The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and SIUE School of Business have partnered with NDC Multicultural Community Impact (MCI), the St. Louis SBEC and the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis to host a small business lending virtual training series from 2-3 p.m. on Thursdays, June 4, 11 and 18.

The three-part financial webinar series, “Cash Reigns Supreme,” will provide small businesses with helpful resources and sustainability tools during the COVID-19 crisis. The training opportunity is funded as a result of a generous grant from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation of Battle Creek, Mich.

Local business owners and entrepreneurs throughout the region are invited and encouraged to participate. The training is complimentary, but registration is required at NationalDevelopmentCouncil.asapconnected.com.

The series will cover the importance of financial statements, and how they can be used to make better business decisions. It will also make the connection between bookkeeping and financial statements, as well as review how lenders use financial statements for loan packaging. To get the most out of this free training, it is recommended that business owners and entrepreneurs attend all three sessions. But, there will be a short review of the previous session at the start of each course.

NDC MCI works to create a comprehensive and connected ecosystem to provide financial capital and a wide range of services to support local minority businesses, as well as make credit more readily available to these businesses.

“It truly takes a team effort to help small businesses survive and thrive,” said SBDC Director Jo Ann DiMaggio May, with appreciation for the NDC partnership. 

Contact the SBDC at SIUE with any questions at 618-650-2929.

The New York Times has published Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Jocelyn DeGroot’s, PhD, op-ed “What Should You Say When Someone You Know is Grieving?”

DeGroot is an associate professor in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Applied Communication Studies. In the article, posted Thursday, May 28, she shares her research expertise on grief and offers advice on what to say on digital platforms to those experiencing loss. Read it here.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has undergone major operational changes as the institution has worked to ensure everyone’s health and safety amid challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. As the campus closed and downsized operations, individuals deemed essential to keep campus functioning have demonstrated their pride and devotion to the University through continued in-person supporting services work.

Vice Chancellor for Administration (VCA) Rich Walker offered a shout out to his team of behind-the-scenes employees, applauding their efforts to ensure a seamless transition to on-campus offerings as restrictions slowly lift.

“Let’s remember Facilities Management (FM) staff who have remained active on campus to ensure that the University’s property is maintained and that essential operations including life, health, and safety considerations are addressed in our buildings and on our grounds,” Walker wrote in a University-wide email in early May.

“Our folks in Human Resources keep hiring, benefits and payroll moving, working to support ongoing staffing, benefits and employment processes,” he continued. “Teams of people in Financial Affairs are making sure that our finances are in order and essential purchases continue. While Parking Services and Mailing Services operations have slowed down, they are still busy at work with construction projects that protect the parking lots from decay, and sorting and processing daily mail. Let’s not overlook our Emergency Management and Safety staff who work closely with our Police Department, which works 24-hours daily to keep our campus safe and secure.”

“However, employees’ extraordinary efforts are not limited to the VCA area,” Walker emphasized. “This has been a massive team effort that includes employees in Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, the Office of the Chancellor and University Advancement who have also been busy behind the scenes keeping SIUE moving forward in spite of the pandemic.”

Seasoned employees serving in such crucial areas note that recent challenges have led to the formation of new ideas, creative problem-solving, and increased teamwork as offices persevere and overcome.

“The last couple of months have been an eye-opening experience,” said Lavontas Hairston, a 20-year SIUE employee and assistant director of payroll, benefits and HRIS in the Human Resources Department. “During these challenging times, we’ve learned ways to continue to support students, faculty and staff in non-traditional ways by using technology. I am most pleased with my staff’s level of commitment and flexibility to accommodate the needs of others, while striving to provide the same level of customer service.”

“The challenges have been many, but nothing we couldn’t overcome,” added Director of Purchases Shelly Albert, now in her 34^th year at SIUE. “The silver linings are the things we have learned, our accomplishments, our failures (that hopefully no one has noticed), and how we seem to appreciate each other more than ever. It may not always be sunshine and lollipops, but the bottom line is that SIUE is a great big family of which I am honored to be a member.”

“I’m most proud of the sergeants and officers who have and continue to put their personal and family’s well-being behind their duty and commitment to provide the safety needed during COVID-19,” noted SIUE Police Captain Justin Lieberman, an 18-year employee. “Officers of all ranks are going above and beyond to make sure campus is safe, while maintaining a positive attitude, care and commitment toward the SIUE campus community.”

Choosing to focus on the bright side doesn’t diminish the magnitude of challenges arising with changes and requirements, including abiding by social distancing and personal protective equipment mandates, recentralizing duties to ensure all employees are paid on time, while simultaneously creating alternate work methods to meet employee needs, providing services to vendors and processing purchase requisitions. The list goes on.

Still, numerous dedicated employees are working hard, preparing for and dreaming of a future when campus resumes its vibrant, student-filled atmosphere.

“The students bring a certain energy to campus that is refreshing,” Hairston said. “SIUE’s campus is beautiful, and feels like a community within the City of Edwardsville.”

“I love the pride that employees and students take in SIUE,” added Albert. “If anyone had told the 19-year-old me that I would get to be part of the University’s astonishing growth and work with these people, I would never have believed them.”

“I’m fortunate to work with high level professionals from all departments throughout campus, a student population that is vital to the success of the Police Department and safety of campus, highly trained and caring professional officers who I am fortunate to supervise, and a chief whose dedication to the campus and this department is beyond reproach,” concluded Lieberman.

Campus announcements and updates related to SIUE’s response and continuous adjustments amid COVID-19 and the roll-out of Governor J.B. Pritzker’s Restore Illinois plan are available at siue.edu/coronavirus.

Photo: Behind-the-scenes employees are maintaining SIUE operations and preparing for a seamless transition through the Restore Illinois phases and SIUE adjustments.

Despite dealing with unprecedented circumstances and academic adjustments, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville student-athletes have once again risen to the challenge of achieving high academic success.

For the 28^th semester in a row, SIUE student-athletes have earned a combined grade point average better than a 3.0, extending their impressive streak to 14 total years. During the spring 2020 semester, student-athletes cruised past the 3.0 threshold and boasted a 3.494 GPA, the highest since moving to NCAA Division I status. In total, 12 teams earned a team GPA above 3.0, nine of which were above a 3.5.

