The Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SDM) has reopened its patient clinics on the Alton and Edwardsville campuses. Strict safety protocols are being followed by all students, residents, fellows, faculty, staff and patients to ensure the health and well-being of everyone who enters the clinical environment.

To schedule an appointment at a SIU SDM Patient Clinic, call 618-474-7000. Hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“We are glad to have resumed our important patient care operations to ensure the dental needs of those we serve are met,” said SIU SDM Dean Bruce Rotter, DMD. “Our commitment to high-quality dental care for children, adults and those with special healthcare needs, remains strong. We have implemented important safety measures for the safety of all involved in our operations, including our patients.”

“Through the pandemic, a team of faculty, residents and fellows provided care to those with emergency dental needs. I thank that dedicated team for their important efforts amid a challenging time,” Rotter added. “Oral health is hugely important for the health and well-being of individuals, and we are pleased to again provide our full array of patient care services.”

Patients should note the following safety measures that have been instituted:

• Confirmation calls, text and emails to patients will start 14 days prior to appointments to rule out COVID-19 symptoms.
• An initial screening of all patients will be performed on their appointment day in the gymnasium (adjacent to clinic) on the Alton campus prior to entering the clinics. Screening at the Edwardsville clinic will be completed in the entry vestibule.
• Screening of all students, residents, faculty and staff will be completed prior to their clinic entry.
• Students, residents, faculty and staff will be in full personal protective equipment at all times while in the clinic.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Head Start/Early Head Start joined more than 50 other organizations on Saturday, June 6 in sponsoring a food/toiletries distribution coordinated by The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc. The event provided enough food for 3,000 families residing in the East St. Louis and surrounding communities. 

Carolyn Jason, acting program director for SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start, worked with Head Start volunteers Chrystal Anthony and Yvonne Jeffries.

 Along with personnel, SIUE Head Start also provided toiletries for the distribution, such as hand sanitizer, tooth paste and paper towels. “The event turned out to be a win-win for SIUE Head Start as we were able to distribute recruitment information for Head Start’s upcoming school year,” Jason said.

Jason noted that the distribution was important primarily due to the devastating effects of COVID-19 and families’ limited access to resources and employment. “But even in the absence of a pandemic, there are communities throughout the country that can always use a helping hand,” Jason said. 

Jason said the Urban League brought hundreds of volunteers together to assist with the outreach, including the SIUE Head Start staff.  “The gratitude and appreciation were evident, and displayed on the faces of family members as they received their distributions,” Jason said. “This was such an organized and well-received event with everyone adhering to proper protocol.”

The Urban League will hold another distribution at noon on Saturday, June 13, at Old Jameston Mall in Florissant, Missouri.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville announced today the launch of a new Task Force on Anti-Racism to propel the University forward to disrupt racism on campus and prepare graduates and community members to confront racism whenever they may encounter it. Swift and decisive actions will be put in place to demonstrate an institutional commitment to its goals of anti-racism and equity.

On April 4, 1967, a year prior to the exact date of his assassination, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said these words that speak unambiguously to our current times: “We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there ‘is’ such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive action.”

“We have heard the pain and frustration among our students, staff and faculty,” said Chancellor Randy Pembrook in a message to the campus community. “Emails and town halls will not be enough. Action and urgency are essential. This approach must be rooted in humility, truth-telling, critical analysis, reflection, and a willingness to confront structural arrangements and institutional policies and practices that reinforce racism. And certainly, we must all do the work of challenging our individual beliefs.”

The Task Force was proposed by Jessica Harris, PhD, interim assistant provost for Academic Equity and Inclusive Excellence. Working to support the establishment of the Task Force on Anti-Racism have been Associate Chancellor for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion Venessa Brown, PhD, President of the Black Faculty and Staff Association Lakesha Butler, PharmD, and Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion Director Lindy Wagner.

“As the protests demanding justice for George Floyd reverberate across our nation, SIUE is called to unequivocally embrace its role in confronting racism,” said Harris. “In this moment, we recognize that as a University, we do not and should not function and operate apart from the communities in which we live and work.”

“Racism has no bounds,” she continued, “and given its far-reaching implications, we can no longer afford to reinforce boundaries that have all too often separated campus and community. The cost is simply too high. We must act, be a model for change and dedicate ourselves to shaping a changing world by enriching communities with a nexus to our campus.”

The Task Force’s initial planning work will begin immediately, and includes membership from the Alton campus; Black Faculty and Staff Association; Chancellor’s Council/Extended Chancellor’s Council; community individuals; East St. Louis campus; local government officials; SIUE Athletics; faculty, staff, students; SIUE Police; SIU System; University Diversity Council; Student Affairs; and Student Government.

The Task Force will focus its efforts relative to four specific areas aligning with goals 1, 2 and 3 of the University’s Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan:

• Sustained and Effective Communication
• Access and Success
• Curriculum
• Faculty and Staff: Hiring, Retention, Promotion

“The time for vigorous and positive action at SIUE is now,” Harris concluded. “Our actions must include addressing the structures of racism on our campus. If we are to truly realize our values of diversity, inclusion and citizenship, we must take on the difficult, yet necessary challenge to bring awareness to and address inequity at our institution and to lead the way in our region and community to a more just society.”

Presentations of the Task Force’s work will begin in August and continue throughout the fall semester. 

Photo: (L-R) SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook and Interim Assistant Provost Jessica Harris.

From being a crucial sustainability resource to sponsoring and supporting sustainable partnership projects, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Successful Communities Collaborative (SSCC) is a leading force in the region.  

Connie Frey Spurlock, PhD, SSCC director and associate professor in the Department of Sociology, was one of several panelists in a webinar on Wednesday, May 27, entitled “Community Resilience through Local Investment and Funding Strategies.” 

“By focusing on community-initiated projects, SSCC can support the kind of local investments that our keynote speaker addressed. Our partnership with The Tiny Children’s Garden is a great example of that,” said Frey Spurlock. She shared SSCC’s mission, accomplishments and current project with webinar attendees. 

The keynote speaker was economist, attorney, author and entrepreneur Michael Shuman, a leading visionary on community economics. “Local investing is a key for community prosperity, economic justice, environmental protection and climate action,” said Shuman. 

This idea was emphasized by SSCC partner and webinar panelist Derissa Davis. An educator at James Avant elementary school in Washington Park, Davis is also co-founder of The Tiny Children’s Garden, a community garden in Washington Park, one of SSCC’s Small Partnership projects. 

Davis’ inspiration for the garden was the community itself. “The garden is a great benefit, not only to the students, but also the parents and other community members of Washington Park,” she noted “We want the garden to support healthy eating and living, and foster community togetherness.” 

“Like our primary partnerships, Small Partnership projects link faculty and students across disciplines to community-initiated projects,” said Frey Spurlock. 

