UIS College of Public Affairs and Administration Dean honored by the Illinois National Guard

Dr. Pinky Wassenberg, dean of the College of Public Affairs and Administration at the University of Illinois Springfield was recently honored by the Illinois National Guard with the Seven Seals Award.

The award honors individuals and organizations that have provided Employer Support to the Guard, specifically to units deploying to Afghanistan. In December 2010, UIS hosted soldiers from the Guard for a day of training by UIS faculty on issues they might encounter while deployed in Southwest Asia. The day was organized by Wassenberg and Joan Sestak, UIS director of Community Relations.

“I am honored to receive this award,” said Wassenberg. “It was a privilege to be able to help our Illinois National Guard soldiers who give so much in so many ways. The award really belongs to all the faculty and staff at UIS who worked together to make that day of training a success.”

The Guard credits Seven Seals Award Recipients for going above and beyond their occupational responsibilities to make the preparation training beneficial for all involved. Support from employers is crucial for the long-term success of each citizen-Soldier and the National Guard and Reserve.

“The individuals we honor tonight provided members of the Illinois Army National Guard an expanded knowledge of how our units of government accomplish their daily operations in the critical infrastructure sector,” said Lt. Col. Tim W. Franklin, during the December 13 awards reception at the Governor’s Mansion.

During the training at UIS, faculty members helped to educate troops on Afghanistan’s history, culture, public health needs, and economic structure among other topics. The Guard approached UIS, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the City of Springfield and Sangamon County about forming a partnership. The result was a three-day training session for about 40 soldiers called “Infrastructure 101”.

UIS faculty members who participated in the training include Adriana Crocker, Kathy DeBarr, Michael Lane, Shahram Heshmat, Don O’Neal and Ali Nizamuddin.

The Seven Seals Award represents the seven military reserve components: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine and Coast Guard reserves, along with the Army and Air National Guard.

For more information, contact Derek Schnapp, director of UIS Public Relations at 217/206-6716 or email dschn3@uis.edu.

UIS student-athletes help sort Toys for Tots donations

A group of student-athletes from the University of Illinois Springfield spent their Saturday volunteering at Sangamon County Toys for Tots. The volunteers helped sort donated toys at the group’s Springfield warehouse.

Students from a variety of UIS athletic teams worked in shifts throughout the day to organize hundreds of toys by age and gender. The toys will later be delivered to agencies in Springfield, just in time for the holidays.

“I think it shows the Springfield community that we care about them and I think as a result we get a lot more people at our games that support us because they know that we’re engaged members of the community,” said Tina Buck, a junior softball player.

Buck hopes the support they’re showing the community will benefit them on the field through increased fan support.

“It shows that we do care about them and we want them to care about us when we’re out on the playing field and hopefully that will lead us to more winning seasons,” said Buck.

The students also learned from the volunteer experience and for many it made them realize how fortunate they are to be playing on a team and receiving a higher education.

“It makes me feel better because I know I can give back to the community and I’m helping people who are less fortunate than me,” said Ashley Stariha, a sophomore women’s soccer player.

“I didn’t realize how much they actually did, like this is amazing how much stuff they have here, so it really feels good to come and give back,” said Aubrey Watson, a senior softball player.

The volunteer activity was organized by the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), which advises Athletic Department leaders, coordinates volunteer activities, and organizes fundraising efforts in the community.

Burlingame's new book tells Lincoln's life story in photos

Dr. Michael Burlingame, the Chancellor Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies at the University of Illinois Springfield, has partnered with photographer Robert Shaw to write a unique book on Abraham Lincoln.

Abraham Lincoln Traveled This Way—The America Lincoln Knew weaves Burlingame’s writing and Shaw’s images together to tell Lincoln’s life story. Burlingame uses the historical record and Lincoln’s own words as part of the photographic journey.

“I am delighted to have been a part of this remarkable project,” said Burlingame. “My one major regret when Abraham Lincoln: A Life was published was that it contained so few illustrations. I wish Robert Shaw's exceptionally beautiful photographs could have been included in the biography.”

The new book depicts the buildings where Lincoln lived and worked, the routes he took riding the circuit as a lawyer, and the places that helped shape him and his destiny. Shaw carefully composed and edited the images to eliminate any modern intrusions, so the resulting images depict as closely as possible the actual scenes Lincoln would have seen.

The journey to develop the 276-page book took five years and covered more than 100,000 miles, including such locations as Lincoln’s boyhood home in Indiana, numerous Illinois sites, the White House, key battlefields of the Civil War, and Ford's Theater.

Copies of the book are available in the Springfield area. For more information, visit Shaw's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/robertshawphotography.

State Farm awards UIS Computer Science Department $50,000 grant

State Farm Companies Foundation has awarded the University of Illinois Springfield Computer Science Department a $50,000 grant. The money will be used to enhance the State Farm Virtual Computing Teaching and Learning Laboratory at UIS.

“The existing virtual sever system does not have sufficient storage, memory or remote access to support the increased demand placed on it by the increase in majors taking courses that use the system,” said Ted Mims, chair of the Computer Science Department.

The funding provided by State Farm will allow the department to add a new front-end remote access system, increase the server memory of each processor, and add a new storage system that is supported by the newer versions of virtual software.

“These improvements provide greater efficiency and effectiveness for students when the Department moves core and elective courses to a virtual environment. It will provide enhanced remote access, expanded and streamlined online learning,” said Mims.

University of Illinois Vice President and UIS Chancellor Susan J. Koch accepted the check from State Farm during a reception in the Public Affairs Center on Nov. 2, 2011. It’s estimated that there are currently over 140 UIS graduates working for State Farm at its corporate headquarters in Bloomington-Normal, Ill.

