices Revue is a literary-cultural journal founded by Redmond and co-published by the Writers Club and SIUE.

The EBR Writers Club was chartered in 1986 by Sherman L. Fowler, Roy and Redmond. The club meets twice monthly. The Club created the literary device now widely known as the kwansaba. Both the name and the principles of the poetic device come from Kwanzaa, the seven-day African-American cultural holiday created by Dr. Maulana Karenga. A kwansaba is a seven-line poem with seven words on each line and no word containing more than seven letters.

The Club's trustees are Maya Angelou, Amiri Baraka, Avery Brooks, Haki R. Madhubuti, Walter Mosley, Quincy Troupe, Jerry Ward Jr. and Lena J. Weathers. For more information about the Club and Redmond, visit eugenebredmond.com, email eredmon@siue.edu or call (618) 650-3991.

A sample of poems read on Tuesday night included:

Literary Estate

(Considering Eugene B. Redmond, literary executor of Henry Dumas' Literary Estate & his widow, Loretta Ponton Dumas)

With Loretta's demure nod, strands of kefs,

sabas, praise songs and sagas were pulled

from Dumas' sweet homes in Africa, Arkansas,

East St. Louis or Harlem and keenly

woven by Redmond into Echo Tree, Goodbye

Sweet Water, Knees of a Natural Man;

gave birth to Morrison's famed title, Beloved.

Darlene Roy © April 24, 2013

The Great Katherine

Élan vital* emerged as genius cracked the

collar of this once common house Kat,

her grand plié spiced with Vodun rhythm,

a reality reborn through desire, support,

incur-rage-meant and God's endurin' gift. Earthly

spirit swaying to Carib song, dancing at

Habitation Leclerc**, inhalin' mystery of the world.

*vital force

**Mrs. Dunham's home in Haiti

Jaye P. Willis © May 21, 2013

Photo Information :

On program were Dr. Eugene B. Redmond, SIUE English Department emeritus professor; and Darlene Roy, EBR Writers Club president.

Sunshine Lee's East St. Louis Community Dance Ensemble added the beat and dance to the multi-arts festival.

Official SIUE Seal

After a lengthy process involving a wide variety of SIUE community members, we now have an official University seal. You will start to see the seal involved in the commencement communications and ceremonies beginning with the August ceremony.

The SIUE seal prominently features a torch, the symbol of both enlightenment and knowledge. Interlocking laurel leaves surrounding the torch are a time-honored symbol of education. The year of SIUE's founding (1957) is depicted within the banner enveloping the seal. The stars below the banner represent SIUE's three campuses- The Edwardsville campus, the School of Dental Medicine in Alton and the East St. Louis Center.

The process was all current and former members of the SIUE community were invited to submit designs. A committee comprised of various SIUE representatives narrowed the choices to the top four. Members of our community were invited to comment and provide feedback on each of the designs. Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe selected the final design. It was unveiled at her installation ceremony in mid-April.

SIUE alumna and current University Marketing and Communications employee Carol Dappert created the winning design.

A university seal represents the heart of a university's formal identity. It is one of the more important symbols for a university, and is different from the logo and wordmarks. Because of its significance, use of the seal will be restricted to preserve its integrity.

The SIUE seal will be used primarily to signify the importance of special occasions and historical events. It may generally be used on the following items:

• Certificates
• Ceremonial communications
• Formal invitations of a ceremonial or historical nature
• Awards

The seal and guidelines for its use will be added to the Wordmark and Logo Requirements document

Please contact University Marketing and Communications at extension 3600 or marketing@siue.edu if you would like to consider using the seal on items such as those listed above.

SIUE STEM Center Forms Online Relationships to Advance Initiatives

Recognizing the need to collaborate with other centers dedicated to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education around the world, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville STEM Center Director Sharon Locke made a decision last year.

She enlisted the support of her staff, and using Batchgeo, a free-online tool for mapping lists of addresses, they made their center's location known to the world. Only a year after implementing the map, more than 145 other STEM centers from across the globe have identified their locations. They are beginning to work together to avoid duplicating efforts and reinventing the wheel, especially when it comes to identifying policies and procedures.

"So far the data is mostly centered on the U.S. for now," said Locke who hopes to promote its existence to draw more global interaction. "

The interactive map includes a list of centers with contact information and their exact locations for reference purposes. The site also includes direct links to STEM Center websites.