Davis has several other programs in the works for the Village of Washington Park, including a summer reading program at the Good Samaritan Ministries of the Metro East and a STEM center for kids. 

SIUE Successful Communities Collaborative (SSCC) is a cross-disciplinary program that supports one-year partnerships between the University and communities in Illinois to advance local resilience and sustainability based on community-identified environmental, social and economic issues and needs. Our mission is to connect Illinois communities with the dynamic resources of SIUE students and faculty.  

Photo:
Connie Frey Spurlock, PhD, SIUE Successful Communities Collaborative director and associate professor in the Department of Sociology.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Sinan Onal, PhD, has been elected as the new president-elect of the Data Analytics and Information Systems (DAIS) Division of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE). His term will begin June 1, 2021, and he will serve through May 30, 2022.

“Dr. Onal is an outstanding member of our industrial engineering faculty,” said SIUE School of Engineering (SOE) Dean Cem Karacal, PhD. “His recognition for such a key leadership role in the industrial engineering (IE) community is a testament to his professional accomplishments. This is an important recognition for Dr. Onal, our IE program, School of Engineering and SIUE.

Onal is an associate professor in the SOE Department of Industrial Engineering. As DAIS president, Onal expects to continue implementing and strengthening activities and novel practices that support the meaningful work of the data analytics and information systems community. His objective is to create special interest groups that will attract research expertise into the heart of DAIS activities.

“DAIS is the largest division within IISE and aims to bring together members from academia, industry and government who share a common interest in topics related to the research and practice of data analytics and information systems,” Onal said.

DAIS is primarily interested in the theory, methodology and practice in all technical areas that develop or apply DAIS, including network science and complex systems, data analytics and statistical learning, system informatics and optimal control, machine learning and artificial intelligence, and decision support systems.

“DAIS envisions becoming the leading division in IISE by increasing networking and partnership between its members and promoting forums to engage, share and recognize innovative ideas in the field of data analytics and information systems,” Onal said.

In March 2019, the SIUE Graduate School presented its 2020-22 Hoppe Research Professor Award to Onal. The Hoppe Award recognizes and supports faculty members whose research or creative activities have the promise of making significant contributions to their fields of studies.

Onal’s latest research endeavor, entitled Gait Alterations in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), uses the University’s state-of-the-art motion capture and analysis system, along with kinematic, kinetic and electromyography data to investigate whether the gait cycle or muscle activity in children with ASD is distinct from that in other children.

Photo: SIUE’s Sinan Onal, associate professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering.

In a time where there are race-related protests, scrutiny of culturally sanctioned racism and a resurgence in cries for black equality, the observance of Juneteenth (June 19) in America is getting a wider audience than ever before. Multiple companies, including Nike and Target, have announced that they will either honor or recognize Friday, June 19 as a paid holiday for their employees this year, as a sign of support for the Black community. In Texas, Juneteenth has been a state holiday since 1980. 

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Black Faculty and Staff Association (BFSA) is celebrating the day and wants to shine light on the oldest national commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. 

It was on June 19, 1865 that Texas slaves heard that they were free. Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed in Galveston with news of the end of the war and their liberation. President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, which was official Jan. 1, 1863, had little impact on Texans because of the small amount of Union troops to enforce the executive order. However, when General Robert E. Lee surrendered in April 1865, Granger’s regiment was strong enough to overcome the resistance. Texas was one of the last states to liberate its slaves. 

“Today, Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is a day, a week, and in some areas a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics and family gatherings,” according to juneteenth.com.   

 “Juneteenth is our Independence Day as Black Americans, not July 4^th,^” said BFSA President Lakesha Butler, PharmD, BCPS, clinical professor in the School of Pharmacy’s Department of Pharmacy Practice.  “My ancestors were not free in 1776 when July 4th was first observed to celebrate the ‘birth of American independence.’”   

“Juneteenth is a great historical observance,” said Anthony Cheeseboro, PhD, associate professor in the Department of History. “This significant event meant that African Americans knew that slavery was over, and that they would now have power over their own lives.” 

“I am from Texas, so I have known about Juneteenth since birth,” said School of Education, Health and Human Behavior Dean Robin Hughes, PhD.   

“As a native Texan, Juneteenth has always been a bittersweet holiday for me,” said J.T. Snipes, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and BFSA president-elect. “While it is unrealistic that Texas, a state that succeeded from the Union, would enforce the Emancipation Proclamation, it’s sad to think that for more than two years enslaved Black people had a legal claim to freedom, that they were either unaware of or unable to exercise without the threat of death or retribution.” 

The facts of Juneteenth are still not widely known throughout the country. 

 “I am sad to say that I did not learn about Juneteenth until I took an African-American studies elective as a college student,” said Butler. “The falsification of American history is a blatant example of systemic racism. In grade school, slavery was never discussed due to the ideology of white supremacy.” 

“Juneteenth reminds me of economic inopportunity, and why Black people in Texas and other places in the U.S. have to struggle to gain an inch, fiscally speaking,” added Hughes. “Juneteenth reminds me that systemic racism plays a huge role in generational wealth. It also shows me that institutions are still working as if it is normal to discriminate, because of their many rules and policies that were framed around white supremacy.” 

“Juneteenth is an important marker in U.S. history,” interjected Snipes. “It’s the day that the country moved closer to becoming a more perfect union by emancipating the formerly enslaved. Also, I draw on the Sankofa bird that paradoxically moves forward while looking back. If we do not remember our collective racial past, we cannot move forward as a country.” 

“Juneteenth should be a holiday,” said Butler. “If we say that Black lives matter here, the celebration of my freedom should not be an afterthought.”  

“Juneteenth as a holiday would complement July 4, as they both focus on citizenship and freedom,” added Cheeseboro. 

While Hughes agrees that Juneteenth should be a holiday, she stresses that there is still work to be done. “An attempt to end any form of oppression should be more than symbolic gestures. When systems continue to operate nuanced and imbedded in white supremacy and racism, then there is really no end to the mental trauma inflicted on Black individuals and people of color,” she said. “Ceremoniously we marked an end to the legal institution of slavery, but we are still in spaces that reek of white supremacy. Sometimes holidays become well-meaning gestures that make some folks feel good. These gestures often times become pomp and circumstance only.” 

“I would encourage all of the SIUE community to educate yourselves on the history of Juneteenth,” encouraged Butler, “and ensure that this history is not lost by sharing it with at least your children and family. I would also urge people to advocate for the historical narrative in schools to change by facing the gruesome history of this country and teaching the truth.” 

 “If there is commitment from all of humanity to do better—to do what is right and equitable and end systemic racism—that should be the goal,” noted Hughes. “This takes lots of time and effort. I think that’s what we are doing at SIUE. It will be difficult, but if we are serious about equity, and specifically making changes to systemic policies and procedures that sustain white supremacy, then we will truly bring liberty and justice to all.”  