The new system will be used by the UIS Center for Systems Security and Information Assurance to host programming, cyber defense and digital forensics competitions. The UIS Computer Science Department is a partner in the National Center for Systems Security and Information Assurance funded by a National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Technology Education (ATE) Grant. Funding from the NSF/ATE grant will be used to fund events at UIS that utilize the equipment funded by the State Farm Grant.

UIS graduate honors former faculty member with Professorship

The University of Illinois Springfield proudly announces the establishment of a new named professorship, the first from a graduate honoring a former professor.

The Judith E. Everson Professorship in English honors Everson, an emeritus professor who taught at the university for 31 years. Everson’s former student, Cheryl Peck, who served as director of public relations at UIS from 1992 to 2009, donated $500,000 to establish the fund. The distinguished professorship serves as a tribute to Professor Everson’s extraordinary gift for teaching that opened up new worlds of possibility and accomplishment for her students, Peck said.

“Her devotion to her students inspired us to reach beyond our fears as midlife learners and to ask more of ourselves than we had ever thought possible,” said Peck. “The result was a new-found confidence that swept me on to further literary exploration and set me on a path of lifelong discovery in books and writing.”

Peck, who earned her B.A. in Literature in 1986 and M.A. in English in 1989, describes Everson as an “engaging tour guide,” who introduced her to the aristocratic worlds of Wharton and James, and made accessible Faulkner’s stream of consciousness narration, Hemingway’s spare writing style, and Dreiser’s literary naturalism.

In response to the gift, Everson said, “We’re often told that when the student is ready, the teacher appears. This was certainly the case many years ago when Cheryl Peck and I had our first meeting of the minds here on campus. If, as she kindly says, I helped to make her a better student, I can return the favor and say that she made me a better professor, which is what superior students always do for their teachers.”

As a charter faculty member, Everson came to Springfield in 1970 when Sangamon State University (SSU), now the University of Illinois Springfield, was still under construction. She taught courses in English, History and Public Speaking until her retirement in 2001. Everson has remained active on campus and was honored with the University of Illinois Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service Award last year.

“It is my sincere hope that future students of English will be similarly inspired by the faculty who occupy the Everson Professorship in years to come,” said Peck.

Everson added, “Through this far-sighted gesture, (Cheryl) is making sure that there will be continued vitality in the department and on the campus that we both cherish.”

Before coming to UIS, Peck was assistant to the chancellor at the Illinois Board of Regents for nearly four years. The BOR was the governing board for SSU, Northern Illinois University, and Illinois State University.

Peck’s professorship, a planned gift, will add to UIS’ other distinguished faculty positions:

• The Chancellor Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies
• The Ameren Professorship of Business and Government
• The PNC Distinguished Professor in Banking and Finance
• Two Louise Hartman Schewe and Karl Schewe Professorships in Liberal Arts and Sciences
• The Wepner Distinguished Professorship of Political Science
• The Hanson Professional Services Faculty Scholar
  

For more information, contact Vicki Megginson, associate chancellor for development, UIS, and senior vice president, University of Illinois Foundation at 217/206-6058 or email vhens1@uis.edu.

UIS students collect over 7,000 pounds of food for the Central Illinois Foodbank

Student volunteers at the University of Illinois Springfield collected over 7,000 pounds of food during the annual Trick or Treat for Canned Goods competition on Halloween night.

Fifteen teams, for a total of about 120 of UIS students, canvassed assigned Springfield neighborhoods collecting non-perishable food items. The teams visited the neighborhoods before Halloween, distributing door hangers that explained the project.

“We’ve been doing Trick or Treat for Canned Goods for three years now and it’s been very successful. Each year, I feel like we gradually become better at it,” said Brittany Young, a sophomore sociology/anthropology major.

The canned food drive is part of the UIS Holiday Stars Project, a campus-wide service initiative giving focus to UIS’ efforts to make a difference in the local community during the holiday season.

Sophomore English major Allison Duncan has walked door-to-door for the past two years. She’s amazed by the response from the community and feels like she’s giving back.

“I think it’s a really great opportunity to serve the community that we are in,” she said. “You don’t get a lot of opportunities to do that.”

Prizes were awarded to the top three student groups collecting the most food. The top groups included the first place Lamda Pi Eta Communication Honor Society with 1,131 pounds, the second place UIS Women’s Basketball team with 966 pounds, and the third place Christian Student Fellowship with 726 pounds.

The Central Illinois Foodbank distributes nearly 8 million pounds of food annually to over 160 food pantries, soup kitchens, residential programs and after-school programs in a 21 county region. The foodbank is a member of Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger relief organization, and is a United Way certified agency. More information is available at www.centralilfoodbank.org.

For more information on the UIS Holiday Stars Project, contact Brittany Elder, volunteer services coordinator, by email at belde2@uis.edu, or go to www.uis.edu/holidaystars.

UIS celebrates Homecoming 2011

The UIS community showed off their Prairie Star pride during Homecoming 2011. The theme for this year’s celebration, which was held Oct. 10-15, was “We Bleed Blue”.

Participants packed the campus for the annual Homecoming Parade, BBQ and the men’s and women’s soccer games on Friday, Oct. 14. Saturday featured the annual 5K Run/Walk, service event, luncheon, and more.

The U-Help, I-Help Springfield Service Event was held at St. Joseph’s Home in Springfield. It’s UIS’ traditional way to end the week by giving back to the community.

Members of the Prairie Stars 1986 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship team were honored during the Saturday luncheon. The day ended with the annual UIS Students vs. Alumni/Faculty/Staff Basketball game.

Earlier in the week a Homecoming Pep Rally was held, followed by Spirit Games throughout the week, a homecoming dance and much more.

Astronomy and Physics professor John Martin named 2011 University Scholar

John Martin, assistant professor of Astronomy and Physics at the University of Illinois Springfield has been named University Scholar for 2011. He is the only UIS faculty member chosen for this award honoring and rewarding outstanding teachers and scholars at the three U of I campuses.

