Anxiety disorders, major depressive episodes and posttraumatic stress disorder are among the most prevalent mental illnesses experienced by tens of millions of adults and youth in the United States annually, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). In an effort to educate the public, fight stigma and provide support, NAMI is engaging in Mental Illness Awareness Week from Oct. 4-10.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s School of Pharmacy (SOP) is among the few schools of pharmacy nationwide to have developed a leadership position with mental health as top priority. SOP Dean Mark Luer, PharmD, has named professor Kelly Gable, PharmD, BCPP, as director of Well-Being and Resilience.

Gable assumed her new role on Sept. 1, and will serve as a key leader for strategy, policy and practice related to matters of mental health and wellness, while fostering a healthy climate for faculty, staff and students.

“I genuinely care about the well-being of my colleagues and our students,” said Gable, a psychiatric pharmacist and educator whose career is grounded in the behavioral health field. “Our direct and purposeful focus on the promotion of their well-being is what will continue to ensure that our SOP is successful and nationally renowned.

“This is an unprecedented time in our country, and a challenging time to navigate the rigors of graduate education. The fear, anxiety and stress that our students feel is real, and it is vital that our School places great focus on helping students stay grounded, focused and well. I am eager to continue to make this a priority in my role as director of Well-Being and Resilience.”

In March 2019, the SOP launched a Mental Health and Wellness Taskforce, which Gable led. Additionally, Gable has developed and coordinated a psychiatry/neurology integrated therapeutics course, and coordinated a mental health elective focused not only on patient care, but also self-awareness and self-care practices. For three years, she collaborated with colleagues and campus leaders to develop suicide prevention and awareness programming, a project funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

“Under Dr. Gable’s leadership, we’ve seen the growth of new programming and the development of a new standing committee on Well-Being and Resilience,” Luer said. “Dr. Gable’s success in forming a cohesive and active group of faculty, staff and students to address the growing challenges facing both higher education and society has been noteworthy. Her interests and expertise in mental health, self-awareness and self-care practices match the needs of our academic community. She has a documented history of collaboration that garners strength from University programs and community-based organizations in the development of successful partnerships that address areas of need. Dr. Gable is highly qualified to further our collective efforts.”

As director of Well-Being and Resilience, Gable’s responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Supporting and promoting a culture of well-being and resilience with the SOP
• Reviewing and prioritizing recommendations from the Well-Being and Resilience Committee
• Collaborating with the Office of Professional and Student Affairs to coordinate student-oriented well-being initiatives
• Providing regular progress reports on well-being and resilience initiatives to the dean and faculty
• Overseeing the components of the School’s Strategic Plan focused on well-being and resilience
• Assessing the impact of well-being activities and initiatives, and monitoring trends over time
• Implementing an ongoing communications plan for well-being and resilience initiatives

The establishment of this new position was among the recommendations from the Mental Health and Wellness Taskforce. The standing committee on Well-Being and Resilience is also a product of the Task Force. The committee maintains student representatives from each of the four cohorts, as well as a diversity of SOP faculty and staff.

The SIUE SOP’s commitment to the mental wellness and overall well-being of its pharmacy community aligns with the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) adoption of policies for schools of pharmacy to facilitate and develop a culture of well-being and resilience, which are incorporated into accreditation standards.

Photo: SIUE School of Pharmacy Director of Well-Being and Resilience Kelly Gable, PharmD, BCPP.

Sophomores Tymei Dappert and Jared Wright are recipients of fall 2020 scholarships from the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Staff Senate. 

“We are always excited to award deserving students with the means of furthering their education at SIUE,” said Angela White, Staff Senate secretary. “The Staff Senate has been awarding students scholarships annually for many years. It is the highlight of our year!” 

“This award will greatly benefit me as I continue my education at SIUE, thank you,” said Dappert, a computer management and information systems (CMIS) major. “I plan to go into cybersecurity. I would like to thank the University Staff Senate scholarship committee and others who made this scholarship possible.” Dappert is the daughter of retiree Carol Dappert, who previously worked as a graphic designer in University Marketing and Communications. 