Photo: Dating back to June 19,1865, Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in Texas, making it one of the last states in the country to be free.  

Listening, learning and planning how to undo racial power structures and replace them with equitable systems has been the focus this week for several Southern Illinois University Edwardsville faculty, staff and community partners. 

SIUE members of the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) team participated in the Expanding TRHT Campus Centers to Dismantle Racial Hierarchies and Build Equitable Communities online conference from June 16-19, hosted by the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). 

Attending were Jessica Harris, PhD, interim assistant provost and associate professor, and Bryan Jack, PhD, associate professor, both in the Department of Historical Studies; Connie Frey Spurlock, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Sociology; Kathryn Bentley, associate professor in the Department of Theater and Dance; Courtney Boddie, PhD, SIUE Counseling Services director; Elizabeth McKenney, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Psychology; Taylor Cross, graduate student in the Department of Public Administration and Policy Analysis; Ro Kicker, youth program manager at NCCJ St. Louis; and Antwoinette Ayers, digital marketing intern with I Am EStL the Magazine. 

“The conference is designed to support teams who are planning to create or already have a TRHT center on their campuses,” said Frey Spurlock. “I hope to learn more about how other centers are using racial healing circles and how they are using the TRHT framework to transform their cultures. Hopefully, we’ll help others learn from our experiences, too.” 

 “This is a critical time and as an institution of higher education, SIUE must position itself as a leader in addressing racism and inequity in our communities,” said Harris. “During our time together at the institute, the TRHT team hopes to learn as much as we can in order to bring those lessons back to the SIUE campus in support of this vitally important work.” 

Some speakers at the conference included:

• Gail Christopher, PhD, founder of the Ntianu Center for Healing and Nature, executive director of the National Collaborative for Health Equity
• Lynn Pasquerella, PhD, president of the AAC&U
• Charles Alphin, former director of education and training for the Martin Luther King Center for Nonviolent Social Change
• Jessie Daniels, PhD, professor of sociology at Hunter College and The Graduate Center, City University of New York 

About AAC&U

AAC&U is the leading national association dedicated to advancing the vitality and public standing of liberal education by making quality and equity the foundations for excellence in undergraduate education in service to democracy. Its members are committed to extending the advantages of a liberal education to all students, regardless of academic specialization or intended career. Founded in 1915, AAC&U now comprises 1,400-member institutions, including accredited public and private colleges, community colleges, research universities, and comprehensive universities of every type and size. For more information, visit www.aacu.org. 

Photo:
SIUE Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) faculty, staff and community partners attended an online conference hosted by the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) about dismantling racial hierarchies.

Faculty activists from the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Education, Health and Human Behavior (SEHHB) are building on decades of scholarship to conduct the important work of dismantling racism through the newly formed Dismantling Racism through Education, Advocacy and Mobilization (DREAM) Collective.

DREAM Collective members include the SEHHB’s Dean Robin Hughes, PhD, and education faculty Jennifer Hernandez, PhD, Jessica Krim, EdD, J.T. Snipes, PhD, and Nate Williams, PhD.

“The DREAM Collective is committed to serving the southern Illinois and greater St. Louis area through supporting community members, educational organizations and professionals in the process of naming, addressing and dismantling racism through education, advocacy and mobilization,” said Hernandez. “We seek to create effective programming and foster cultural competency in responsive educators and community members.”

“As scholar-activists, we believe that this work of dismantling racism and white supremacy is never done and requires constant inward reflection and outward engagement with societal injustices,” she added. “The DREAM Collective seeks to examine institutional structures, and both challenge and redefine lasting actions with the goal of stopping the dehumanization of Black, indigenous and other people of color (BIPOC).”

According to Hernandez, the goal of this series is to clearly identify the systems, structures, and practices that maintain institutional racism and white supremacy in PK20 educational institutions.

“Through collective bodies, we will explore actionable steps to identify, disrupt, and ultimately, dismantle systems of white supremacy,” she explained. “Meaningful change, which restores the lost opportunities of the 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 Collective launched with its first event, a virtual discussion on the topic of Dismantling Institutional Racism in Higher Education, held Thursday, June 11. More than 400 nationwide attendees tuned in for a powerful discussion that offered insight and tangible advice on combating racism.

Panelists included Lori Patton Davis, PhD, of The Ohio State University, SIUE’s Dominic Dorsey, MSEd, and Timothy Lewis, PhD, Tomika Ferguson, PhD, of Virginia Commonwealth University, David Stovall, PhD, of the University of Illinois at Chicago, and Denise Taliaferro Baszile, PhD, of Miami University of Ohio.

Among the numerous points made and questions asked was, “Can you discuss the role of white co-conspirators when it comes to activism, or engaging or resisting white supremacy?”

Lewis responded by noting that the most impactful act of white allies, or co-conspirators, does not take place at the activism event itself, such as a march, rally or protest. He emphasizes that impact is made when white people allow the space for Black people to advocate for their own issues.

“Do not ask, ‘what can I as a white person do?” Lewis said. “Because, there is nothing you can do in a system that is meant to oppress people of racial minority. The question you should posit is, ‘what can I change?’ You must acknowledge that operating outside of the system to change the system is the only way by which to achieve racial equity.”

Lewis suggested real change comes when you pull your child off the little league team whose coach you know is racist, or stop using the lawn service of a person you know is racist. “You are to perform as many visible acts of disruption as possible,” he stated.

He charged that white allies will likely find themselves having two conversations, the first with them being the only or one of a few white people “listening to Black people tell you what they would like to see happen in response to institutional racism.”

The second will likely be a reverse in demographics with there being one or no Black people present. According to Lewis, acts of disruption to this audience will cause discomfort following initial rejection, laughter or even punishment. When that white ally is asked back for another conversation with the predominantly white audience, Lewis notes, “What you should do is bring that Black ally to the conversation, and you should be attentive and listening. Black people can advocate for their own issues, if they are allowed the space to do so. But, the system keeps them out of that space.”

View the full recording of the panel discussion here.

The DREAM Collective is actively planning future events. On Friday, June 26, a webinar will be hosted featured Lawanda Ward, an assistant professor of education and research associate in the Center for the Study of Higher Education at the Penn State College of Education. Ward’s expertise includes civil rights and education, education and law, race and ethnicity, and social issues.

The Collective is also producing a 30-podcast series entitled “Say their Names: What Each of Us Can Do Right Now” focused on learning, activism and anti-racist action.

Having just completed a doctorate in pharmacy and serving as Class of 2020 student speaker for the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy (SOP) May commencement ceremony, Austin Dillon, PharmD, of Dixon, has added another feather to his cap as a 2020 American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Walmart Scholar.