“I congratulate our student-athletes on their strong finish to the semester and the academic year,” SIUE Director of Athletics Tim Hall said. “I continue to be impressed with their resiliency in terms of transitioning to online and virtual learning.”

Women’s Cross Country rose to the top for the first time with a record 3.782, which marks the third highest team GPA since transitioning to Division I. The second spot, separated only by three one-thousandths of a point, saw Women’s Tennis edge out Cougars Softball. The tennis team earned its highest team GPA with a 3.689 while softball earned its second highest team GPA with a 3.686.

Men’s Soccer claimed the top spot for the men’s teams with a record 3.666. Men’s Golf, a mainstay in the top three, came in second among men’s team with their second highest team GPA at 3.580. Men’s Track and Field claimed the third spot at 3.273.

A record 78 percent of SIUE student-athletes earned a GPA above a 3.0 for the semester, while 26 percent (60 student-athletes) earned a perfect 4.0.

“I thank our Athletics academic staff, along with University faculty and staff, for their hard work and willingness to serve our student-athletes especially during this trying time,” Hall added.

Finishing with a 3.407 GPA for the entire 2019-20 academic year, the SIUE Athletics cleared the 3.3 threshold for its third consecutive year. The women’s team average for the year was 3.533 and the men’s team average for the year was 3.233. For the year, 84 percent of SIUE student-athletes have a cumulative GPA above a 3.0.

Among the medical professionals bravely serving on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic are five dentists who have kept the SIU School of Dental Medicine’s (SDM) clinic open for dental patients in need of emergency treatment.

Three residents in the SDM’s Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) program have worked in rotating shifts throughout the pandemic to ensure the SDM clinic continued to provide excellent care to its patients. They include James Cahill, DMD, Taylor Reeves, DDS, and Lucas Winebaugh, DMD. Two fellows in the Fellowship in Implant Dentistry program have also provided care, including Katie Hanser, DMD, and Sable Muntean, DMD.

“It is important that we remain open during this time to not only care for our patients, but also to treat any issue as soon as we can to help prevent the patient from having to seek care at the local hospital emergency rooms,” said Chair of the SDM Department of Graduate Education and Director of Implant Dentistry Robert Blackwell, DDS, who worked with Gary Fischer, DMD, director of AEGD, and Kathy Shafer, DMD, assistant dean for clinical affairs, to oversee the fellows and residents.

To ensure the safety of the residents, fellows, staff and patients, every patient is screened over the phone and when they arrive for their appointment to identify any possible COVID-19 symptoms. The residents and fellows are equipped with advanced personal protective equipment to combat the spread of germs while providing patient care.

“We are continually updating clinical policies and personal protective equipment requirements as new research and recommendations emerge, so that residents, staff and patients can all feel safe when they enter our clinic,” said Hanser.

Teamwork among the residents and fellows in scheduling and evaluating patients is critically important during a time when the clinic, usually run by hundreds of dental students and staff, has been limited to these five dentists.

“The other residents and I are constantly in communication to gauge how we can help patients as efficiently as possible, while keeping them and ourselves safe,” said Muntean. 

None of the residents and fellows likely expected to be doing this type of dental care when they made the decision to become dentists. But, through their work to provide patients with access to needed dental care while alleviating the number of patients in emergency rooms, this team is fulfilling their oath as dental professionals.

“As dentists, we have committed to a career of providing quality dental healthcare to our patients. That commitment is unconditional of a pandemic,” said Hanser.

Muntean added, “This will definitely be something I will never forget and will change dentistry for years to come. There is a new normal we will not only have to find, but also adjust to. I look forward to contributing to its outcome!”

Photos: Among the core team of dentists offering emergency dental care at the SIU School of Dental Medicine Clinic are (L-R) Dr. Robert Blackwell, Dr. Lucas Winebaugh, Dr. Katie Hanser, Dr. Taylor Reeves, Dr. James Cahill and Dr. Sable Muntean.

(L-R) SIU SDM Resident Dr. Taylor Reeves meets with patient Brenda Fick. Also offering care is Fellow Dr. Sable Muntean.

Having just finished his 8^th grade year at Liberty Middle School in Edwardsville, Will Wojcieszak used his love for science, especially fossils, to make the most of his at-home learning time amid COVID-19 by participating in virtual STEM-related opportunities.

Wojcieszak is an avid user of the resources and expertise of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Center for STEM Research, Education and Outreach. This March, he participated in the virtual Science and Engineering Research Challenge (SERC) hosted by the SIUE STEM Center.

Wojcieszak enjoyed a successful showing with his project “Can Climate Change Impact Fossil Collection Sites?” He placed third overall in the junior division and first in the Earth Science division, earning the NASA Earth Science Award with a nomination for Broadcom Master, a national science fair. With his award receipt, Wojcieszak had the opportunity to participate in a NASA webinar in April, where he heard from two NASA scientists and learned about careers at NASA and in science.

“Each regional science fair at SIUE has been a learning experience for Will,” explained Wojcieszak’s dad, Doug, of Will’s three years of SERC participation. “STEM personnel and volunteers give terrific feedback to all the kids who are selected to participate. Will is interested in geology and engineering. He excels at math and has a talent for building and fixing things.”

For his project, Wojcieszak researched how fossil collection data from a prominent site in Cincinnati changed from 2016-2020, and how those changes correlated with increased rainfall and erosion from climate change. 

“Will simply loves collecting fossils,” Doug said. “He can spend an entire afternoon wandering through a creek bed or digging on a hillside in his adopted hometown of Cincinnati. He often brings home buckets of fossils. Will has a knack for identifying fossils and enjoys showing them to other people.”

SIUE STEM Center personnel have strongly encouraged Will to continue studying fossils and geology, according to Doug. 

“We’re always impressed by the projects that students in our region bring to SERC,” said SIUE STEM Center Instructor and Outreach Specialist Colin Wilson. “Will, in particular, has shown a lot of initiative and enthusiasm. I’m glad to see those qualities continue to be rewarded, and that Will could talk with some like-minded scientists through these virtual opportunities.”

“As a parent, I appreciate all the resources of the SIUE STEM Center,” Doug emphasized. “From the regional science fair to summer camps and more, the STEM Center provides a wealth of experiences to encourage kids to explore science and the world around them. STEM personnel are extremely accessible and always happy to go the extra mile for grade school students and their families. They are patient and kind with the kids and their parents. I encourage Metro East families to learn about the various services of the SIUE STEM Center.”