"This tool allows other STEM Centers to easily identify who in their area is doing work, so they can collaborate," Locke said. "It enables teachers to see resources in their communities. It also provides funders and policy makers the ability to see geographic hot spots or holes in access to resources. As a result, they can better direct resources to meet specific community needs."

The list is available at http://stemideas.org/national_community/. For more information, or to add a center to the list, contact (618) 650-3065 or email STEMCenter@siue.edu.

SIUE Emergency Management Reminder: Always be Prepared for Weather

When severe weather hits, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Director of Emergency Management and Safety David McDonald wants area residents to be prepared.

"You never know when a disaster will occur, but there are steps that you can take to be prepared," said McDonald.

McDonald suggested individuals check out emergency preparedness websites for helpful readiness tips, such as the state of Illinois' two sites, including Ready Illinois and Ready.gov, which is supported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA.)

Additionally, FEMA offers an online readiness guide titled, "Are You Ready." The guide provides important tips about building basic disaster supply kids, maintaining those kits and storing them. The kits should include the following:

• At least one gallon of water per person for at least three days to be used for drinking and sanitation
• At least a three-day supply of non-perishable food; a battery powered or hand-crank radio and a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio
• A flashlight with extra batteries, as well as a standard first-aid kit, a whistle to signal for help and a dust mask for each person to help filter contaminated air
• Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
• Moist packaged wipes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• A wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• A manual can opener for food
• Local maps and a cellular phone with chargers, an inverter or solar charger.

Other suggested items include having a ready supply of prescription medications and glasses when required, as well as infant formula and diapers, pet food and extra water, cash or traveler's checks and change. Sleeping bags, fire extinguishers, matches in a waterproof container and personal hygiene items also are recommended.

In October 2011, SIUE was named a StormReady® University by the NOAA National Weather Service for completing a set of rigorous warning criteria. The designation is given to institutions that institute early warning systems, such as SIUE's e-Lert text messaging system, which is open for faculty, staff, students and retirees with active SIUE email accounts.

"I really want to encourage anyone with an SIUE email account to sign up for e-Lert text messaging," said McDonald. "Not only does it provide you with information about emergency situations and inclement weather closures, but it also gives you advance notice so you can be prepared for what might be coming our way."

To be recognized as a StormReady® University, institutions must:

• Have an Emergency Operations Plan that includes severe weather procedures
• Have more than one way to receive severe weather forecasts and warnings
• Have several methods to warn students, employees and visitors of impending hazardous weather
• Have shelter areas designated and clearly marked
• Have an active preparedness program that educates students and employees of the dangers posed by hazardous weather.

The program is voluntary and provides communities with advice from a partnership of local National Weather Service forecast offices, as well as state and local emergency managers. It was started in 1999 with seven communities in Tulsa, Okla. Participating. It now includes 1,600 communities across the country.

Information about SIUE's many emergency management and safety initiatives can be found on the emergency management and safety website.

SIUE Alumni Assoc. Selects Skoblow for Great Teacher Award

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Alumni Association has selected Dr. Jeffrey Skoblow as its 2013 Great Teacher Award recipient. He is a professor of English Language and Literature in the College of Arts and Sciences. Skoblow is the 45 ^th SIUE faculty member to receive the honor since its inception in 1970.

"Jeffrey is a one of the most student-centered professors I've ever known," said Sharon James McGee associate professor and chair of the Department of English Language and Literature. "His passion for the material shows through in the classroom. He uses a variety of engaging assignments to help students experience literature, not just read it.

"As a mentor, he is concerned first and foremost with students' progress and success. He is every student's biggest cheerleader. He wants every student to do well and succeed both in school and in their lives beyond the University."

Skoblow joined the SIUE faculty in 1987. He has served as a Fulbright senior lecturer in American Literature and Culture at the University of Lleida, Spain, and at the University of Barcelona, Spain. He also was a visiting lecturer at UCLA.

"I'm truly honored and very touched to receive this award from the alumni," Skoblow said. "I generally have at least some sense of how my current students feel about their experiences in my classes. But to know that years later this experience still matters in a powerful and positive way is very gratifying to me."

He is the author of "Dooble Tongue: Scots, Burns, Contradiction"and "Paradise Dislocated: Morris, Politics, Art."