In astronomy, Martin studies supernova imposters and the end stages of the most massive stars. He was recently awarded a $62,096 grant over three years from the National Science Foundation to study Eta Carinae, the nearest supernova imposter. In addition to his research, he is an excellent example of the teacher-scholar model in action at UIS.

“While still at a relatively early stage in his academic career, he has nonetheless been a very productive scholar, and his research has already generated significant recognition within his field,” said Lynn Pardie, UIS interim vice chancellor for academic affairs and provost.

Martin has had articles published in several top-tier journals in his field and has delivered numerous professional presentations on his research in professional and academic venues. His work has also been featured in widely circulated mainstream publications, including the magazine Astronomy.

In addition to course development, teaching, research, and professional service activities both on and off-campus, Martin directs the campus’ research observatory. He is known as an enthusiastic and energetic champion of astronomy, constantly striving to encourage both student and public interest in the field, and he is a mentor of student research. Martin’s educational outreach activities include hosting public observatory Star Parties at UIS, which are held in the spring and fall each year.

“As noted in letters from academic peers, the quality of Martin’s scholarship and research achievements thus far are praiseworthy and exemplify the ideals of the University Scholar award,” said Pardie.

Martin holds a B.A. in Astrophysics from the University of Virginia and a Ph.D. in Astronomy from Case Western Reserve University.

As University Scholar, he will receive $10,000 a year for three years to support research and other scholarly activities. Faculty do not apply for this award; they are nominated by their peers. A committee of senior faculty makes the final selection.

For more information on the award, contact Derek Schnapp, director of public relations at 217/206-6716 or email dschn3@uis.edu.

UIS professor honored with national Excellence in Online Teaching Award

Dr. Michael Cheney, professor of communication at the University of Illinois Springfield, is being honored with a national Excellence in Online Teaching Award. The Sloan Consortium (Sloan-C) award is one of the highest honors presented by the group, which is comprised of fellow online educators.

“I am very honored to receive this award. UIS is known for its excellence in online education and I am happy to contribute to that reputation through my work,” Cheney said.

Cheney is known for his popular online courses, which include The Beatles: Popular Music and Society, Political Communication and Writing for Public Relations. In 2010, Cheney’s “Unit 1: Beatles as Mosaic” podcast was the second most downloaded podcast on iTunes U for several weeks. The series was also listed in the “Noteworthy” section of iTunes U.

“It is very exciting for our university to hear that Professor Cheney has earned this prestigious recognition,” said University of Illinois Vice President and UIS Chancellor Susan J. Koch. “The Sloan Consortium has helped UIS become an internationally recognized leader in online learning. We are proud of Professor Cheney’s efforts and his colleagues as they continue to provide leadership in this very important educational area.”

Cheney began using three to four minute podcasts during the Fall Semester of 2005. The weekly podcasts include lectures and supporting material. Students use Apple’s iTunes software to listen to the recordings. The service is offered free of charge to both students and the university.

“I use podcasts in the class as a way to complement the material students are already studying and to provide them with poignant references and information to enhance their understanding of the course,” Cheney said.

Sloan-C awarded three UIS faculty members Outstanding Achievement Awards in 2002, 2003 and 2006. No other university in the country has received more outstanding achievement awards. UIS was recognized with an Institution-Wide Excellence Award in 2007 and the Ralph E. Gomory Award for Quality Online Education in 2008. In 2010, Ray Schroeder, director of the UIS Center for Online Learning, Research, and Service (COLRS) was awarded the inaugural A. Frank Mayadas Leadership Award. The UIS Teacher Leadership Program was also honored the same year with the Outstanding Online Program Award.

The Sloan Consortium is an institutional and professional leadership organization dedicated to integrating online education into the mainstream of higher education, helping institutions and individual educators improve the quality, scale, and breadth of education. Membership in Sloan-C provides knowledge, practice, community, and direction for educators. Originally funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, it is now a non-profit, member sustained organization.

The Excellence in Online Teaching Award will be presented to Cheney during the 17th-Annual International Conference on Online Learning: Online Teaching, Learning and Research in the New Media Ecology, in Orlando, Florida, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011.

For more information, contact Ray Schroeder at 217/206-7531 or email rschr1@uis.edu.

Prairie Star merchandise hits the market

The initial seeds of the University of Illinois Springfield's new licensing agreement with Strategic Marketing Affiliates have been planted, and for the first time, Prairie Star athletics merchandise is being sold in a local retail store.

Scheels, an all-sports mega store that opened in Springfield last spring, is now stocking five versions of UIS short sleeve t-shirts, one edition of a long sleeve t-shirt and a hooded sweatshirt. Each of the UIS items available is from the Nike line of athletics apparel.

“We are excited to see UIS apparel made available at a local retailer within our community,” UIS Athletic Director Kim Pate said. “Having these items available expands opportunities for fans to show their support while increasing the exposure of the UIS brand so our community can begin to identify the Prairie Stars as Springfield's team.”

Scheels is located at 3801 South MacArthur Boulevard in Springfield.

UIS Downstate Innocence Project awarded Department of Justice grant for non-DNA cases

The University of Illinois Springfield’s Downstate Innocence Project with the support of the UIS Center for State Policy and Leadership has been awarded a $249,319 grant to clear downstate Illinois innocence cases, which cannot be resolved through DNA testing.

The United States Department of Justice Wrongful Conviction Wrongful Conviction Review Program grant will provide funding to investigate, locate evidence, and litigate these cases generally on behalf of indigent inmates who often have to serve 12-25 years in prison before their claims are resolved.