For more information on the SIUE STEM Center, visit SIUESTEMCenter.org. 

Photos: Will Wojcieszak, of Edwardsville, poses with a portion of his large fossil collection.

Will Wojcieszak is dedicated to searching for fossils. He spent much of January collecting fossils and corresponding data for his Science and Engineering Research Challenge project, entitled “Can Climate Change Impact Fossil Collection Sites?”

For the third consecutive year, a Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Business Master of Science in Accountancy (MSA) student has earned a competitive $10,000 national scholarship from the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) Scholars Program.

Award recipient Stacee Durell, of St. Jacob, notes the scholarship will almost completely pay for her advanced degree, allowing her to make her dreams of becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) a reality.

“My reaction to receiving this award was one of pure shock,” Durell said. “I honestly could not believe a girl from such a small town could win such a big scholarship. I’m grateful the committee saw potential in me. This has definitely taken a lot of stress off my shoulders.”

The SIUE accounting program is a qualified PCAOB Scholarship Nominating School. Durell secured the national scholarship after first being chosen as SIUE’s representative, and then competing with other top applicants from all nominating schools in the U.S.

“Being accepted as a nominating school for the PCAOB Scholars Program is great recognition and a seal of approval for SIUE accounting,” said Gregory Sierra, PhD, associate professor and director of the MSA program. “It means that the nation’s audit regulator is confident that SIUE can educate accountants to protect our financial system.”

Sierra expressed his confidence in Durell as a deserving candidate, noting she has demonstrated incredible academic achievement, and stands out for her service and friendships within SIUE’s MSA program.

“As Beta Alpha Psi president, Stacee has spent much time and energy helping other students, connecting SIUE to accounting professionals in the region, and serving the community,” Sierra explained. “Pre-COVID, she was always in the department working with other students. Even since COVID, she has been working on virtual events for SIUE students. Faculty and students admire her work ethic. Fellow students clearly appreciate her ability to contribute not only to their learning, but also to a positive atmosphere.”

“I would like to thank SIUE’s accounting faculty, because without their support, this opportunity would not have been possible,” Durell said. “The accounting professors explain the difficult material so clearly that as long as I am willing to put the work into studying, I will get the grade and understanding that I’m striving for. They are always willing to answer any questions I have related to class, material, accounting culture, proper etiquette and more. They give their all to provide as many opportunities as possible for me and my fellow students.”

Durell always strives for high achievement in whatever she’s doing. That holds true in her professional outlook as she prepares to graduate in fall 2021 with aspirations to work for a big four firm. To start, she will pursue an internship at KPMG in winter 2020.

“I would love to work my way up in a big four firm until I become partner, or even CEO or CFO one day,” Durell explained. “I have always set out to obtain the highest position possible. I would like to make a name for myself in the accounting industry, and show the world that women can achieve great things and are just as capable as men.”

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) is the national regulator of public auditors. The PCAOB oversees the audits of public companies and SEC-registered brokers and dealers in order to protect investors and further the public interest in the preparation of informative, accurate and independent audit reports.

Photo: SIUE MSA student Stacee Durell, of St. Jacob, earned a $10,000 scholarship from the PCAOB Scholars Program.

Racial and ethnic minorities are underrepresented in the field of environmental health sciences, despite the need for diverse perspectives to ensure human health and well-being throughout all communities. To help address this disparity, the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the NIH has awarded Southern Illinois University Edwardsville a five-year, $1,337,855 grant from its Science Education Partnerships Award (SEPA) program.

Through the project, “Environmental Health Investigators: Building STEM Interest to Promote Careers in the Health Sciences,” a team of SIUE faculty researchers, curriculum developers and graduate students will develop a community-based environmental health program and provide minority students opportunities to learn about and prepare for a career in health sciences.

The project is co-led by principal investigators Sharon Locke, PhD, director of the SIUE STEM Center and associate professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences, Georgia Bracey, PhD, research assistant professor in the STEM Center, and Ben Greenfield, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences. Senior Personnel include Jennifer Zuercher, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Applied Health, and Carol Colaninno, PhD, research assistant professor in the STEM Center.

“This project builds on our existing relationship with Madison County schools by providing opportunities for youth to design and conduct authentic scientific investigations to help their community,” said Locke. “We are both grateful and excited to receive NIH SEPA funding, which is allowing us to teach youth about how environmental conditions impact human health. Local students will help measure air quality, soil quality and noise levels in the region to determine trouble spots and develop solutions to improve environmental conditions.”

By creating a community-based science education curriculum, the team hopes to generate and sustain an interest in health sciences that will ultimately alter students’ education and career pathways. 

“We anticipate that middle school students will develop an interest in health sciences if they participate in authentic activities in a real-world context, engage with and understand relevant scientific content that connects with their community, and interact regularly with professional scientists,” Bracey explained.

The project also provides four graduate assistantships each year for SIUE students to help collect environmental health data and teach the youth how to collect and analyze scientific data. According to Greenfield, “The graduate students, who will be role models and mentors, are an integral part of our team, helping to design lessons and deliver instruction in an after-school setting.”

Some of the graduate students will use the air, soil and noise data as part of their master’s research. Others are studying the program’s impact on student interest in environmental health and science careers, and participating students’ intentions to take advanced science and math courses in the future.

The team is developing a one-year curriculum that includes hands-on investigations that require teamwork and communication. In fall 2019, students used a technique developed for the project called “Environmental Photovoice” to document environmental factors that affect human health. Students took photographs of features in their community that might contribute to pollution and created written narratives describing their significance. The students then presented their photos in a community showcase in December.

“The first semester of the project was a big success,” said Zuercher. “We had to make adjustments when the COVID-19 pandemic required a temporary suspension of the in-person program. The team has been extremely resourceful in developing new ways to reach students. We are preparing educational kits about soil quality to deliver to students, so that they can continue to learn environmental health at home.”

The project includes annual professional development workshops for teachers who would like to implement the curriculum. The training focuses on teaching environmental health in a science classroom, the Environmental Photovoice method, and using air sensor technology. Teachers who commit to using community-based data with their students will receive air monitoring equipment for their classroom.