The AACP Walmart Scholars Program provides a $1,000 scholarship to 65 student-faculty pairs from AACP member institutions to support registration and other meeting expenses for students to attend the AACP Annual Meeting and Seminars. Dillon and his SOP faculty mentor Beth Cady, PharmD, BCPS, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice, will attend two days’ worth of professional development sessions during the virtual meeting running from July 13-31.

According to Cady, the award is intended for learners who are interested in pursuing a career in pharmacy academia, but the scholarship is not limited to pharmacy students, making it highly-competitive.

“The amount of qualifications that any typical applicant possesses is outstanding,” Cady said. “I would argue, both as a former Walmart Scholar and previous applicant evaluator, that it’s harder for pharmacy students to receive the scholarship, simply because they have fewer years of experience than a pharmacy resident or fellow.”

“That’s what makes this award so special for Austin,” she continued. “It highlights his exceptional skills at such a young age, and his strong desire, backed by a tangible plan to pursue a career in academia. This scholarship will introduce him to not only the pharmacy academy, but also provide the tools to become a more effective pharmacy educator.”

Dillon noted his excitement to represent the SOP on a national level, and his appreciation for the SOP’s unique pharmacy education specialization that allowed development of his interest in teaching in conjunction with his clinical training through the doctorate program.

“Mentors like Dr. Cady allowed me to develop as a professional and stressed the importance of also developing on a personal level,” Dillon said. “Although this is a rigorous professional program, Dr. Cady and others helped me not lose sight of what was most important. There are countless individuals I would like to thank for helping me get to this point. The entire staff at the SIUE SOP had a part in my journey, and I can’t wait to use this opportunity as a jumping-off point to make my alma mater proud.”

In July, Dillon will begin a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) St. John’s Hospital in Springfield. His mentor/mentee relationship with Cady will continue as she is employed at the same hospital.

“In my biased opinion, this is the perfect place for Austin to continue to develop his teaching skills while becoming an even better pharmacist,” Cady said. “I can’t wait to see where Dr. Dillon’s career takes him, because he is going to be a fantastic teacher. His students don’t know what they’re in for!” 

Photo: SIUE School of Pharmacy May 2020 graduate Austin Dillon, PharmD, has been selected as a 2020 AACP Walmart Scholar.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering industrial engineering seniors Brittany Booten, Stephen Holdenried and Jacob Muenchau finished third in the virtual global finals of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE)/Rockwell Undergraduate Student Simulation Competition. 

Booten, of St. Louis, Holdenried, of Edwardsville, and Muenchau, of Freeburg, will attend the IISE Annual Conference and Expo Oct. 31-Nov. 3 at the Hyatt Regency in New Orleans. Binghamton (N.Y.) University was the winner, while the University of Florida was runner-up. Award winners will be presented at the Honors and Awards Banquet on Monday, Nov. 2.

 “We felt quite fortunate to be a part of this experience and to be able to create something that Rockwell enjoyed,” Booten said. “Our team collaborated so well, because we recognized each other’s strengths and used that to our advantage. We each brought a unique skillset and background to the table. By letting each other lead in the parts we were excited to work on, we were able to let those skills shine.” 

“Our solution was a combined visual and logical approach to representing the process of a transportation company’s material and barge movement,” Holdenreid said. “The key to designing the simulation was a twin-resource utilization used for representing resource needs for space and materials, and non-terminating entities to represent the barges on their trips. We pushed for greater usability of the model by outside disciplines with VBA (visual basic for applications) integration for easier manipulation of simulation states and a 3D graphic interface for more natural visualization.”

Hoo Sang Ko, PhD, associate professor of industrial engineering, served as the team’s advisor. “This is a highly competitive international contest where students from top research universities have participated with a good track record,” he said. “I was able to easily pick a team of self-motivated and confident students. Their genuine curiosity and dedication to teamwork certainly paid off. I am glad to prove that our students are never underdogs, and I believe this experience will help them excel in their careers.”

“The 2020 IISE/Rockwell simulation competition is one of the biggest student competitions in the national and international IE community,” said Sohyung Cho, PhD, professor and industrial engineering program director. “I appreciate Dr. Ko’s time and effort to advise this team. It is a remarkable achievement.”

High school students from Illinois and Missouri received valuable information that answered questions and solidified desires to pursue healthcare career choices during Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s annual collaborative Healthcare Diversity Summer Camp, held virtually from Monday, June 15-Friday, June 19. 

The camp was hosted by the SIUE Schools of Pharmacy (SOP) and Nursing (SON), the SIU School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM), and the SIUE School of Education, Health and Human Behavior’s nutrition program. Twenty students, ranging from sophomores to seniors, participated in this year’s online camp, which ran from 9 a.m.-noon each day. Students learned about each field through presentations and videos. 

The camp has been held for 11 years, because SIUE recognizes the importance of diversity in healthcare, according to Lakesha Butler, PharmD, BCPS, clinical professor in the SOP’s Department of Pharmacy Practice.  

“The percentage of underrepresented minorities in medical fields such as pharmacy, nursing and dental medicine continues to be lower than the national average of underrepresented minorities in the general population,” Butler explained. “The need for qualified healthcare professionals, who are culturally competent to treat minority patients, is becoming greater as the minority population continues to grow.” 

Students were inquisitive during the nursing portion, according to Jerrica Ampadu, PhD, RN, CCP, SIUE WE CARE Clinic director and SON coordinator of diversity. 

“The students engaged in virtual scenarios, which allowed them to critically think about different aspects of nursing,” said Ampadu. “Several patient rooms in our simulation lab were set up, and we took students on a virtual tour of each room. Students were able to ask questions regarding the role of the nurse.” 

“I absolutely loved the nursing day! It answered all my questions, and now I know for sure this is the field I want to pursue,” said Zara Bahrainwala, a junior at Metea Valley High School in Aurora. She plans on becoming a neonatal or obstetrics nurse practitioner. “I would love to work alongside doctors and help someone get back to their ideal health. It would be the most rewarding experience ever.” 

On pharmacy day, students learned how pharmacists are one of the most trusted and accessible healthcare professionals, noted Butler.

“They heard from SIUE minority pharmacy students about their paths in pharmacy school and future career plans, and heard words of advice,” she said. “Additionally, students learned what tasks pharmacists perform from SOP pharmacy practice faculty such as a community pharmacist, a psychiatric pharmacist and an ambulatory care pharmacist.” 

 “I was most interested in pharmacy, because I wanted to learn more about the background of the medicine that we put in our bodies,” said Evelyn Gutierrez, a junior at Pritzker College Prep in Chicago. “I also liked learning that I can help people take the right prescription.” 