Central to the work of the project is a collaboration with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Law and the Southern Illinois University at Carbondale Law School. Students review cases, conduct research, investigation and assist with litigation. The Downstate Innocence Project is a leader throughout the country with regard to the combined educational and clinical program coordinated by UIS through the Center for State Policy and Leadership.

“This grant is particularly important because it recognizes that over 90% of innocence cases cannot be resolved through simple DNA testing, said Larry Golden, director of the UIS Downstate Illinois Innocence Project. “The amount of work that goes into solving such cases is immense and usually takes years to bring to conclusion.”

"We are delighted once again that the Downstate Innocence Project at the University of Illinois Springfield is being nationally recognized for the work they do," said UIS Chancellor Susan J. Koch. "We are proud of the combined efforts of the staff, students and community members that work so hard on these cases. This UIS Innocence Project is one of many ways that our university serves our community and our state while at the same time providing students with an outstanding educational experience."

The new grant comes nearly a year after the project was awarded a $687,448 federal grant to investigate cases where DNA evidence is involved. Project leaders say the two grants combined validate the work they are doing.

“This grant epitomizes the good that can be done by linking academic and student opportunities with real world problem solving,” said David Racine, interim executive director of the UIS Center for State Policy and Leadership. “The grant will allow even more UIS students to participate in and learn from the project’s important work. We plan to build on the grant to obtain even greater support for the students and faculty of the campus.”

For more information contact Larry Golden at 217/553-7171 or email lgold1@uis.edu. More information about the Innocence Project can be found on their website at www.uis.edu/innocenceproject/.

Fall 2011 Student Government Election and Constitutional Referendum results

The Fall 2011 Student Government Association Election and Constitutional Referendum results were certified on September 20.

Results:
Senator – Transfer Students – Zachary Sullivan
Senator – Graduate Students – Meagan Musgrave
Senator – Undergraduate Students – Tyler Scherer
Senator - Freshman Students – Joe McGee
Senator-at-Large (2 positions) – David Wise & Tyler Power

SGA Constitutional Referendum
Yes, I approve the revised Constitution - 190
No, I do not approve the revised Constitution - 27
No Vote – 124

Many other leadership opportunities exist on SGA committees and all interested student are encouraged to become involved. An election will be held again in the spring for all other SGA positions.

For information about election results or about student government, contact Cynthia Thompson, director of Student Life, at 217/206-6665.

UIS students spend the weekend helping with Missouri tornado cleanup

A group of 18 students from the University of Illinois Springfield spent their weekend helping with tornado cleanup and recovery in Joplin, Missouri. The group left campus on Fri., Sept. 9 and returned on Sept. 11.

Junior Management Information Systems major Caitlin Crane came up with the idea for the trip after witnessing the devastation on television. She began recruiting students to go on the trip and was amazed by the outcome.

“I was so excited and inspired that we had 18 people come with us,” said Crane. “We almost couldn’t all fit in the vans because we had so much luggage, but (the student volunteers) gave up their weekend and they spent it getting nasty and dirty.”

While in Joplin, the students worked to unload and sort 3 semi-trailers full of clothes, blankets, toiletries and kitchen items donated to the victims of the tornado. Another group helped clean debris out of a farmer’s field.

“The farmer, who owned the field, made his living off the field and would actually sell some of the stuff the field produced and canned the vegetables and fruits it produced,” said Crane.

Sophomore Psychology, Political Science and Legal Studies major Josh Eastby was struck by the number of storm victims working beside him in the recovery effort.

“It did really go to show that even after they lost their entire home, their possessions, sometimes even loved ones that they can keep on functioning and in many cases give back, even when they don’t have anything,” said Eastby.

Eastby realizes his service is only part of the recovery effort, but he’s glad to have played a small, yet cumulative role.

“Everyone can do something. None of us there fixed the tornado, but we all did something that now other people won’t have to do,” he said.

The trip to Joplin coincided with the AmeriCorps 9/11 Day of Service, a forward-looking national effort to honor the 9/11 victims, survivors and others who rose in service in response to the attacks.

View photos from the trip

U.S. News & World Report gives UIS top ranking for the fourth consecutive year

U.S. News & World Report’s 2012 Edition of America’s Best Colleges ranks the University of Illinois Springfield as the top regional public university in the state of Illinois and the fourth best public university in that category in the entire Midwest. This is the fourth straight year that UIS has achieved those rankings.

The prestigious rankings placed UIS at 28 on a list of 155 top public and private colleges and universities in the 12-state Midwest region that includes, in addition to Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, and North and South Dakota.

“We are proud to be among the best in the country as we continue to strive towards helping more students obtain a high quality education,” said University of Illinois Vice President and UIS Chancellor Susan J. Koch. “Our ranking is a reflection of the commitment to students that is central to the work of our faculty and staff and to the quality of educational experience that we continually strive to provide.”

The rankings are based on several key measures of quality including assessment by administrators at peer institutions, retention of students, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources and alumni giving.

UIS is known around the world as the liberal arts campus of the University of Illinois. The campus offers 23 bachelor’s degree programs, 20 master’s programs and 1 doctoral program. Students thrive in small classes and engage the world through relevant courses and internships. UIS is recognized for preparing leaders for government and public service, and is nationally known for online learning. UIS has four colleges: business and management; education and human services; liberal arts and sciences; and public affairs and administration.

The University of Illinois Springfield is one of three campuses of the University of Illinois. The U of I has campuses in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield with a total enrollment on-campus and online of approximately 79,000.

For more information contact Derek Schnapp, director of public relations at 217/206-6716 or email dschn3@uis.edu.

UIS enrollment tops 5,000 students for second year

The University of Illinois Springfield’s fall 2011 enrollment has topped 5,000 students for the second year in a row. The total number of enrolled students at UIS is 5,137.