Educators are invited to register for the online workshops being held via Zoom from 9 a.m.-Noon Tuesday, June 9 and Thursday, June 11. Registration is available at SIUESTEMCenter.org/2020/06/02/enheinpd/.

By the end of the project, the team hopes to have prepared a successful environmental health curriculum and program model that can be easily replicated in other communities. Along with increasing minority student interest in the health sciences, the results of this research have the potential to identify environmental concerns of residents in economically stressed communities and to improve upon them in the future. 

Photo: (L-R) SIUE’s Environmental Health Investigators research team includes co-principal investigators Georgia Bracey, PhD, Sharon Locke, PhD, and Ben Greenfield. (photo taken fall 2019)

The journey toward completing a doctor of dental medicine degree is long and rigorous, yet incredibly rewarding. For some, like the Dudovitz and Habibi sisters, it’s an academic milestone worth sharing!

During its 2020 virtual commencement ceremony being held Saturday, June 6, the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SDM) will confer degrees upon 56 students, including sisters Tara and Maya Habibi, of Springfield, and twins Roxanne and Shawna Dudovitz, of Deerfield.

“When my sister and I were little we would help each other pull out our baby teeth,” recalled Shawna Dudovitz. “Our mother works for a dentist, so growing up we were always around dentistry. We both had a passion to help people and knew this would be a great way for us to give back, together.”

“Dental school is hard, and to have a built-in support system really helped make the process easier,” added Roxanne. “There is no one I would have rather done this with than my sister.”

Having proven their abilities to successfully support and encourage each other through a challenging academic program, the sibling pairs have long-term plans of practicing dentistry together. The Habibi’s even hope to make it a trio someday by opening multiple practices with their older sister Natalia, a 2016 SIU SDM alumna.

“I was grateful to have a piece of home with me during dental school,” noted Maya Habibi. “As far as academics and personality types go, Tara and I could not be more different. She was always pushing me to be better, and I hope, I had a calming effect on her. We have a small family, so I cherish having such a close relationship with my sister.”

“Going through all four years of school together made the hard times a lot more bearable,” said Tara. “We definitely became a support system for each other.”

All of the aspiring dentists were involved students at the SIU SDM, noting how their extra-curricular commitments amplified their overall experience.

“Both my sister and I participated in the Association of American Women Dentists (AAWD),” Shawna said. “Through this group, we were able to help create community in the School through philanthropy. It was a great opportunity to give back. Additionally, through our clinical training, we saw the incredible impact dentists can make. We made many connections with patients. It was a wonderful experience and reminded us why we wanted to pursue this profession.”

“The highlights of my time at the SIU SDM include involvement in campus organizations like the Xi Psi Phi Dental Fraternity, AAWD and SDM Student Council,” added Tara.

“I served as a representative of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), assisted and started the first SIU SDM Impressions Day in 2019, participated in the Xi Psi Phi Dental Fraternity, served on the SIU SDM curriculum committee for two years, volunteered at the 2018 Mission of Mercy event in Springfield, and went on the Jamaica Dental Mission Trip in 2019,” Maya noted.

Upon graduation, Roxanne will work in O’Fallon and Shawna in Shiloh. Tara plans to practice general dentistry and then apply for an endodontic residency. Maya will be practicing general dentistry in Festus, Mo.

The SIU SDM virtual commencement will go live Saturday, June 6 at siue.edu/dental/virtual-commencement.

Photo: (top) SIU SDM June 2020 graduates and twins (L-R) Roxanne and Shawna Dudovitz, and (bottom) fellow graduates and sisters (L-R) Maya and Tara Habibi.

TheOther40 business plan competition offers Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students the opportunity to take a business idea through the stages needed to launch a product or service.

The SIUE School of Business hosted its 10^th competition in 2020, which concluded in May with an online video pitch. More than $10,000 in cash prizes were awarded to the finalists.

School of Business graduate student Emily Whelan achieved first place and $5,000 with Emily’s Concrete Engraving. Whelan’s company turns old, existing slabs of concrete into works of art with coloring, cutting and sealing techniques.

Taking the $3,000 second place prize was Justin Bozza with Heyo Devs, LLC. The company is a business and event management software firm that emphasizes networking for universities, businesses and non-profits.

Serena Schafer with Crafting for a Cause earned third place and $2,000. Crafting for a Cause is an online store that works with women’s shelters by teaching women how to make and sell simple craft items, such as knitted hats, scarves and blankets.

Other finalists included Grace Noice with DonateMate, Riley Lovett with EmergentB, and Sydney Bina with Performance Practices.

TheOther40 derives its name from data that shows approximately 60% of startups fail within five years. The goal of the program is to find, engage and support the other 40%. The competition is supported in part by an entrepreneurship education initiative gift provided to the SIUE School of Business by the Martinson Foundation.

Photo: (top) Emily Whelan earned first place in TheOther40 business plan competition with Emily’s Concrete Engraving. (bottom) Justin Bozza took second place with Heyo Devs, LLC, and third place went to (side) Serena Schafer with Crafting for a Cause.

 
Internships are valuable development opportunities that allow students to apply their knowledge in an active work environment and strengthen skillsets for their future careers.

Unfortunately, in all sectors, including higher education, many summer internships have been canceled since the onset of COVID-19. However, some students from the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville College Student Personnel Administration (CSPA) graduate program are fortunate to be able to complete their competitive national internships remotely.

CSPA student Telayah Richards is remotely interning at Georgia State University through August 10, working with new student orientation. Fellow student Kayla Ward, a first-generation college student, is gaining experience through a remote internship at California State University Fullerton (CSUF). Also completing a remote internship is CSPA’s Shelby Ireland, who is contributing to the SIUE’s Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Office in New Student Transitions.

“I am glad students will have the opportunity to continue with their national internships in an alternative format amidst these unprecedented times,” said Candace Hall, EdD, CSPA instructor and assistant program director. “Some institutions have offered to create ways for our students to engage with their programs and students despite the pandemic. Our local partners, SIUE being chief among them, have been phenomenal in offering alternative internship options for those students whose national placements have been canceled.”