 On the SDM day, students took part in a presentation about anatomy and physiology, and took a virtual tour of the Alton campus and surrounding area, according to Cornell C. Thomas, DDS, SDM assistant dean for admissions and student services. 

“I believe they understood the sessions well,” noted Thomas. “I wanted them to realize that regardless of what healthcare field they choose, we all rely on each other for the betterment of the patient. I interact with pharmacy and medicine constantly, when I am treating a patient in my private practice.” 

“An evaluation of anonymous camp participant surveys over four years, prior to adding nutrition, showed that the Healthcare Diversity Summer Camp is effective in increasing students’ awareness of pharmacy, dental and nursing careers,” said Butler. “Additionally, a ‘Where are they now?’ study showed that out of the past participants surveyed, 95% reported sustained interest and pursuit of a degree in healthcare. This data showcases success of the camp by meeting the goal of increasing interest of minority high school students to pursue healthcare majors and careers.” 

Photo:
Participating in this year’s Healthcare Diversity Summer Camp from left to right: Lakesha Butler, PharmD, BCPS, clinical professor in the SOP’s Department of Pharmacy Practice; Cornell C. Thomas, DDS, SDM assistant dean for admissions and student services; and Jerrica Ampadu, PhD, RN, CCP, SIUE WE CARE Clinic director and SON coordinator of diversity. Not shown is Jennifer Zuercher, PhD, assistant professor and program director of SIUE’s Nutrition Program.

If you can’t go there, we will bring it to you. A temporary virtual study abroad option is among the many ways Southern Illinois University Edwardsville faculty and staff have gotten creative to ensure meaningful international learning opportunities for students amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There are some students who can’t delay their study abroad requirement without also delaying graduation plans,” said Sorin Nastasia, PhD, director of the College of Arts and Sciences’ international studies program. “Helping students graduate in a timely fashion is something we should do under any circumstances, and even more so under the current pandemic situation.”

With that in mind, Nastasia partnered with SIUE advising team members to formulate a plan for students who are majoring in international studies and are slated to graduate in the summer or fall to complete their experience virtually.

“Three credit hours of joint learning will include virtual communication with experts in global settings who will address various issues that cut across the three international studies focus areas of international art, culture and communication; international politics and diplomacy; and international development and sustainability,” Nastasia explained. “For three credit hours of individualized learning, students will pursue a research project focusing on a specific country or region.”

“As part of the joint learning experience, students have already engaged in virtual discussions with experts from Russia, Kenya, India, China, France and Germany, and there are additional global immersion experiences to come,” he continued. “In the individualized learning portion, students have been working on projects pertaining to China’s response to COVID-19, the activities of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), and Islamic aspects in Costa Rica.”

Senior Gabrielle Wimes, of Kansas City, Mo., a double major in criminal justice and international studies, is among those students appreciative of the creative option.

“I decided to pursue international studies and criminal justice as I hope to become an international human rights lawyer and work for the United Nations,” Wimes said. “With this combination, I can not only learn about politics existent in the United States, but also gain in depth knowledge on international politics and relations worldwide.”

“Costa Rica is where I was going to travel before COVID-19 hit,” she added. “It’s important for me to have the option of virtual study abroad so that I can graduate on time.”

Wimes was the recipient of the Ambassador Hussein Moussawi International Travel Scholarship. The donor family has awarded the scholarship in support of Wimes’ online study abroad experience, with monies going toward tuition or to purchase electronic devices if needed.

“The connections I have built internationally for the international studies program over the past four years are now useful for tapping into the expertise of worldwide professionals,” explained Nastasia. “Ensuring communication between the students enrolled in coursework and experts in global settings will surely pose some logistical challenges, but this is an exciting endeavor with ample opportunities for student success.”

Photo: SIUE’s Gabrielle Wimes, of Kansas City, Mo., is pursuing a virtual study abroad option through the international studies program.

Creativity, ingenuity and fun merged to make some unique Father’s Day cards during a virtual Crafty Friday hosted by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center Learning Resource Center (LRC). 

“LRC’s Crafty Friday’s are highly anticipated and popular with our patrons,” said LRC Library Director Rebecca Harper. “For Friday, June 19, we thought it would be best to make Father’s Day cards.” 

Prior to the virtual art session, LRC mailed out 40 kits. Each kit included precut card stock pieces with a Father’s Day greeting made from precut self-adhesive material. Participants, who ranged from small children to senior adults, provided their own scissors, glue and any other desired craft item, according to Harper. 

“There was even a group of residents from the Willow Rose Rehab Center in Jerseyville, Illinois, who tuned in and participated in the Zoom event,” Harper added. “We sent 17 kits for their participating patients.” 

During the hour-long Zoom session, Harper taught participants how to assemble the card and encouraged them to use their creativity. 

“It was a great turn out for the popular LRC monthly programming event, and it provided an opportunity to share ideas and enjoy spending time in a virtual community,” Harper noted. “The LRC continues to keep its patrons informed and engaged during the pandemic.” 

The SIUE East St. Louis Learning Resource Center (LRC) is organized as a full-service public library focusing on youth and adult community outreach, programs and collections. The library also contributes to the success of higher education opportunities and career development provided by the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus (ESLHEC). The LRC supports the diverse range of students and public patrons on the ESLHEC, and encourages them to succeed and learn new skills provided by the LRC community collection and programs.  

Photos:
Participating in the SIUE East St. Louis Center’s Learning Resource Center (LRC) Crafty Friday session was Laila, daughter of Heidi Eichenseer, Discovery Center Head Start/Early Head Start coordinator. 

Also enjoying the session were (L-R) Kim McClelland, center, teacher at Cahokia Head Start/Early Head Start Center and president of the Professional Staff Association; and her daughters ,10-year-old Erin Luster, left; and 15-year-old Jordan Luster, right.

The DREAM (Dismantling Racism through Education, Advocacy and Mobilization) Collective at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will host a webinar featuring LaWanda Ward, JD, PhD, at 2 p.m. CDT Friday, June 26.

Ward, an assistant professor of education and research associate in the Center for the Study of Higher Education at the Penn State College of Education, will speak on the topic “Still Searching for Justice: Free speech and anti-Blackness in U.S. Higher Education.”

Register for the webinar at http://bitly.ws/8Q2T.

Ward’s commitment to social justice, equity and inclusion in higher education is influenced by her family of educators. Her research agenda centers on critically analyzing legal issues in higher education including race-conscious admissions, free speech and academic freedom.

This is the second public offering coordinated by the DREAM Collective. The Collective is committed to serving the southern Illinois and greater St. Louis area through supporting community members, educational organizations and professionals in the process of naming, addressing and dismantling racism through education, advocacy and mobilization.