“We continue to pursue our strategic goal of 6,000 students at UIS,” said University of Illinois Vice President and UIS Chancellor Susan J. Koch. “I’m particularly pleased this fall with the increase in enrollment at the graduate level and in the online programs. With the economic pressures and the limited resources that many students and their families face today, we are working hard to increase the financial resources, including scholarships, available to students for the years to come.”

There are 3,112 undergraduates at UIS this fall, compared to 3,197 last fall semester. The number of graduate students rose to 2,025, an increase of 48 students from last.

Growth of online programs continues

Growth in online learning continues, with a total of 1,425 students enrolled in online degree or certificate programs, a 4.5% increase over fall 2010. This semester, online students reside in 49 of the 50 states (not North Dakota), and 77 counties in Illinois. Online students make up 36.3% of total credit hours generated at UIS this term, with 59.2% of all UIS students taking at least one online class.

The University of Illinois has campuses in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield with a total enrollment on-campus and online of approximately 79,000.

UIS holds events to remember the 10th anniversary of 9/11 attacks

The University of Illinois Springfield will remember the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks through a variety of events planned on campus. The events coincide with the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and will take place between Fri., Sept. 9 and Wed., Sept. 14, 2011.

• Campus Moment of Silence: The entire UIS community is invited to gather at the Colonnade on Fri., Sept. 9 at 9:50 a.m. A moment of silence will take place at 9:59 a.m., the time the South Tower collapsed.
  
  
• First responders admitted free to UIS soccer game: Law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs, all military members, veterans and their families who show an ID or badge will be admitted free to the UIS vs. Maryville soccer game on Fri., Sept. 9. The women’s game starts at 5 p.m., followed by the men’s game at 7:30 p.m. at Kiwanis Stadium. There will be a moment of recognition of those in attendance and a moment of silence for those who have passed prior to each match of the night.
  
  
• AmeriCorps 9/11 Day of Service: A group of 12 UIS students will be traveling to Joplin, Mo. to help with tornado relief as part of the AmeriCorps 9/11 Day of Service. The students will leave campus on Fri., Sept. 9 and return on Sunday, Sept. 11. The student volunteers will be working with the United Way to clear debris and assist with supply intake, sorting, and distribution.
  
  
• Movie Screening of “United 93”: UIS Student Life presents a screening of the film “United 93”, which provides a real time account of the events on United Flight 93, one of the planes hijacked on 9/11 that crashed near Shanksville, Penn. when passengers foiled the terrorist plot. The screening will take place on Sun., Sept. 11 at 2 p.m. in Brookens Auditorium.
  
  
• “9/11 Ten Years After: America & the World” Brown Bag: The discussion will be moderated by Co-Director of UIS Global Studies Hilary Frost-Kumpf. Pinky Wassenberg, dean of the College of Public Affairs and Administration, along with Political Science faculty members Adriana Crocker, Ali Nizamuddin and Stephen Schwark will take part. The brown bag will take place on Wed., Sept. 14 from Noon to 1:30 p.m. in Public Affairs Center (PAC) Conference Room F.
  

For more information on 9/11 related events at UIS, please contact Derek Schnapp, director of Public Relations at 217/206-6716 or email dschn3@uis.edu.

Thirty three new faculty members join UIS for fall 2011

Thirty three new faculty members have joined the University of Illinois Springfield for the 2011 Fall Semester. Nineteen will teach in programs within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; five will teach in the College of Public Affairs and Administration; five in the College of Education and Human Services; three in the College of Business and Management; and one will teach in the library.

Nan Akins is an Instructor of Communication in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois Springfield. Akins holds an M.A. in Communication from the University of Illinois Springfield, having graduated in 2004. Her research and professional interests include reducing the fear associated with public speaking, nonverbal communication, and written communication including resumes and cover letters. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family/friends, gardening, outside work, renovating houses, and reading.

Meagan Cass is an assistant professor of English in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois Springfield. She holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, having graduated in 2010. Her research and professional interests include creative writing, contemporary literature, feminist theory, university literary magazines, literary ghost stories, and sports literature. She likes to play ice hockey and soccer and loves to cook.

Victoria Childs is an assistant professor of Teacher Education in the College of Education and Human Services at the University of Illinois Springfield. She received her M.Ed. in 1991 from Governors State University in Mathematics. Her research and professional interests include organizational (education) behavior and leadership, teaching/learning styles, mathematics instruction/intervention, and science instruction. Her personal interests include aviation (licensed pilot), music (especially playing the piano), and photography.

Michael Douma is a Post-Doc in Liberal & Integrative Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois Springfield. He received his M.A. in History from Florida State University in 2006. His research and professional interests include the history of education, immigration, culture, and Netherlands (European and American) history. He enjoys hiking, cycling, running, reading, coffee, traveling Europe, and book collecting.

Ross Garmil is a clinical instructor of Experiential & Service Learning in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois Springfield. He holds an Ed.M. from Boston University in Policy, Planning & Administration, having graduated in 1998. He is interested in improving access to education, with a research focus on adult learners seeking to return after an absence from formal studies. He is a former stand-up comic and humor writer whose publications include MAD magazine.

Shane Harris is an assistant professor of Visual Arts in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois Springfield. He holds a 2007 M.F.A. from Indiana University in Fine Arts. His research and professional interests include ceramics, sculpture, mold-making, digital photography, and exploring new materials and processes. Personal interests include gardening, carpentry, cooking, travel, spending time with family, and collecting M & M dispensers.

Alicia Iriberri is an assistant professor of Management Information Systems in the College of Business & Management at the University of Illinois Springfield. She received a Ph.D. in Information Systems & Technology from Claremont Graduate University in 2009. Her research and professional interests include virtual community success; business intelligence and data warehousing; design, development, and evaluation of interactive information systems. Her personal interests include writing, traveling, and family.