"Professor Skoblow has the rare quality of being both delicate and generous in his suggestions and advice to students, never imposing his views as ultimately the right ones," said one of Skoblow's nominators. "On the other hand, his bar of academic, teaching and ethical standards is always raised high. He is a dedicated teacher who is demanding, but at the same time cares about his students' progress, which makes him highly effective."

Photo: Jeffrey Skoblow.

NCERC's Trupia to be a Featured Speaker at International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo

Dr. Sabrina Trupia is director of biological research at The NCERC at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She is scheduled as a featured speaker at the 29 ^th annual International Fuel Ethanol Workshop and Expo. The event is set for America's Center in St. Louis from Monday, June 10 through Thursday, June 13. Read about it in Ethanol Producer Magazine. 

Fullerton is James R. Anderson Scholarship Recipient

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville University Housing has chosen Daniel Fullerton as the 2013-14 James R. Anderson Housing Scholarship recipient. The scholarship is given annually to an academically motivated student who has a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and has demonstrated civic leadership in community service and housing activities.

The Centralia native is studying chemistry with the intent of attending medical school to become an internal medicine physician. Fullerton has made an impact at SIUE as both a member of the Chemistry Club and a Golden Key Honors Society member.

"We had many qualified candidates," said Michael Schultz, director of University Housing. "But, in the words of Mrs. Karen Anderson, she believed that Daniel embodies many of the strong leadership qualities and community service dedication that Jim believed in."

The award was created in memory of Anderson, a former SIUE associate director of University Housing. Recipients are granted a $1,000/semester stipend.

"We are pleased to honor Jim in this fashion," said Schultz. "He believed not only in the value of education in and out of the classroom, but also highly valued family, community involvement and service."

For more information regarding the James R. Anderson Housing scholarship, please contact Schultz at (618) 650-4628 or mschult@siue.edu.-SIUE-

Photo : Daniel Fullerton

Lovejoy Library's High School Writers Contest Featured in Intelligencer

The Friends of Lovejoy Library received nearly 500 entries in its 20 ^th High School Writers Contest. The invitation to participate is distributed to juniors and seniors in 57 public and private high schools in 11 counties surrounding SIUE. Read more about the contest winners in the Intelligencer .

SIUE East St. Louis Charter High Graduates "Imagine" Their Future

A stirring message that rung of self-determination, courage and hope was given to graduating seniors of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School at their commencement ceremony. The graduation service was held on Friday at the Church of the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville. Twenty-seven seniors graduated to the cheers of about 500 family, friends and SIUE faculty, staff and administrators.

Dwan LaMar Prude, confidence coach and pastor of the Bride of Christ Church of God in Christ in East St. Louis, was the commencement speaker. Prude buoyed the graduates and the audience by insisting the students were well-equipped to rise above any mud or "light afflictions" that they may encounter.

Preceding Prude's battle cry for the graduating seniors was a host of moving accolades and acknowledgements.

The 2013 Charter High School class is one made up of innovative students, said Dr. Bette Bergeron, dean of the SIUE School of Education. "You are our class who proved to the community and the state that you are successful academically," Bergeron said. "You have been nationally recognized for robotics. You are noted for your music, dance, poetry and science, technology, engineering and math - STEM - education.

"You are our leaders and ground breakers," Bergeron said, "and I could not be more proud of you."

Others on the program and accompanying Bergeron on the platform were Dr. Patrick Hundley, SIUE vice chancellor of University Relations; Dr. Venessa Brown, SIUE associate provost for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion; Willis Young, assistant director of the SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School; and Staccy Lampkin, Charter High School counselor. Brown presided over the Hope Rope presentation, a new tradition for the Charter High School. All students held onto the same two long pieces of rope. The string was then cut, leaving each student with two pieces: one a "lifeline," and the other both a reminder of SIUE and to strive for excellence

Excellence also was mentioned earlier in the class valedictorian's speech. "We were challenged to do our best and we did more, said DeAndre Howard. "We do not want to achieve what is possible, but prove the impossible."

His words came on the heels of John Lennon's song "Imagine," sung by class salutatorian James Washington, who was received with great applause. Washington was accompanied on the piano by Johnathan Tate, Charter School STEM instructor.

Both seniors and students of the Charter High School have proved something different than what statistics and some "nay-sayers" report, said Veronica "Gina" Washington, CHS director.

"The Class of 2013 has a 100 percent graduation rate," Washington said.

The director also noted that recently received 2013 ACT scores show that 100 percent of the Charter High School juniors improved their scores.