Its team of faculty activists seek to create effective programming and foster cultural competency in responsive educators and community members. Members include the SEHHB’s Dean Robin Hughes, PhD, and education faculty Jennifer Hernandez, PhD, Jessica Krim, EdD, J.T. Snipes, PhD, and Nate Williams, PhD.

For more information, visit the DREAM Collective on Facebook at @DREAMCollective20, Twitter at @DREAMcollect20 or Instagram at @DREAMCollective20, or email TheDREAMCollective@siue.edu.

Photo: LaWanda Ward, JD, PhD, will be the featured speaker in a webinar hosted by the DREAM Collective.

With the inundation of new data and mandated safety protocols, the world is trying to mirror Elsa’s proven strength as we all move forward “Into the Unknown.” Perhaps among those knowing the lyrics to the “Frozen” song best are children, many of whom will experience a different way of activity and learning when they re-enter schools and early childhood learning environments in late summer and early fall.

Staff at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Early Childhood Center (ECC) are among those preparing for a modified educational setting that will likely include arrival screenings, classroom and outdoor arrangement to ensure social distancing, frequent handwashing and sanitizing, and the wearing of masks.

The ECC teachers’ masks will be as welcoming and familiar as possible for attending children, thanks to the creative work of longtime ECC friend and retired Edwardsville educator Kathy Weber. Weber is using her talents to sew 50 protective masks for the ECC educators and staff.

“In true Kathy fashion, she jumped to the challenge and immediately had ideas how to use fun fabric and patterns to make masks that are enjoyable for the staff to wear and not too intimidating for the children to see,” said ECC Willow Room teacher Stephanie Henschen. “She’s using patterns and photos sent to her by the staff to sew the masks. They will be washable and have a pocket for a replaceable filter.”

A 1984 Illinois Teacher of the Year, long-time Edwardsville elementary school educator, former SIUE early childhood education instructor and well-known puppeteer, Weber’s knack for creativity and high-quality teaching has shone for decades.

“The masks that I’m creating are just a way of helping these teachers be able to get back in the classroom and work with those kids that have missed out for the spring, and get them back to learning and enjoying in the safest possible way,” Weber said. “I have lots of unique fabrics to use. I don’t think I’ll have two that are alike!”

Henschen and Weber’s relationship is coming full circle with this latest effort. In 1990, Henschen was a teaching assistant in the second grade open classrooms of Weber and Shirley Ward at N.O. Nelson Elementary in Edwardsville.

“They were a dynamic duo,” Henschen recalled fondly. “There was so much enthusiasm. I was able to have a front row seat to some amazing teaching and learning experiences in the classroom.”

At that time, Weber’s son attended the SIUE ECC. She mentioned a job opening, which Henschen secured in 1991, and the rest is history.

“Stephanie was my granddaughter’s teacher when she came to the ECC,” said Weber. “Then, I became the grandma of the Center, bringing my puppets and stories, projects and activities with the units that they taught. I also led some professional development sessions with the faculty. Stephanie is a natural in the classroom. Children respond to her, and she leads them on many paths of learning.”

“I love the Center and feel at home whenever I visit,” she added. “The whole faculty is welcoming, and I see the best environments for learning and growing.”

Weber’s continued love for teaching and inspiring was supported by her national involvement. She was a member of the Illinois State Teachers of the Year chapter and served on the national board as president of the National State Teachers of the Year organization.

“It’s amazing the fabulous people that you meet across the United States when you’re able to gather together and share best practices,” Weber noted. “I have always felt because of these distinguished opportunities, that I had a responsibility and a mission to share, give back and encourage others to do more than what was in the textbooks.”

As the educational environment changes amid the ongoing pandemic, and as educators pave a way forward with safe new ways of teaching, one thing remains the same: with a true love for children, all challenges can be overcome despite moving “Into the Unknown.”

“My career as an educator of young children was influenced by Kathy Weber,” Henschen said. “She modeled for me what excellence in teaching actually looks like. She encouraged me to apply for a teaching position at the ECC, and 30 years later she continues to support me and my coworkers in true Kathy fashion, with joy, kindness and understanding.”

Photos:(L-R) SIUE ECC teacher Stephanie Henschen looks through some of the masks longtime ECC friend and retired Edwardsville teacher Kathy Weber made for ECC staff.

SIUE ECC staff excitedly pick out masks from an array of bright, patterned options made by Kathy Weber (right).

Millpond Brewing & Incubator owner Bryan Schubert, client of the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, has spent the past few months adapting his business amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic by transitioning from a brewery with a taproom and large outdoor beer garden, to selling 100% packaged beer vias, cans and growler fills.

Following the Stay-at-Home directive from Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, Millpond Brewing & Incubator began the transition to curbside ordering and pick-up, allowing customers to call in or order online. Within 24 hours, Millpond was offering to-go 4–packs of 16-ounce cans, as well as growler fills.

“We were fortunate that our friends at Main & Mill Brewing Co. allowed us to borrow their Crowler seamer, and we were lucky to be able to obtain all of the materials to make the transition happen quickly,” Schubert shared. “We discussed testing canning our beer, and it seemed as though the universe had just pushed us in headfirst.”

Throughout the Millpond Brewing & Incubator’s COVID-19 journey, the SBDC and Business Specialist Marti Wieland assisted Schubert by offering continuous up-to-date information on relief and assistance, and connecting him to resources that helped make the necessary business transition possible.

“Having Marti and the SBDC as a reliable source, willing to help every step of the way was immensely valuable to us,” Schubert said. “It was great to have that help, considering we had to adapt the business to a completely new model overnight in the middle of a global pandemic – which was no easy task.”

“Bryan has kept a level head and been creative with his business model, both critical skills in a crisis,” Wieland said. “He could have closed his doors and worried for the past few months, but instead, he called his resources, thought through his options, and, in a short time, had his business up and running again, albeit in a different form. It hasn’t been easy, but he has done a great job keeping Millpond Brewing & Incubator operating.”  

Despite the challenges, Schubert is extremely grateful that his business was capable of successfully adapting, and he is thankful for everyone who helped make it happen. Moving forward, Millpond Brewing & Incubator plans to continue utilizing their outdoor beer garden, while continuing to offer curbside to-go and growler fills. Additionally, they plan to release a portion of their beers on tap into cans as well, and to continue doing this once they can fully reopen. 

Millpond Brewing & Incubator’s beer garden and curbside to-go hours are 3 p.m.-10 p.m. Tue.-Wed., noon-11 p.m. Thu.-Sat. and noon-7 p.m. Sundays

Contact Millpond Brewing at 618-476-9933 or info@millpondbrewing.com. For more information, visit millpondbrewing.com and follow on Facebook and Instagram at @millpondbrewing.