Stephen Johnson is an assistant professor of Chemistry Arts in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois Springfield. He holds a Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Pharmacology, having graduated in 2009. His research and professional interests include understanding the structure-function relationship of the neuroactive components in venom for possible drug development. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his seven children and doing field collection of venomous animals for study.

Elizabeth Jones is an Instructor of English Arts in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois Springfield. She holds a 1995 M.A. in English from George Mason University. Her research and professional interests include environmental rhetoric, composition pedagogy, Native American literature and rhetoric, and utopian narratives. She is also interested in writing and editing in the equestrian community. Her personal interests include outdoor activities, music (euphonium player and singer), gardening, and horses.

Brian Kahn is an assistant professor of Teacher Education in the College of Education and Human Services at the University of Illinois Springfield. He holds an Ed.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, having graduated in 1999. His research and professional interests include holocaust education (curriculum and best practices) and middle school (curriculum and best practices). Personal interests include cooking, gardening, and raising his 6-year-old grandson.

Holly Kent is an assistant professor of History in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois Springfield. Kent holds a Ph.D. in History from Lehigh University, having graduated in 2010. Her research and professional interests include the history of women in the U.S., particularly women’s involvement in politics/activism, women’s work as writers/readers, and the history of fashion/beauty culture. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, and spending as much time as possible in bookstores and thrift shops.

Lenore Killam is a clinical instructor of Public Health in the College of Public Affairs and Administration at the University of Illinois Springfield. She earned an M.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of Illinois Springfield in 1987. Her research and professional interests include risk assessment, management and communication, emergency preparedness and response, occupational safety and health, and community education. She is a fourth degree black belt and Aikido instructor and is a Cathedral Choir member at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

Geoffrey Lea is a Post-Doc in Liberal & Integrative Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois Springfield. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from George Mason University, having graduated in 2010. His research and professional interests include Austrian economics, political economy, public choice, property rights, and the history of economic thought. He enjoys coaching rugby, mixology, and gastronomy.

Troy Lepper is a visiting assistant professor of Environmental Studies in the College of Public Affairs and Administration at the University of Illinois Springfield. He earned a Ph.D. in Sociology from Colorado State University in 2008. His research and professional interests include exploring the intersection between human and natural environments in reference to water use and sustainable development. In his spare time, he enjoys “grooving his way through funky parts of the university with a thirst for adventure, while still possessing time to make a friendship.”

Li-Lin Liu is an assistant professor of Accountancy in the College of Business and Management at the University of Illinois Springfield. She holds a Ph.D. from Florida International University (2007) in Accounting. Her research and professional interests include internal control and auditing, corporate governance, financial accounting, and healthcare accounting. Personal interests include reading, watching movies, listening to music, sports, and sampling fine cuisine of different countries.

Ann McCaughan is an assistant professor of Human Development Counseling in the College of Education and Human Services at the University of Illinois Springfield. She received a Ph.D. in 2010 from Idaho State University in Counselor Education & Counseling. Her research and professional interests include gatekeeping, technology in counseling, counselor education, and counselor traits. Personal interests include, cycling, hiking, reading, photography, and traveling.

Kay McChesney is an assistant professor of Social Work in the College of Education and Human Services at the University of Illinois Springfield. She earned a 1987 Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Southern California. Her research and professional interests include homeless families and housing policy in the U.S., homeless street children and their families, and development policy in Ethiopia. Her personal interests include choral conducting, soprano, church organ, hiking, and native plants gardening.

Roger McNamara is an instructor of English in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois Springfield. He earned a Ph.D. in English from Loyola University in 2010. His research and professional interests include South Asian writing, Postcolonial theory, and Marxism. He enjoys teaching Postcolonial, Victorian, and Southeast Asian literature. He is a fan of science fiction, graphic novels, and anime.

Ann Melvin is an assistant professor of Human Services in the College of Education and Human Services at the University of Illinois Springfield. She holds an M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, having graduated in 2007. Her research and professional interests include addiction studies and co-occurring disorders. Personal interests include, spending time with family and outdoor activities.

Kim Murray is an Instructor of Clinical Laboratory Science in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois Springfield. She expects an M.S. (2011) in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. Her research and professional interests include improving engagement and student performance with online study aids. She is an active member of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Sciences.

Tricia Oman is a Visiting Assistant Professor of English in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois Springfield. She holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Oregon, having graduated in 2010. Her research and professional interests include representations of space, place, and region (especially the Midwest) in twentieth-century American literature and film. Her personal interests include spending time with her husband, Eric, and her dog, Ciar, hiking, baking, and watching scary movies.

Richard Pamenter is an Instructor of Biology in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois Springfield. He holds a Ph.D. in Physiology from the University of Arizona, having graduated in 1981. His research and professional interests include endocrine regulation of bone physiology. In his spare time, he enjoys walking his dog and observing seasonal changes in the flora and fauna of Illinois.

Julie Perino is an Instructor of English in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois Springfield. She earned an M.A. in English from the University of Illinois Springfield in 2009. Her research and professional interests include composition and rhetoric pedagogy and theories, film and genre studies, and creative writing. Her personal interests include writing, biking, swimming, yoga, dog walking, reading, knitting, hiking, and learning to use technologies.

Andrew Predmore is an assistant professor of Environmental Studies in the College of Public Affairs and Administration at the University of Illinois Springfield. He earned a Ph.D. in Forest Policy and Human Dimensions of Natural Resources from Virginia Tech in 2009. His research and professional interests include environmental planning: specifically, how individual values, group behaviors, and institutional variables influence planning outcomes. He enjoys playing tennis competitively and spending time with family.