“Throughout both my undergraduate and graduate careers, internships have been essential in my process of finding purpose and gaining knowledge,” said Ward, of Liberty. “In conjunction with my CSPA courses, I can apply what I learn in the classroom to real-life situations. The connections you build and experience gained are irreplaceable.”

Ward is eager to contribute to CSUF’s Titan Orientation Programs, which have switched gears to focus on online student engagement.

“The team will be building a community for both incoming and current students through many different means, such as webinars, panel discussions and social media campaigns,” she explained. “I’m grateful that CSUF is committed to integrating its interns into all aspects of that goal.”

Richards, of Springfield, appreciates the opportunity to grow and develop through her remote internship. She pursued the CSPA program, because she knew she was destined to work in higher education.

“I loved everything about my college experience, and it dawned on me that my career should be in higher education,” Richards said. “I would like to serve as a dean of students at a four-year institution.”

The challenges faced in higher education have been plentiful amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The CSPA students are developing professionals driven to assist students during a pivotal time in their lives. Their impact will be enhanced as they guide new and current students through this unprecedented beginning of their college careers.

“I have found a passion for helping students find their home at their university,” said Ireland, of Spaulding. “I want to be that support for new students and help guide them to success. Internships can help solidify goals and what you want out of your career. I am honored to be able to continue what I love to do, which is learning how to impact students’ lives.”

Ireland is assisting in planning and implementation of the SIUE Experience, the University’s extended orientation for new students. She is also interviewing and hiring Cougar Guides.

“It has been a smooth transition working online for my internship,” Ireland said. “My supervisor has done a tremendous job helping support me through the transition and ensuring I receive the resources I need to be successful. We are working through Microsoft Teams and Zoom to collaborate and plan. Ultimately, my responsibilities have remained almost the same, as I am fortunate to continue them remotely.”

Photo: SIUE College Student Personnel Administration graduate students (L-R) Kayla Ward, Telayah Richards and Shelby Ireland are completing remote summer internships.

SIUE alumnus Abdul Razack has joined Google Cloud as vice president for Solution Engineering. Razack completed a master’s in electrical engineering at SIUE in 1999.

Details on his career advancement are available on AmericanBazaarOnline.com.

Eighteen Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students in both the undergraduate exercise science program and the graduate exercise physiology program have adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic by moving to a virtual environment to complete their graduation requirements as mandated by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). 

Erin Vanderbunt, exercise science/exercise physiology internship coordinator in the Department of Applied Health, and Natalie Hawkins, assistant director of recreational programs in the SIUE Department of Campus Recreation, have collaborated to provide the necessary student experiences.

Most often, students complete their 200-hour internships in settings such as cardiac rehabilitation, athletic performance, fitness and wellness facilities, corporate wellness/fitness, physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training rooms, and chiropractic offices. Suddenly, those options were unavailable as the the COVID-19 pandemic spread.

Vanderbunt’s students were given the option to complete their summer 2020 internships by finding a facility that would allow for remote/virtual experiences until on-ground activities resumed, delay their internship to a later semester, or to participate in a virtual internship.

Meanwhile, Hawkins was trying to map out how campus recreation could continue to offer quality programming with a reduced staff during the Illinois Stay-at-Home order.

The students’ original concept was to create an online fitness and wellness center for the community at large. However, the students identified the SIUE community as a target population. The goal was to be a helpful resource to the University community during these uncertain times. Additionally, they identified social media as the platform of delivery for a variety of exercise and wellness-related topics. 

Vanderbunt contacted Campus Recreation Director Keith Becherer to see if there was any interest in collaborating on the project. Becherer directed her to Hawkins.

“The internship objectives are for students to apply academic coursework, theories, and principles to gain knowledge and skills through observation and application in a real-world environment,” Vanderbunt said. “They develop and enhance professional skills such as communication, motivation, organization, and self-discipline, and gain a better understanding of facility management and business operations.” 

After several brainstorming sessions and reflective research, the students determined that they wanted to do more than provide resources and encouragement for physical activity, such as daily workouts. They created a plan to teach proper form, dispel myths, and expose students to some of the science behind different types of physical activity, while also providing resources to help with overall wellness such as mindfulness, stress, sleep, nutrition, hydration and how to use physical activity to help facilitate learning.

The team quickly organized inside Microsoft Teams and simultaneously learned new software for collaboration and content creation, organizing themselves and their topics, and created the first set of content released the week of May 25.  They are also developing a website where they can review various resources, such as fitness and wellness apps, and publish the more in-depth content in the form of blog posts.

A variety of students are benefitting from sharpening their social media skills. “I’m excited to learn how to make more professional content since social media and the use of electronics is a part of everyone’s daily lives,” said Marianne Durkin, of Macomb. “By going through this online experience without face-to-face contact, it shows that you can make a difference and do some great work with a large group of people remotely.”

The students intend to publish 2-4 posts per day across the various campus recreation social media accounts. The emphasis will be on increasing student engagement by including challenges, daily calls to action and encouraging the use of various hashtags. Students are divided into groups:

• Workouts: Create daily workouts and challenges, reviewing resources
• Outdoor recreation: Create a minimum of two outdoor activities/challenges per week, reviewing apps and resources
• Exercise knowledge base: Provide the more educational/informative content, teach proper form, dispel myths
• Wellness/mindfulness/stress: Provide daily tips, tricks, education and motivation for leading an overall healthy lifestyle, including general wellness, nutrition, hydration, study tips, anxiety and stress, sleep, motivation, and self-care
• Interview/spotlight: Highlight SIUE students who engage with the content, interviewing faculty on various exercise and nutrition-related topics
• Social media: Responsible for final edits, approval and posting of content, as well as closely monitoring student engagement

“This virtual internship opportunity is allowing our students the ability to develop their professional skills and apply what they have learned in the classroom, while also helping campus recreation continue operations with a reduced staff,’ Vanderbunt said. “Despite the lack of face-to-face interaction, this experience will meet the original objectives of the internship and will prepare these students for their careers after graduation.” 

Tyrone Johnson, of Edwardsville, sees the benefits of learning skills for creatively connecting with people, taking engagement to a new level. “We can give our students a sense of community even while at home, motivating alumni, students, and the school to interact in a way that bonds us,” he said. “If I can do this here, then when I run my own physical therapy clinic, I can feel confident creating my ideal environment no matter the variables.”