The Illinois SBDC for the Metro East assists start-up ventures like Millpond Brewing & Incubator as well as existing businesses headquartered in the nine-county region of Calhoun, Jersey, Madison, Bond, Clinton, St. Clair, Washington, Monroe and Randolph. It is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and SIUE as a service to Illinois small businesses.

By aiding entrepreneurs and companies in defining their path to success, the SBDC network positively impacts the Metro East by strengthening the business community, creating and retaining new jobs and encouraging new investment. It enhances the region’s economic interests by providing one-stop assistance to individuals by means of counseling, training, research and advocacy for new ventures and existing small businesses. When appropriate, the SBDC strives to affiliate its ties to the region to support the goals and objectives of both the SIUE School of Business and the University at large.

To learn about the SBDC, contact the IL SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE at 618-650-2929.

Photo: Millpond Brewing & Incubator owner Bryan Schubert.

SIUE alumnus Dion Joannou, CEO of Accedian – a private company specializing in data analytics and service assurance that secures networks for 2 billion users worldwide – provided his insights on how the network kept the country afloat during the height of the Coronavirus crisis. 

Joannou earned a bachelor’s in business administration from SIUE in 1989. He was inducted into the 2019 SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame. Joannou played for SIUE men’s tennis from 1985-89, was a three-time NCAA Division II All-America and was inducted into the SIUE Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame. 

Read more about Joannou in Forbes.com.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Vice Chancellor for Advancement Rachel Stack has added seven development staff members during a time when development strategies have never been more important for higher education institutions contending with the economic implications from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through national searches, Stack named four directors of development (DOD) to manage fundraising and facilitate giving. Divah Griffin will assume the responsibilities for the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior. Lisa Smith will be the DOD for the School of Engineering. Shane Taylor will manage fundraising activities for both the School of Pharmacy, and Library and Information Services. Tad Middleton becomes the first DOD for Intercollegiate Athletics.

“I am extremely excited to welcome these talented and accomplished major gift officers to our foundation staff,” Stack said. “This will make a world of difference as we grow our advancement program to benefit our students, faculty and staff. For the first time in my SIUE tenure, we have a development officer representing  each academic unit and athletics. The SIUE Foundation is now better prepared to fulfill our mission of supporting the University with more scholarships, program support, endowments and capital projects.”

Griffin has spent the past two years as DOD for the McLean County Museum of History in Bloomington. She directed all fundraising initiatives, including annual fund, major gifts, special events, corporate sponsorships, and foundation and government grants.

Griffin’s prior experience includes three years as program coordinator at the DeWitt County Human Resource Center/Platt County Medical Health Center, working with private non-profit organizations providing disability, mental health and prevention services for the two counties. She also served six years as an information specialist and education coordinator for The African American Military History Museum in Hattiesburg, Miss. She earned an MBA from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Smith arrives at SIUE after more than three years at Hospital Sisters Health Systems Hospitals (HSHS) in Breese, Greenville and Highland. She was the HSHS Foundation manager for three years before being named interim director in January 2019. She offers more than 20 years of successful relationship development in a variety of environments.

A Highland resident, Smith’s previous experience includes serving as sales and marketing director for the Hilton Garden Inn & Regency Conference Center in O’Fallon, executive director of the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce, and sales and marketing director for the Gateway Center in Collinsville. She earned a bachelor’s in hotel and restaurant management from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

With 20 years of development experience, Taylor arrives at SIUE having spent the past four years as chief development officer for Peter & Paul Community Services (PPCS) in St. Louis. In four years with the ecumenical agency that provides housing and supportive services to homeless individuals, he raised $6.9 million.

Prior to PPCS, Taylor was lead pastor for the LeClaire Christian Church in Edwardsville, served as lead church planter for Common Ground in Maple Valley, Wash., and was the executive director for the Christian Campus Foundation at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He holds a master’s of divinity/leadership from Lincoln Christian Seminary in Lincoln.

An SIUE alumnus, Middleton joins the Department of Athletics staff after serving as general manager of SIUE Cougar Sports Properties for Peak Sports MGMT since 2017. During his tenure, Middleton secured the $2.3 million naming rights agreement for First Community Arena at the Vadalabene Center. He earned a master’s in education/sports management from SIUE.

A Bethalto resident, Middleton’s career experience covers a wide range of responsibilities for Metro East entities since 2004. Prior to SIUE Cougar Sports Properties, he was a donor relations consultant with the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center in Maryville, a treasury management representative with First Clover Leaf Bank in Edwardsville, an account executive for WBGZ Radio in Alton, and program director for the Boys & Girls Club of Bethalto.

In April, Meghan Jamison was named director of prospect research. She moved across campus from the Office of Enrollment Management where she was the business administrative associate, acting as the financial and human resource advisor for all units within the office.

Before arriving at SIUE, Jamison was the director of prospect research for Front Range Source in Boulder, Colo. for more than two years. Her previous experience also includes serving as a corporate recruiter for Advanced Technology Services, of Peoria, and as a human resources executive for Van Meter, Inc. of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She is a University of Iowa alumna with a bachelor’s in business management and organization.

Janine Meyer joined the staff as operations manager in late May after serving the Saint Louis University Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business for 23 years. She was promoted to business manager in 2014 after excelling as an executive assistant in the dean’s office for seven years. Meyer earned an MBA at SLU.

Last fall, Janna Greenwood was named IT manager, bringing more than 19 years of database management to the team. She was the database manager and analyst for Variety, the Children’s Charity, of St. Louis since 2014 before landing at SIUE. Her prior experience includes eight years at Ranken Technical College in St. Louis as the junior database manager, and coordinator of research and records.

Greenwood’s higher education experience includes time at Fontbonne University in St. Louis as a records specialist before being elevated to director of advancement research and information systems. She also progressively moved through the ranks at Barnes-Jewish Hospital Foundation in St. Louis as a prospect research assistant, development research coordinator and operations coordinator during a four-year stint. 

Photo: SIUE Vice Chancellor for Advancement Rachel Stack.

What do a surgeon, a registered nurse, a software developer and an engineering professor all have in common? They were all guests at a STEM Career Day, hosted by the SIUE East St. Louis Center Collinsville’s Upward Bound’s Math and Science (UBMS) program. 

UBMS held its annual STEM Career Day. This year, due to COVID-19 it is scheduled as a STEM Summer Speaker Series. The meetings run from 11 a.m.-Noon each Thursday through July 16. 