"You are a child of God," Prude said, his voice reverberating around the circular church. "When you let your light shine it allows others to do the same."

The SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School provides underrepresented students with the opportunity to succeed through immersion in the fine arts and a rigorous curriculum that prepares them to be college-and career-ready. The mission statement of the high school is to positively impact the educational and economic lives of East St. Louis youth through individualized instruction in core academic subjects, exploration of career interests and aptitudes, and specific training in skilled trades, ensuring that graduates realize and attain their educational and career aspirations.

Photo Information:

SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School graduate Tyesha Daunielle Fisher enjoys the ceremony.

Participating in the graduation services were DeAndre Howard, class valedictorian; Veronica "Gina" Washington, Charter School director; D. Lamar Prude, commencement speaker; and Dr. Bette Bergeron, dean of the SIUE School of Education.

James Washington, class salutatorian, performs the song, "Imagine," by John Lennon.

SIUE Alumni Hall of Famer to Speak at SIU Dental Commencement

Dr. W.H. (Bert) Milligan, director of the Center for Continuing Education at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, will be the keynote speaker at the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine commencement at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 1.

Forty-six students will receive a doctor of dental medicine degree at the event in SIU Edwardsville's Meridian Ballroom in the Morris University Center. The ceremony will be seen live on siuetv. A reception for students, faculty and family members will follow the ceremony in the Goshen Lounge.

In light of his career contributions to dentistry, Dr. Milligan earned the SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame Award in October 2012. The SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame annually honors alumni who, through leadership, character and hard work, have made exceptional contributions in their chosen field.

After earning his Ph.D. in microbiology at the University of Pittsburgh, Milligan began his career as a faculty member at the SIU School of Dental Medicine prior to the enrollment of the first class of students in 1972. He helped develop the curriculum and played a role in the education of the first graduating classes.

In a unique twist, Milligan served as faculty member for four years before deciding to enter the dental school as a student. He obtained his D.M.D. in 1979.

Milligan spent eight years as a SIU SDM faculty member before returning to Pennsylvania. He spent 25 years practicing general dentistry, lecturing part-time and giving continuing education courses at Pitt's SDM. Before recently transitioning to his current position, Milligan had served as the Pitt SDM associate dean of Clinical Affairs.

In March 2013, Milligan received the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Presidential Citation, which is awarded to leaders who have demonstrated exceptional service to ADEA and the dental education community.

Dr. Milligan is a lifetime member of both the American Dental Association (ADA) and the ADEA. He serves as counselor for the ADEA's clinic administration section and chairs the Pennsylvania Dental Association's environmental issues committee. He is a fellow in the International College of Dentists and a consultant for the ADA Council of Dental Accreditation.

Milligan serves as an assistant professor in the departments of Diagnostic Sciences and Oral Biology at Pitt's SDM. He teaches microbiology, ethics and professionalism, practice management and pathobiology. He has been an advocate for interdisciplinary and inter-professional education, and patient care throughout his career.

Photo : D. W.H. (Bert) Milligan.

Construction Moving Forward on New Sim Lab for SIU Dental Students

Progress is continuing on the multi-million dollar building construction at Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine in Alton. The Multidisciplinary Dental Simulation Laboratory is expected to be completed and ready for occupancy by spring semester 2014, according to Dr. Bruce Rotter, dean of the SIU School of Dental Medicine.

"The time between the proposed end of construction on the building and the installation of the simulation units will put us on a tight schedule," said Rotter. "Nonetheless, we are excited to see our students learning in a more authentic clinical environment as soon as possible."

Construction on the $9.5 million facility began in October of last year. The SIU School of Dental Medicine received $4.1 million for the project from the state when Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation in 2009 that created the $31 billion "Illinois Jobs Now!" plan.

"Construction on the new Simulation Lab facility is now moving vertically," said Rotter. "Steel

I-beams have been put into place to support the structure and the exterior walls of the new facility are beginning to take shape. Faculty, staff, students and the general community have been stopping by to view the progress. It is an exciting time."

The Sim Lab will be a primary site of instruction for 100 Year I and Year II predoctoral dental students and contain 60 simulation units. The 18,000 square foot addition also will include a ceramic reconstruction room, x-ray room, casting and dispensing areas. The building also will house the replacement of the School's fitness center.