 “This generous award will bolster my academic endeavors to become an electrical engineer,” said Wright, an electrical engineering major. “I am very thankful to receive this scholarship.” Wright is the son of Jenell Wright, financial affairs director in the Office of University Advancement. 

Scholarship awards are given to qualifying SIUE students who meet such criteria as:

• Be a son, daughter, grandchild, spouse or civil union partner of a presently employed or retired civil service (excluding non-status) or professional staff employee (excluding appointments of less than 50% and term appointments of less than six months) of SIUE.
• Meet admissions requirements of undergraduate requirements at SIUE and be enrolled for the fall 2020 semester
• Applicants with fewer than 12 earned college semester hours must have an ACT composite of 19 or above (unless exempt because of SIUE’s admission standards)
• Applicants with more than 12 earned college semester hours must have at least a college GPA of 2.5  

Staff Senate awards scholarships annually in the fall and summer to qualified SIUE students. To donate to the Staff Senate Scholarship award, visit http://siue.edu/give-now/. 

Photos:
SIUE sophomore Tymei Dappert (right) with her mother, SIUE retiree Carol Dappert, was one of two SIUE Staff Senate fall scholarship winners. 

SIUE sophomore Jared Wright (right) with his mother Jenell Wright, financial affairs director in the Office of University Advancement, was awarded a SIUE Staff Senate fall scholarship.

New York Times best-selling author of young adult and middle grade fiction, whose work has been translated into six languages, Andrea Nicole Livingstone – known as Nic Stone – talked about her journey as a writer during a Zoom session with students from the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS). 

 “We at the SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School are elated to welcome our special guest Nic Stone,” said CHS English teacher Bridget Nelson. “During the national pandemic we are facing, our students need and deserve creative opportunities to connect. This virtual visit with Nic Stone is an extraordinary opportunity. She is a rock star writer of young adult fiction, who creates characters that we so desperately need in our classrooms today.” 

Stone, daughter of a retired veteran police officer, is best known for her debut novel “Dear Martin,” a soul-wrenching and brutally honest conversation to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. about race relations in the U.S. since his death. The sequel, “Dear Justyce” published Sept. 9, talks about race, racism, police brutality and more in letters to “Justyce” from a teen in the American juvenile system. 

“Hosting Nic Stone while our CHS students are doing remote learning from home offered a creative opportunity inspired with hope,” said CHS Director Gina Jeffries, EdD. “Each student was provided a copy of the book, ‘Dear Martin’ prior to Stone’s virtual visit.” 

“From kindergarten through eighth grade, I was an avid reader,” said Stone. “I loved popular book series such as Encyclopedia Brown, because I loved seeing a kid have that kind of power. It wasn’t until I turned 13 years old that it occurred to me that I never saw any reflection of myself in the books I was reading.” 

During high school, Stone said she was introduced to three Black literary characters that she found substantially lacking. 

“One was an escaped slave named Jim, headed up a river with a white boy in ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ by Mark Twain, and his vernacular was very difficult for me to read,” she confessed. 

“The second African American character I met was a man accused of a terrible, terrible crime. His name was Tom Robinson in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ and he suffered a terrible fate. The third one was Crooks, and his role in ‘Of Mice and Men’ by John Steinbeck was so minor that most people don’t recall him.”  

It was when Stone went to Spelman College, a private Black women’s school in her hometown of Atlanta, that she met who she calls the “Glorious Greats.” 

“I met amazing women like Zora Neal Hurston, Toni Morrison, Alice Walker and Nella Larsen who created astounding works of literature and fiction,” boasted Stone. “Still, as much as I loved reading these authors, I didn’t identify with their experiences.” 

Stone continued that she was at age 27 when she read Veronica Roth’s trilogy, “Divergent.” 

“It was my first time ever reading a series where the African American character lived all the way through to the end!” said the 35-year-old. “Seeing a Black girl in a popular book series and getting to play a pivotal and heroic role, sparked something in me. It made me think that maybe I could do something like this.” 

Stone encouraged CHS students to follow their passions into a career of their own choosing. 

“I love story-telling. Not only do I get to tell stories, I get paid for it,” she exclaimed. “Those of you who are passionate about creating music, poetry, art, touchdowns or whatever it is, you can turn it into a career path, depending on how bad you want it. 