Gary Reinbold is an assistant professor of Public Administration Studies in the College of Public Affairs and Administration at the University of Illinois Springfield. He holds a Ph.D. from Harvard University in Public Policy, having graduated in 2010. His research and professional interests include social policy analysis – integrating empirical and legal methods to analyze policies and laws affecting children’s well-being, domestically and internationally. He also enjoys acoustic music, classical literature, classic television, hiking, and golf.

Ken Runkle is a Lecturer in Public Health in the College of Public Affairs and Administration at the University of Illinois Springfield. He earned an M.A. in Environmental Health Services & Education from the University of Illinois Springfield in 1989. His research and professional interests include international environmental public health, chemical safety in educational settings, environmental and occupational public health. He enjoys athletics, Sherlock Holmes, helping the homeless and indigent, coin collecting, and is a fan of the Chicago Cubs.

Anibal Maximillano Sanchez is an Instructor of Modern Languages in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois Springfield. He holds an M.A. in Spanish Literature from the University of Cincinnati, having graduated in 2006. His research and professional interests include intersections between 20th century continental philosophy and Latin American literature from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. Outside of work, he enjoys music, cinema, and playing the guitar.

Tiffani Saunders is an Instructor of Sociology & Anthropology Languages in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois Springfield. She holds an M.A. in Sociology from Indiana University, having graduated in 2006. Her research and professional interests include studying the subfields of family, mental health and illness, law/courts, and teaching and learning. She also enjoys playing violin, teaching Jazzercise, anything crafty, and spending time with family.

Joshua Smith is an Instructor of Computer Science in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois Springfield. He earned an M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Illinois Springfield in 2009. His research and professional interests include computer programming, Beowulf clusters, web site design, and mobile computing. He also enjoys drag racing, boating, bowling, and travel.

Ann Strahle is an assistant professor of Communication in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois Springfield. She earned an M.A. in Journalism from the Indiana University School of Journalism in 2010. Her research and professional interests include communication law, 1st Amendment theory, media ethics, and broadcasting. She loves playing and traveling with her two boys and is a huge news junkie.

Lucas Vespa is an Instructor of Computer Science in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois Springfield. He holds an M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, having graduated in 2008. His research and professional interests include network security and quality of service. His is free time, he enjoys classical guitar and rock climbing.

Ben Walsh is an assistant professor of Management in the College of Business and Management at the University of Illinois Springfield. He received a M.A. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from the University of Connecticut in 2008. His teaching interests include organizational behavior and human resources management. His research focuses on workplace mistreatment, organizational climate, training effectiveness, and applicant reactions. Personal interests include, spending time with his wife, Abby, playing basketball and tennis, enjoying the outdoors, and watching movies.

Nancy Weichert is a visiting assistant professor and Instructional Services Librarian at Brookens Library at the University of Illinois Springfield. She graduated with an M.L.S. in Library & Information Science from Dominican University in 2006. Her research and professional interests include online learning, instructional technology, information literacy, and emerging technologies. She enjoys growing food, the outdoors, and spending time with family and friends.

UIS student Service-A-Thon benefits three local groups

Dozens of students from the University of Illinois Springfield spent their Friday afternoon volunteering with three local community groups as part of the annual Welcome Week Service-A-Thon.

“It’s important to get students involved at the beginning of the year, so they know the types of things they can do,” said Brittany Elder, AmeriCorps VISTA for the UIS Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center.

Students sorted medical supplies at Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach, picked up trash along the Springfield Park District’s Wabash Trail and helped pick up and sort bricks at the site of the next Habitat for Humanity of Sangamon County home.

“I feel like it’s a really good way to meet people and get involved in the community. Service is part of the reason I picked UIS,” said Brittany Sievers, a sophomore Psychology major.

Sievers realizes the benefits of volunteering, which include forming lasting relationships with fellow students and employers, which can lead to jobs and internships. Beyond that, she says volunteering just makes her feel good inside.

“(Volunteering) helps you understand that you’re not the only one affected by things and it forces you to get a larger view on life,” said Sievers.

Senior Political Science major Robert Dixon volunteered to help out at the Habitat for Humanity site. He spent most of the afternoon breaking up loose concrete in the front yard of where a new home will soon sit.

“It’s morally one of the right things to do to assist individuals, to help other individuals that may not be as fortunate,” said Dixon.

Sophomore Nathan Schmidt is part of a student organization on campus, which spends time volunteering.

“Kind of a nice chance of pace from being a Computer Science major and being behind a desk and at a computer all the time and it really feels good to give back a little bit,” said Schmidt.

For more information about volunteer opportunities at UIS, visit the Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center website.

Chancellor Koch kicks off fall semester with annual picnic

Students, faculty and staff got a chance to shake hands with the new leader of the University of Illinois Springfield during the annual Chancellor’s Picnic. The picnic was held on August 23, 2011 on the quad.

For Chancellor Susan J. Koch, it was the first time hosting the annual event. She served food, mingled with members of the UIS community and listened to ideas.

“I’m really delighted that that this is a tradition at UIS because the energy in this area right now is just spectacular,” said Koch. “I think it really reflects what the whole year will be like.”

The free hotdogs, brats, hamburgers, veggie burgers, watermelon, coleslaw and other sweet treats attract many to the event, but it’s also about conversation.

“I come out here to meet new people,” said Jackson Kern, a senior Business Administration major. “It’s the first week. It’s free food and you get to see all the old friends you haven’t seen all summer.”

The picnic helps add to the excitement of the beginning of a new semester, which for some, like freshmen Alex Fruth, can be a little scary.

“I’m a little excited, yet nervous at the same time,” said Fruth. “I’ve never really lived on my own and had the responsibility of doing work and stuff like that.”

For Chancellor Koch the picnic brings back memories and she hopes events, such as the picnic, live on the in the minds of students forever.

“As a child, my father was a faculty member. Many, many years ago there was a picnic at his school and I can remember as a 5-year-old sitting on the president’s lap,” said Koch.