"We are grateful for the educational opportunities that will be afforded by this new lab," said Rotter. "The use of this facility will enhance our students' preparation to be outstanding healthcare providers."

School of Dental Medicine: School of Dental Medicine students manage approximately 35,000 patient visits each year at its patient clinics in Alton and East St. Louis. In addition, students offer oral health treatment, screenings and education to more than 10,000 people annually through a wide variety of off-campus community outreach events. These opportunities provide students the training they need to graduate and become highly skilled dentists. As the only dental school within 200 miles of the St. Louis metropolitan area, the region depends on the School of Dental Medicine as a vital oral healthcare provider.

Photo Information: Steel beams are being erected in the construction of the Multidisciplinary Dental Simulation Laboratory for the SIU School of Dental Medicine. Pictured is Steve Koepke of Toenjes Brick Contracting.

SIUE's Weinberg Elected President of IAGS

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Jerry Weinberg, associate provost for research and dean of the Graduate School, is president elect of the Illinois Association of Graduate Schools (IAGS). He also has been tapped to serve on the Council of Graduate Schools Masters Committee.

The IAGS is the Illinois chapter of the Midwest Association of Graduate Schools, which is the regional affiliation of the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS), the national organization. CGS research and activities serve to advance graduate education and to promote U.S. competitiveness in the global economy.

"I am looking forward to serving as the IAGS president," Weinberg said. "IAGS creates a great opportunity for Illinois universities to share ideas, develop collaborations and collectively express opinions to the state legislature regarding the advancement of graduate studies across Illinois." 

As a member of the CGS Masters Committee, Weinberg will join in providing advice on issues that master's students and programs are facing. The committee helps provide direction for national meetings and new CGS initiatives and studies for its more than 500-member institutions.

"The CGS is the premier national organization for developing new initiatives, conducting research and influencing the direction of graduate studies across the U.S.," said Weinberg, who is honored to serve on the master's committee. "I will be one of a small group of educators who will provide guidance to CGS as it promotes and advances master's degree programs nationally."

Before being named to his current SIUE post in May 2012, Weinberg served as the acting associate provost for research and dean of the Graduate School for nearly two years. During that time, he advanced the activities of the unit to strengthen both the graduate operations and its scholarly efforts. He increased travel support for faculty, developed and offered new internal programs to support faculty in the submission of external grant proposals. He also oversaw the creation of a new research and creative activities website, increased attendance at the Graduate School Open House and brought the graduate program assessment process under the shared governance structure of the Graduate School.

Prior to serving in the acting position, Weinberg was the department chair of computer science in the School of Engineering from 2005-2010. He joined the SIUE faculty in 1996 after earning a Ph.D. in computer science from Vanderbilt University that same year.

Photo: SIUE Associate Provost for Research and Dean of the Graduate School Jerry Weinberg.

Retired SIUE Music Professor Featured in The Telegraph

Ronald Abraham is a retired SIUE music professor. He has been named executive director of the Jacoby Arts Center in Alton. Read about Abraham in The Telegraph .

SIUE Alum's Drive-Thru Legal Service Featured in News-Democrat

Brandon Marshall Hilmes earned a bachelor's in business administration/finance from the SIUE School of Business in 2000. His Caseyville law firm, Hilmes Legal Solutions LLC, offers unique drive-thru service. Read about Hilmes in the Belleville News-Democrat .

SIUE Alum is President of Webster U. and Featured in Smart Business

Webster University President Elizabeth Stroble earned two master's from SIUE in history in 1980, and American and English literature in 1984. Read about Stroble in Smart Business St. Louis.

Col. Charles B. Schweizer, 1913-2013; Was Major SIUE Donor, Established SIUE Foundation

Col. Charles B. Schweizer, 99, of Edwardsville, died Sunday, May 12.

Schweitzer, along with his late wife, Eleanor, was an avid SIUE supporter and fundraiser. He established the SIUE Foundation and served for 10 years as its executive director, and endowed a Meridian Scholarship and other scholarships.

A visitation will take place from 4:30-7 p.m. Friday, May 17 at the Weber & Rodney Funeral Home, 304 North Main in Edwardsville. During that time there will be a Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) ceremony at 6:30 p.m. and a Masonic ceremony at 7 p.m. in his honor. Funeral services will be held at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 406 Hillsboro Ave. in Edwardsville at 1 p.m. Saturday. A private burial service will follow at Valhalla Cemetery in St. Louis, with military honors.