“The world is changing. People are wanting more voices like ours. So, get to it!” 

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. 

Photo:
Nick Stone is a New York Times best-selling author of young adult and middle grade fiction, whose work has been translated into six languages.

The Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) has awarded a $5,000 Fellowship Grant to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering (SOE) doctoral candidate Pourya Kargar for his research proposal “Investigating Seismic Response of Geocell Reinforced Retaining Walls with Low Plasticity Backfills Using Nonlinear Dynamic Analysis.”

The GSI is a consortium of 71 organizations worldwide involved with geosynthetics. All types of polymeric geosynthetic materials are involved. The organizations include federal and state governmental agencies, facility owners, designers, consultants, quality control and quality assurance organizations, testing laboratories, resin and additive suppliers, manufacturers, manufacturer's representatives and installation contractors.

Kargar is a student in SIUE’s Cooperative Program in Engineering Science, working under the guidance of Abdolreza Osouli, PhD, in the Department of Civil Engineering.

Osouli noted the national award promotes SIUE’s name among highly research-intensive universities. “Plus, Pourya will be able to focus on his research with this award and be regarded as an expert in the field of liquefaction and stability of retaining structures,” Osouli said.  

Because the GSI Fellowship is from one of the largest industries in civil engineering, the award is significant for Kargar. “This award endorses the significance and practicality of our research,” he said. “Also, it helps remove the financial limitations in the way of reaching my research’s goal.”

Kargar’s research focuses on retaining walls being integral elements for various projects, such as roads, highways, bridges, railroads and buildings. “Depending on the ground and construction conditions, several kinds of retaining walls may be used for these projects,” he said. “Geocell-reinforced retaining structures could be an ideal alternative to the regular retaining structures because of numerous advantages such as cost-effectiveness, speed of construction and environmental aspects. 

“By focusing on the dynamic response of these retaining walls under seismic loadings, our research provides valuable insight for geotechnical engineers to be able to compare this alternative with conventional retaining walls. Therefore, this type of geosynthetic structure could be recognized as a practical solution in many retaining projects with great confidence.”

A native of Kermanshah, Iran, Kargar has been honored for academic achievement throughout his SIUE career. “Pourya is not only talented and dedicated to his research, but also has a motivation to excel without limitations,” Osouli said. “He also is extremely eager to learn from other pioneers and follow the advice of mentors in achieving these recognitions on the national stage.”

Kargar received the International Association of Foundation Drilling Ohio Valley Chapter Thomas A. Buzek Scholarship for the 2019-2020 academic year.

In 2018, Kargar received the GeoConfluence Research Scholarship from the St. Louis Chapter of the Geo-Institute of American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). The scholarship was provided to support outstanding practical research in the field of geotechnical/geoenvironmental engineering, particularly benefitting the Midwest. His research focused on 3D Limit Equilibrium Analysis of the Oso 2014 landslide, one of the deadliest landslides in United States history.

Photo: Pourya Kargar, SIUE School of Engineering graduate student and recipient of the Geosynthetic Institute Fellowship grant.

LaTonia Bornnard, owner of Shear Madness, LLC, a beauty salon and barber shop, as well as event space located in East St. Louis, began working with the Illinois Small Business Development Center for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville amid the COVID-19 pandemic to secure a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan.

Bornnard was struggling with the countless challenges small businesses have faced during the pandemic and reached out to the SBDC for guidance. SBDC Director Jo Ann DiMaggio May and her staff began assisting Bornnard, specifically with an application for the Small Business Administration (SBA) PPP loan.

The PPP loan helps small businesses keep their workforce employed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, through the CARES Act, the SBDC was able to add Devon Moody-Graham as minority outreach advisor for East St. Louis and St. Clair County. Graham has a range of networking connections and valuable advising experience. She took over Bornnard’s case, assisted through the application process and helped to successfully receive a PPP loan.

“The SBDC has been a great resource for me,” Bornnard shared. “Devon was there to walk me through every step of the process. It was difficult and time consuming, but she was always there to help me through it.”  