Nearly 700 people showed up for the event. The celebration was part of Welcome Week 2011, which includes a variety of events designed to get students involved.

UIS named runner-up in People's Choice Award for innovative online course

The University of Illinois Springfield has been named a runner-up in the category of "Most Open" online initiative by Education-Portal.com People's Choice Awards for its use of Open Course Ware (OCW) during a recent revolutionary and free online course.

The Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), conducted by the UIS Center for Online Learning, Research and Service drew more than 2,600 participants from over 70 countries. The 8-week course, which focused on “Online Learning Today...and Tomorrow”, started in June and finished on August 19, 2011.

In presenting the award, the website praised the openness of the learning environment. “Students here engage in a class that's a mix of self-driven instruction and video seminars all about the future of scholarship on the Internet, including a focus on OCW. MOOC embraces its Web surroundings, incorporating Google Docs, blogs and Twitter hashtags into its coursework. Every week a panel of experts on each topic delivers a webinar to those enrolled in the course.”

Winning the “Most Open” award was College Open Textbooks, a William and Flora Hewlett Foundation funded initiative, which provides free online textbooks to students and professors. The University of California – Irvine won the other runner-up award for its efforts in the OCW movement.

“We are in very good company in this recognition,” said Ray Schroeder, director of COLRS. “We are honored to be recognized for our innovation and leadership in open access to online learning.”

No academic or continuing education credit was awarded as part of the MOOC at UIS, but the materials offered during the course will remain online for free use. The materials may be accessed at: http://sites.google.com/site/edumooc.

UIS finalizes transfer agreements with four community colleges in Illinois

The Admissions Office at the University of Illinois Springfield has finalized transfer articulation agreements with four community colleges in Illinois.

The new agreements are with Illinois Valley Community College (Oglesby, Ill.), Lake Land College (Mattoon, Ill.), Parkland College (Champaign, Ill.), and Southwestern Illinois College (Belleville, Ill.). The partnership will make it easier for students enrolled in Accountancy, Business Administration, Economics, Management, and Management Information Systems programs to transfer to UIS.

“These agreements serve as an effective ‘road map’ for the students who want to earn their undergraduate degree in a timely manner,” said Raymond Barnett, UIS transfer coordinator.

The 2+2 agreement establishes a seamless transfer for students from the Associates of Arts (or Sciences) degrees at community colleges into the undergraduate programs at UIS and allows them to finish their bachelor’s degree. As a part of the agreements, each school worked out with UIS a 2+2 advising guide to assist students when choosing their classes. The guide, along with materials for other community colleges, can be found at www.uis.edu/admissions.

The partnership was made possible thanks to the leadership of Dyanne Ferk, Helene Bea, and the department chairs in the UIS College of Business and Management who played an important role in all the phases of the articulation.

“The College of Business and Management has been of great value at networking with the faculty of SWIC, LLC, IVCC, and Parkland in making this ‘road map’ one that will lead the student to a successful realization of their goal,” said Barnett.

The agreements come at the same time UIS continues to build its outreach and partnerships to serve all areas of Illinois; from the Illinois River Valley, to Eastern Illinois, and the Metro-East region.

UIS currently has transfer agreements with Harper College, Heartland Community College, Illinois Central College, Lewis and Clark Community, Lincoln Land Community College, Richland Community College and Rock Valley College for a number of degree programs. For a full list of 2+2 transfer agreements visit: www.uis.edu/admissions/transfer/2+2/index.html.

For more information and questions about 2+2 agreements, contact Raymond Barnett at 217/206-6628 or email rbarn2@uis.edu.

UIS professor awarded national grant to study supernova imposters and massive stars

The National Science Foundation has awarded John Martin, assistant professor of Astronomy/Physics at the University of Illinois Springfield a $62,096 grant over three years to study supernova imposters and the end stages of the most massive stars.

Part of the research will take place at the UIS Henry R. Barber Research Observatory, located west of Springfield and will involve undergraduate students. Professor Martin will collaborate with researchers at the University of Minnesota to observe and model the stages of some of the most massive stars in the universe.

“As part of this grant, we will be studying a class of object called supernova imposters,” said Martin. “A supernova imposter is visually just as bright as a supernova. However, a supernova destroys the star while stars survive supernova imposter events intact.”

The star Eta Carinae is an example of a supernova imposter in our own galaxy. In the 1840s, Eta Carinae had a great eruption making it one of the brightest stars in the nighttime sky for almost a decade. More recently, searches for supernovae in other galaxies have turned up supernova imposter candidates that behave in a similar way, leading astronomers to wonder if this is a common stage for massive stars on their way to becoming true supernovae.

Massive stars are often hundreds of times larger than our own sun and produce such extreme pressures and temperatures that they manufacture all of the elements heavier than helium in the universe. The atoms manufactured in supernova are necessary for the formation of planets and origin life on Earth.

“The silicon in the Earth’s crust, the calcium in your bones, and the iron in your blood were created deep in the heart of massive stars before they exploded as supernova,” said Martin. “While astronomers have observed many supernovae, we know less about the stages preceding the terminal explosions that disperse the elements within the stars throughout the galaxy.”

The National Science Foundation grant is being matched with funds from community donations, which will allow for the purchase of new equipment at the Barber Observatory to monitor massive stars in neighboring galaxies. The grant also includes funds to support undergraduate student research and the development of educational tools to help teach about supernova imposters.

For those interested in studying astronomy, UIS offers several introductory general education astronomy classes designed to teach students the fundamentals of science and foster interest in the stars. Upper-division astronomy courses are also offered for more advanced students. Students pursuing a major or minor in Chemistry at UIS have the option of research in astronomy as part of their degree.

For more information on the grant, contact Blake Wood, UIS Campus Relations at 217/206-6716 or email bwood8@uis.edu.