Memorials can be made to St. Andrews Church, to the Hills Fort Society, 6 Ridgefield Drive in Troy, or the charity of the donor's choice. Condolences can be expressed online and a full obituary can be viewed at weberfuneralhome.com.

Club Sport Programs Make Their Mark Nationally

The SIUE Club Baseball Program has earned its first bid to the National Club Baseball Association World Series in Paducah, Ky. SIUE begins the double-elimination tournament by facing Maryland at 10 a.m. (CT) on Friday. For more information, visit clubbaseball.org.

BassMasters Club members Brad LeMasters and Zach Hartnagel have qualified for a Regional Fishing tournament to be held on the Detroit River in July. Read more at flwooutdoors.com.

The two-time defending national champion Women's Basketball Club team earned a third consecutive Final Four Appearance at the NIRSA National Championship in April. SIUE advanced by winning the Oklahoma St. Regional. SIUE beat Ithaca College, Lamar University, Old Dominion University and Clemson University before falling to eventual national champion University of Virginia. Junior pre-pharmacy major Kelly Korza was an All-America selection.

SIUE Alum Harrison Wins Arch Grant for Startups

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumnus Jeffry Harrison is one of 20 winners in the 2013 Arch Grants Global Startup Competition. The winners were announced at a press conference Tuesday afternoon at Polsinelli in downtown St. Louis.

The global business startup competition provides $50,000 non-dilutive grants to early stage ventures. Arch Grants created the competition to help grow businesses and create a more robust entrepreneurial culture and infrastructure in St. Louis.

Harrison's RoverTown concept gives more than 2,000 businesses direct access to 1.4 million college students through their mobile devices. RoverTown's student discount program allows actively enrolled students at nearly 70 institutions to earn exclusive discounts and rewards at rovertown.com.

"The Arch Grants winners are the best of a terrific group, and are exciting young companies," said Jerry Schlichter, co-founder and president of Arch Grants. "Arch Grants' vision has become a reality. We are building an entrepreneurial ecosystem and have great partners who, through their support of Arch Grants, have put St. Louis on the international map as a great place for entrepreneurs."

This year's competition attracted 707 applicants from 15 countries and 40 states. The 20 grant recipients will receive $50,000 each in funding and free support services. Starting in July, the out-of-town companies will relocate to St. Louis and begin immersing themselves into the entrepreneurial community.

A Redbud native, Harrison arrived at SIUE as a result of the Homer L. & Helen L. Cox Scholarship from the School of Business. He earned a bachelor's in finance and entrepreneurship in 2012. Harrison served as the SIUE student trustee for the SIU Board of Trustees for two years.

RoverTown will move to St. Louis from its current location in the SIU Carbondale Research Park.

For a complete list of Arch Grant winners, click here.

Photo: Jeffry Harrison.

SIUE Engineering Students Win Third Place in National Design Contest

Two former Southern Illinois University Edwardsville engineering students won the third place award in a national structural design competition earlier this month in Pittsburgh.

Winning the award were Luke Potthast and Ryan Holdener for their project, Dalian Office Building. Potthast and Holdener were one of three teams selected to compete in the final round of competition at the 2013 Student Structural Design Competition of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Structural Engineering Institutes (SEI) Structures Congress.

"It was pretty daunting when we submitted our project to the competition," said Potthast, "knowing that we would be up against some of the largest engineering schools in the country. So, it was very exciting when we learned that we were picked in the top three and were able to represent SIUE at the Structures Congress." Potthast and Holdener graduated from SIUE with bachelor degrees in Civil Engineering in May 2012.

The engineering faculty selected Potthast and Holdener's project in January of this year and submitted it to the SEI Structures Congress. The two SIUE alums were mentored by engineers at HOK Design Co. in St. Louis, Mo., for one semester. For more information on the global company based in St. Louis, see hok.com/.

"The Dalian project was provided to us by our host company of HOK," said Potthast. "It was a project they were currently working on, and they gave us a few preliminary designs to work on separately for our own model."

The pair designed a multi-story steel structure to be built in China with an estimated cost of $53.7 million, said Dr. Ryan Fries, SIUE assistant professor in Civil Engineering.

"They constructed a digital model using the Building Information Modeling (BIM) software," said Fries, who co-supervised the project with Dr. Brad Cross, SIUE professor of civil engineering.