“I look forward to learning the behind-the-scenes of how campus recreation creates and maintains a student-engaged community through social media,” said Magali Coreggia, of O’Fallon, Mo. “Rather than just being a student in the audience, I get to experience seeing and creating the content through a new perspective and gain skills that I can use in my future.”

Meanwhile, Sabrina Burch, of Bethalto, is looking toward a career in corporate wellness. “This internship will help me gain experience in that department,” she said. “As a wellness coordinator, it is your job to keep the employees motivated and healthy by giving them insight to exercise and nutrition and promoting challenges with incentives to keep them physically active. It is also more than just exercise, it is the well-being of each person.

“Each group within this internship is a collective representative of what health and wellness is all about. This is going to give me an inside feel of what it may be like for a future career in the wellness field.”

Vanderbunt said the internship allows students to develop the skills and knowledge they need to confidently navigate the online fitness, health and wellness marketplace, setting them up to be leaders in their chosen fields. 

Photo (Clockwise from top left corner): Anashay Love, Tyrone Johnson, Sabrina Burch, Marianne Durkin,  Brantlea Jones, Jessica Bentlage, Mary Ondrejka, Moneque Young, David Lianes, Madelyn Geier, Kayla Robertson, Matthew McDonald, Glenna Rosales, Caittlynn Depew, Denea Kiser, Magali Coreggia and Michael Dade.

Twenty-eight graduates of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) Class of 2020 experienced their first virtual commencement ceremony Friday, May 26. View the ceremony at siue.edu/esl-charter-school.

CHS Director Gina Jeffries, EdD, extolled the graduates’ virtues and acknowledged it was not the type of senior year they ever could have imagined because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Victory Class of 2020, take a bow and walk with the power that has been instilled in you,” she said. “You are ready to take on anything. Remember to give back to the community of believers who have walked this journey with you.”

Jeffries noted that the Class of 2020 has the second highest amount of scholarship offers in the school’s history with more than $3-million, with more to come. 

She thanked parents and guardians for their support and trust in educating their students, and quoted President Barack Obama, who said, “The Class of 2020 has the power to change anything.”

SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook congratulated the class for its acceptance into 170 universities. “You will be successful in the future as you build upon your educational experiences,” he said. “Your success stems from the opportunities provided to you at the Charter High School – opportunities to consider new ideas, meet new people, think analytically and critically to work toward goals.”

Pembrook recalled the timeliness of the introduction of 1-to-1 technology this academic year, referring to one computer for each CHS student in the form of a laptop, tablet or iPad. “This allowed CHS students to continue their studies in the virtual realm as COVID-19 expanded to require stay-at-home measures,” he said. “Our students didn’t miss a beat.”

Pembrook quoted Albert Einstein, who said, “If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or objects.”

“The CHS has had a significant, positive influence on your life as you considered your goals,” Pembrook said. “We are all proud of your success, and this University is a better place, because you were students at the SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School.”

CHS Board of Directors President Kim Durr complimented the students for their adaptability, creativity and grit. “Your determination and strength will continue to take you places,” she said. “Take your ability to persevere even in challenging times and use it to your advantage going forward.”

Valedictorian Lauren Edwards also earned an associate’s degree from Southwestern Illinois College while dually enrolled at CHS. She referenced the class’ historical place in time. “Being born in the years of 9-11 and graduating during COVID-19, we were built for this,” she said. “We were built to overcome any obstacles, push any boundaries and make history. We’ve managed to stay strong and determined to make it this far. I’m so proud of how we have overcome unexpected life changes and challenges.

“On the positive side, look at what we’ve gained and accomplished. We have gained long-term friendships and stories to pass down to future generations. We’ve been the most successful class in academics and sports. There is no other class that has experienced this journey as we have.”

Salutatorian Mikayla James acknowledged that the pandemic only altered some things and events. “But we have our whole lives ahead of us,” she said. “Some will continue onto college, the military or go straight into the workforce. But we will come out as some of the greatest doctors, lawyers, teachers, artists, businessmen and businesswomen, and engineers.

“To the staff that teaches, I want to thank you for believing in us, getting to know us on a personal level, and never giving up on us when we slipped up even a little bit.

The SIUE Charter High School is a school-of-choice for families in the East St. Louis School District 189. 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, Illinois 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. 

CBS News chief  Washington correspondent Major Garrett interviewed SIUE School of Pharmacy’s Lakesha Butler, PharmD, BCPS, clinical professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice, on his Debriefing the Briefing segment on Wednesday, June 3.

Garrett addressed the nationwide protests about police tactics in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, but also discussed other issues of discrimination and bias, such as the disproportionate exposure to COVID-19 among people of color and their lack of access to healthcare. Butler’s insight begins at approximately the 4:30 mark in the show.

Listen to the interview here.

Butler is an advocate for increasing cultural competency among healthcare professionals, decreasing health disparities among minorities and underserved patients, improving health literacy, and incorporating innovative, active learning strategies in the classroom.

In an “unconventional, but heartfelt” virtual commencement ceremony held Saturday, June 6, the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) conferred doctor of dental medicine (DMD) degrees on 56 students comprising the Class of 2020.

“Graduates, you are a special group of people,” said SIU SDM Dean Bruce Rotter, DMD. “During the last four years, you have put in many hard hours and distinguished yourselves through your academic achievements, the delivering of high-quality dental care, your community outreach and service efforts, and your research accomplishments. You have also demonstrated your resolve and resiliency during these last few months as we all stepped into the unknown realm of pandemic.”

The Class of 2020 represents the SIU SDM’s 45^th class of graduates. SIU SDM students achieve high ratings on clinical and national board exams, and go on to serve their communities with excellent skill sets. The Class of 2020 excelled on the National Board Dental Exams, earning a 91% first-time pass rate on Part I and an 86% first-time pass rate on Part II

During the virtual ceremony, the SIU SDM also celebrated the commencement of eight students completing the International Advanced Placement Program (IAPP). The IAPP enables qualified dentists who have graduated from an acknowledged international dental school to pursue a DMD degree at the SIU SDM. Program graduates are able to obtain licensure to practice dentistry in the U.S.

SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook congratulated the SDM graduates on the tremendous achievement of earning a DMD and offered his confidence in their ability to shape a changing world.