Each week boasts four-eight experts in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The first session, where more than 40 students tuned in, featured the following speakers: 

• Serdar Celik, PhD, professor in the SIUE Department of Mechanical Engineering
• Alexander Reyes, software developer at Hiddetek Inc. in Los Angeles, Calif.
• David Rice, MD, general surgeon at Atrium Health in Charlotte, N.C.
• Elizabeth Seliga, RN, nurse practitioner and manager, Barnes Jewish Hospital and Washington University
• Anne Werner, PhD, associate professor in the SIUE Department of Construction 

“Students, we invited guests based on the career fields you expressed interest in. You are in charge of these sessions, please take advantage of this opportunity and ask your questions,” directed UBMS Program Director Desiree Tyus. “Due to conducting our STEM Summer Speaker Series online we were able to expand our reach and invite even more STEM professionals from across the country! Our program is exceptionally diverse, because of the district that we serve. Our staff reflects our diversity, and it was important that our speakers did, too. Professor Celik zoomed into our meeting from Istanbul, Turkey!” 

Rice was asked how long it took him to complete his schooling.  The general surgeon replied that he spent four years at the University of Pennsylvania for his undergraduate work and five more years in residency. “As a general surgeon, I’ve done things from head to toe,” Rice continued, “but mostly hernias, gall bladders, appendectomies, cancer, thyroid and a lot of emergencies.” 

Reyes developed and pursued an interest in software, because a relative took special interest in him and paid attention to his strengths. 

“My greatest mentor was an uncle,” said Reyes. “He accepted me, guided me, and gave me the support I needed. This is what motivates me to be here today and to try all I can to do the same for someone else.” 

Celik was asked to describe mechanical engineering. “To me, it is like a wide ocean,” he described. “It has so many subfields under it. 

“When I was eight or nine years old, I made up my mind to be a mechanical engineer, because my grandfather had a HVAC business. My father also continues the same business here. I thought after I got my diploma, I would go into the family business. But things don’t always work out the way you plan. I’m happy things worked out this way. I like my job at SIUE.” 

Guest Curtis Redding, IT project manager at Deloitte Consulting, shared his enjoyment about participating in the speaker series. “I am an alumnus of University of Pennsylvania’s Upward Bound program,” he said, “and I recognize what a tremendous impact it had on my life.  I believe it’s important to continue to pour into our youth and provide them with opportunities to increase their awareness of their possibilities.” 

“I participate to ensure that minority students see someone who looks like them who are succeeding in a profession they are interested in,” added Jerrica Ampadu, PhD, RN, CCP, SIUE WE CARE Clinic director and SON coordinator of diversity. 

“Representation and exposure to opportunities is exceptionally important for our students,” concluded Tyus. “It is hard to visualize yourself doing something that you are unaware of and/or unfamiliar with. We are very pleased with the professional experts participating in our speaker series.” 

Other speakers include:

• Natalie Becker, PE, supervising engineer, Gas Standards and Procedures at Ameren Illinois
• Nina Clarke-Walker, senior project director, Pharmaceutical Research Contract in Philadelphia, Pa.
• Kim Labonte, executive director of audits, SIU System
• Antoniee (Toni) Mann, CE, senior designer, Illinois Department of Transportation
• Edward Navarre, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry
• Tricia Taitt, Virtual CFO, owner, The Art of Money Matters in New York
• Jerome Bynam, MD, general surgeon at United Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
• Adriana E. Martinez, PhD, associate professor in the SIUE Department of Geography
• Andrew English, DDS, Smile for Life Dentistry in Maryville
• Linda DaCosta, RN, Good Shepherd Penn Partners and DaCosta Legal Nursing Consulting, LLC in Philadelphia
• Gunes Ercal, PhD, associate professor in the SIUE Department of Computer Science
• Darnell Degand, PhD, University of California Davis professor of Educational Technology and Media
• Rohan Benjankar, PhD, assistant professor in the SIUE Department of Civil Engineering
• Terry Palmer, nuclear reactor operator at Exelon Corporation in Naperville
• Carrie Butts-Wilmsmeyer, PhD, associate professor and director of SIUE’s Center for Predictive Analytics
• Natasha Jenkins, contracts program manager, United States Department of Agriculture
• Sandra Batista, PhD, professor of Computer Science at the University of Southern California
• David M. Conner, MD, psychiatrist at David M. Conner MD in Swansea, IL
• Julie Zimmermann, PhD, chair and professor in SIUE’s Department of Anthropology
• David J. Sherrill, PLS, instructor in the SIUE Department of Civil Engineering
• Christian Duncan, electrical engineer director, Corporate Strategy at Verizon in New York
• Leslie Stallons, engineering supervisor, MiTek, Inc in St. Louis, Mo.
• Tanesha Duncan, vice president of transition services, Bristol Myers Squibb in Summit, New Jersey
• James Jordan, Jr., director of financial operations division, United States Department of Agriculture
• Sariah Cantrell, forensic chemist, Drug Enforcement Administration in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
• Dana Goin, wildlife outreach specialist, Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem, New York
• Kimberly Hoorman, manger of Learning Experiences, Saint Louis Zoo in St. Louis
• Drae Montgomery, senior IT project manager, Defense Commissary Agency in Fort Lee, Va.
• Vicki LaRose, PE, president, Civil Design, Inc in St. Louis
• Mark E. McKinley, director of direct loan division, Unites States Department of Agriculture
• David DeVeydt, senior risk analyst, Edward Jones in St. Louis 

Photos:

Some of the featured speakers for the SIUE East St. Louis Center Upward Bound’s Math and Science (UBMS) STEM Career Day included:

• Adriana E. Martinez, PhD, associate professor in the SIUE Department of Geography
• Curtis Redding, IT project manager, Deloitte Consulting, LLP
• Alexander Reyes, software developer at Hiddetek Inc. in Los Angeles, Calif.

After a horrifying ordeal for “Monty, The Turtle,” his creator has begun the loving and painstaking job of restoring him, where he resides at the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus. 

Edna Patterson-Petty, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 2009 Alumni Hall of Famer and celebrated artist, began repairing the turtle sculpture on Monday, June 15, after it had been vandalized on Wednesday, Jan. 8. 

“I don’t know how long it will take to restore,” said Patterson-Petty. “It will take a while. I am working as weather permits. It really hurt my heart, when I first heard about the incident. It took me a while to come to campus to see it.” 

SIUE is paying to have the artwork restored. 

“I was so thankful and happy when I learned that SIUE would be financing the restoration project,” she added. 

Patterson-Petty created “Monty” in 2008 after receiving a grant from the Art and Architecture Programs Capital Development Board. The turtle’s core is made of steel. Over the steel is polyurethane foam, which is covered with concrete. The final layer is made out of glass beads, according to Patterson-Petty. 

“It took me about four months to make the sculpture,” said the artist. “I wanted to make something that would appeal to the SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start children. I decided on a turtle because I like them, and for me, turtles mean longevity. Some turtles can live more than 100 years. With the repairs I’m making, I hope Monty will last even longer than that.” 

Photo:
Edna Patterson-Petty, SIUE 2009 Alumni Hall of Famer and celebrated artist, works to repair the head of her sculpture – “Monty, The Turtle.”