 “Graduates, today’s virtual commencement is a formal celebration of your honor,” Pembrook said. “You should be extremely proud of your accomplishments. But, you haven’t succeeded by yourselves. Wherever you happen to be at the moment, please give a cheer for your supporters, including family, friends, alumni, as well as SIU SDM administration, faculty and staff for their steadfast leadership of this excellent program.”

Selected by her peers, Michelle Hickey, DMD, offered remarks on behalf of students. She emphasized the valuable lessons learned throughout the pandemic, and how the Class of 2020 has helped lead a new age of education.

“With the push from the current climate, we have opened the door for other students to have alternate routes for competencies and licensure,” Hickey said. “We proved that no matter what happens, the education you receive and the connections you make at the SIU SDM will prepare you for anything. I have no doubt we will all go on to be successful clinicians, teachers, researchers, board examiners and members of society.”

SIU SDM President of the Student Council Alexis Polczynski, DMD, addressed her fellow graduates and colleagues noting the unexpected detours they encountered during their final year of dental school.

“No one could have predicted out paths, but that’s okay,” noted Polczynski. “It’s impossible to know what life will throw at you. This experience has shown us the truth in that statement. While the current situation and the emotions surrounding it are at the forefront of our minds right now, let’s focus for a minute on what we have accomplished. We did something truly amazing. We learned and began mastering something that most could never dream of achieving over the course of four years. I am beyond grateful for my time at the SIU School of Dental Medicine.”

Rotter closed the virtual ceremony by referencing an anonymous quote: “This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important, because you are exchanging a day of your life of it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever. In its place is something you have left behind. Let it be something good.”

He extended his heartfelt congratulations, wishing the Class of 2020 success and happiness in both their personal and professional lives.

“You are special people,” he exclaimed. “You are bright and ambitious, with great minds and even greater hearts. Celebrate your accomplishments, your new profession, and mostly, each other and those close to you.”

To view the SIU SDM virtual commencement ceremony, visit siue.edu/dental/virtual-commencement. 

Photo: SIU School of Dental Medicine in Alton.

Southern Illinois University System President Dan Mahony is the 2020 recipient of the Charles Whitcomb Service Award given by the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA) which acknowledges individuals who foster diversity and inclusion within the intercollegiate athletics community. Mahony is the fourth recipient of the annual award.

“I am so incredibly humbled to receive the Charles Whitcomb Award from MOAA,” Mahony said. “Charlie Whitcomb was a strong champion for diversity in athletics during his life and helped to found MOAA in order to increase opportunities for minorities in college athletic leadership roles. Having the award named for him makes this honor especially meaningful to me. At a time when our nation is grappling with our promise to ensure equality, I recognize more than ever that we all need to do far more. I hope my future diversity and inclusion work as a higher education leader will be worthy of this recognition.”

Whitcomb, who died in 2016, was a founding member of MOAA. He retired after 40 years of service to San Jose State University in various academic roles from assistant professor to vice provost for academic personnel and administration in the Office of the Provost\Vice President for Academic Affairs. He is remembered for his passion to be a teacher and a champion for others.

”As MOAA’s president, we are grateful to have a higher education leader like Dr. Mahony supporting people of color in this profession,” said Dr. China Jude, MOAA president and senior associate athletic director at the University of Wyoming. “He is a university president that ‘gets it.’ We want to continue celebrating those leaders who champion diversity and inclusion with words and actions. We are happy to honor him as the Dr. Charles Whitcomb Service Award recipient.”

MOAA’s mission is to provide opportunities to exchange ideas, advocate increased participation and administrative opportunities for minorities in athletics. MOAA also promotes generating a sports culture that supports the values necessary to teach and learn respect for self and others.

In recognizing Mahony’s award, Dr. Renae Myles Payne, senior associate athletic director for administration at University of Miami Athletics, said, “I was so fortunate to work with Dr. Mahony at Winthrop, during a time of transition for the athletics department. He has a very practical and effective vision for increasing diversity and inclusion. I am extremely grateful that he and Athletic Director Dr. Ken Halpin gave me an opportunity to help execute his vision.”

In determining award recipients, MOAA looks for individuals and administrators who have gone above and beyond to create welcoming, inclusive and supportive environments within the field of athletics and who have demonstrated a commitment to the recruitment, hiring and retention of a high-quality and diversified staff. The award also seeks to recognize those who have created or fostered a proactive, positive engagement around diversity and who have established programs that improve the campus/organizational climate for underrepresented groups.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the award was presented during a virtual meeting of MOAA.

Civil unrest has swept the globe as racial injustices and systemic oppression have again been brought to the forefront following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Protests, action movements, and calls for listening and learning span the world.

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Education, Health and Human Behavior (SEHHB) is responding with a significant opportunity for teaching and learning, as is its mission, by hosting the first in a series of virtual panels, podcasts, and community discussions on the important topic of Dismantling Institutional Racism in Higher Education. Supported by the Provost’s Office and the East St. Louis Center, the panel discussion will explore how institutions of higher education (leadership, faculty, staff and students) can serve to disrupt systemic racism and white supremacy embedded into organizational life and culture. 

These systems are consistently reified through everyday organizational practices that dehumanize black, indigenous and other persons of color (BIPOC). The goal of the series is to clearly identify the systems, structures, and practices that maintain institutional racism and white supremacy in PK20 institutions of education. Through collective bodies, we will explore actionable steps to identify, disrupt and ultimately dismantle systems of white supremacy. Meaningful change which restores the lost opportunities of BIPOC requires that the people of institutions engage in self-reflection, examination of practices and policies, and actions that translate to structural and systemic change. Anything less would follow a dehumanizing trend of educators and educator leaders perpetuating the status quo.

The virtual panel is free and will take place via Zoom beginning at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 11, and last for approximately 2 hours. Interested participants should register at https://bit.ly/dismantling_oppression and a zoom meeting link will be sent to registrants prior to the event.

“We invite all who are concerned, questioning or frustrated to join in this critical discussion about how institutions can work towards dismantling institutionalized racism,” said SEHHB Dean Robin Hughes, PhD, whose describes her own academic practice and expertise as shaped through an activist and critical race theoretical lens - or way of knowing, thinking and living. 

“It is crucial that we use and share our personal and professional experiences, significant research findings and collective commitment to the University’s mission and values to take positive and effective action to dismantle institutional racism that happens everywhere,” she emphasized.

Hughes designated a collective of scholar-activists to coordinate this important discussion. The group represents some SIUE scholars whose research agenda and activism focuses on race and other ‘isms.’ Current members include the SEHHB’s Jennifer Hernandez, PhD; Jessica Krim, EdD; J.T. Snipes, PhD; and Nate Williams, PhD.

Along with Dr. Nate Williams, speakers at the virtual panel will include:

• Lori Patton Davis, PhD, Chair of the Department of Educational Studies at The Ohio State University’s College of Education and Human Ecology
• Dominic Dorsey, MSEd, Director of the SIUE Office for Accessible Campus Community and Equitable Student Support (ACCESS)
• Tomika Ferguson, PhD, Assistant Professor and EdD coordinator in the School of Education at Virginia Commonwealth University
• Timothy Lewis, PhD, Assistant Professor in the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Political Science
• David Stovall, PhD, Professor of African-American Studies and Criminology, Law & Justice at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC)
• Denise Taliaferro Baszile, PhD, Associate Dean of Diversity and Student Experience and Professor of Curriculum and Cultural Studies in the College of Education, Health and Society at Miami University of Ohio

Affiliates interested in the work of the collective are welcome and should contact Dr. Jessica Krim at jkrim@siue.edu for more information. Details on this event and future work of the collective can be found on the SEHHB’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

Photo: SIUE SEHHB Dean Robin Hughes, PhD.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Albert Luo, PhD, distinguished research professor in the School of Engineering’s (SOE) Department of Mechanical Engineering, is organizing a Conference Series on Nonlinear Science and Complexity to take place virtually November 23-25.

The conference series aims to present the fundamental and frontier theories and techniques for modern science and technology, and stimulate more research interest for exploration of nonlinear science and complexity. It presents an opportunity for acclaimed researchers like Luo to directly pass knowledge to the next generation of engineers and technologists in vital science fields.

Luo is a local organization chair for the online conference series, which has a 16-year history. He hopes the virtual format will prove successful and predicts it may serve as a new template for future conferences.

“COVID-19 cannot stop us from continuously working for our society and exchanging ideas with colleagues,” Luo said. “Through experience using Zoom to teach remotely, I immediately thought we should have an online conference rather than the standard onsite conference. Such an online conference resolves the puzzles caused by COVID-19. It reduces conference costs and traveling time, which is important for attendees. And, the virtual environment ensures older, established scientists can join in the exchange of ideas.”

Four awards are presented at the conference to distinguished scholars for lifetime and breakthrough achievements and to an outstanding young scholar, including the Lagrange Award, G.M. Zaslavsky Award, V. Afraimovich Award and the newly established C.S. Hsu Award.

At the November virtual conference, five top scientists from Italy, Spain and the United States will deliver plenary speeches for one-hour lectures. The series will feature 16 invited speakers from the Americas, Europe and Asia, including the United States, Russia, China, Portugal, France, Italy, Lithuania, Egypt, India, Iran and Brazil. Additionally, seven symposiums on Nonlinear Dynamics and Complexity will be included.

Topics of interest that will be emphasized during the conference series include nonlinear differential equations and applications, discontinuous dynamical systems and control, neurodynamics and brain dynamics, social dynamics and complexity, switching systems with impulses, and more.

“My passion in mechanical engineering is to develop more accurate theories of mechanical systems for better descriptions and applications,” Luo explained. “In this conference, our research group will present the recent progress on ‘bifurcation trees of periodic motions to chaos in nonlinear mechanical systems.’”

Luo has achieved international recognition in his field with his theory of flow barrier vector fields. He has developed analytical solutions of periodic motions to chaos, which have been unsolved for 300 years. Colleagues credit him with developing methods of calculating chaotic motions, as well as pioneering theories of dynamic physical changes that were previously unexplained.

Luo achieved SIUE’s highest academic rank of Distinguished Research Professor in 2014 in recognition of his outstanding and sustained contributions to research. He exemplifies the University’s teacher-scholar model, and is known for instilling in students “confidence, motivation and respect for learning to match his own deep respect for education.”

For more information on the conference and to register, visit ndc.lhscientificpublishing.com.

Photo: SIUE’s Albert Luo, PhD, is organizing a virtual international conference series.

Parents, educators, care providers and others seeking to engage youth of all ages in active STEM learning throughout the summer are invited to use the creative resources available through the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville STEM Center’s STEM @ Home series.

From building paper rockets, enjoying edible lunar calendars and creating a scale model of the solar system’s orbits in a hallway to using Legos to learn about code design and experiencing how chemical changes during oxidation, the STEM @ Home series features weekly learning activities broken down by grade level.

STEM Center faculty and staff, many of whom are certified teachers and parents working from home while also caring for their children, designed the activities to be easily followed by parents and engaging for kids.

“It’s impossible to cover every science topic, but we’re trying to cover a lot of different subjects to show how many science and math ideas are out there,” said STEM Center Instructor and Outreach Specialist Colin Wilson. “Our goal is to challenge kids who think of science as just facts and memorizing by showing them how fun and creative it is.”

The STEM @ Home series launched at the end of March with Illinois’ Stay-at-Home order going into effect. The series now includes 10 engaging learning modules available at siuestemcenter.org. The activities use common household items, making them more accessible to parents. The series includes:

• Learning about Weather
• Spring has Sprung
• Learning about Eggs
• Earth Day 2020
• Learning about Lego Coding
• Science of Space
• Learning about Genetics
• Learning about Chemistry
• Learning about Insects
• Learning STEAM

“Like a lot of groups, we wanted to stay in touch with our community while everyone was staying at home,” Wilson explained. “The response has made it clear, though, that a lot of families in our region are finding it helpful to have engaging activities to support learning at home.”

The STEM @ Home series includes links to additional resources the STEM Center offers, and “staff picks,” which include a list of staff approved resources from outside sources.

For more information, visit SIUESTEMCenter.org/stem-at-home and follow the STEM Center on Twitter at @SIUESTEM.

Photo: SIUE STEM Center’s Colin Wilson and his son created a variety of aliens as part of a STEM @ Home learning activity.