“As an area native and business strategist, I absolutely love working within the Greater East St. Louis area and seeing our business owners prepared to receive capital in order to grow,” Moody-Graham said. “Lack of capital is a huge challenge in urban areas like this, but thankfully the Illinois SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE is committed to seeing minority businesses succeed. Through their partnership with my company, CEOMom Empire LLC, we are making sure that minority business owners are prepared and set up to succeed.”

Thanks to Moody-Graham’s assistance and the SBDC, Bornnard plans to use the PPP loan to get her business back on its feet, with hopes to reopen in the near future.

Shear Madness, LLC is located at 110 N Main St. in East St. Louis, and can be contacted at 618-741-3644.

The Illinois SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE helps Illinois businesses find solutions to the present challenges, as well as ways to survive and thrive in these challenging times. If any business is in need of similar assistance, or assistance of any kind, contact the SBDC at 618-650-2929 or sbdcedw@gmail.com

The Illinois SBDC for the Metro East assists start-up and 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 more, contact the IL SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE at 618-650-2929.

Photo: LaTonia Bornnard, owner of Shear Madness, LLC.

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Graduate School has presented its Outstanding Teaching Assistant Awards to Lindani Memani at the master’s level and Huan Van Phan at the doctoral level. Memani and Van Phan will be recognized at the virtual Graduate School Awards Reception this fall and each receive a $500 award.

The Outstanding Teaching Assistant (TA) Award is designed to recognize and reward graduate students for outstanding performance in teaching and instruction.

Memani is a student in the Master’s of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of English Language and Literature. She has been teaching English Composition courses in the first-year writing program since fall 2019. 

Memani’s innovative and inspiring teaching style has received the highest of praise from her faculty. “Lindani’s teaching is nothing short of amazing - inspiring, structured, student-centered, welcoming, interesting and engaging,” said English Professor Matthew Johnson, PhD, Lindani’s supervisor. “Lindani’s unique ability to establish rapport and a positive classroom environment led to her students openly engaging in a genuine, intellectual, and academic discussion, not just with her as the instructor, but also with each other.” 

Memani’s teaching philosophy is centered on interactive learning and creating a welcoming classroom space. “The classroom should be a space of positive learning, where no student feels unwelcomed, neglected or unimportant,” she said. “Since becoming an instructor who engages with a diverse student population most of whom are first-generation students, I have been aware of the impact of practically enacting diversity and inclusive learning in all my student engagements, even beyond the classroom.” 

Drawing from her background in mass communications, Memani has created engaging pedagogical activities that utilize TV shows and commercials to teach students to analyze rhetoric and cultural values. These innovations inspire students to actively engage in lively classroom discussions and stimulate critical thinking.

Johnson reflected on Memani’s commitment to her own learning and improvement. “Lindani is a highly reflective teacher, and one who is – and will – accomplish wonders with her students,” he said.

As the Outstanding TA at the doctoral level, Huan is a student in the School of Engineering’s Engineering Sciences cooperative PhD program with a focus in mechanical engineering. He has served as a TA t in several 300 and 400-level mechanical engineering courses since fall 2019.

Nima Lotfi, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, and Huan’s supervisor, said, “I remember seeing him spend hours in the lab, beyond his normal office hours, explaining the subject matter to the students who were struggling.” 

That dedication to learning aligns with Huan’s own teaching philosophy that “teachers should give their all to be an endless bridge which connects students to knowledge.” 

In spring 2020 when the COVID pandemic suddenly forced a switch to remote learning, Lotfi said Huan quickly adapted to online teaching, and learned the tools and software that were needed to continue courses. Because of Huan’s reliability and dedication, he was chosen to teach two undergraduate courses independently during fall 2020. 

Lotfi summarized Huan’s superior teaching performance, “He went above and beyond to make sure that students actually got the best learning experience.” 

Outside of his teaching assistant responsibilities, Huan has also demonstrated commitment to his own learning and research, as he has been involved in developing multiple robotic platforms in the SOE’s mechatronics laboratory. A native of Saigon, Vietnam, he shares his passion for his research by always talking enthusiastically to prospective students and their families during SOE open houses.

Photo (L-R): Graduate School has presented its Outstanding Teaching Assistant Awards to Lindani Memani and Huan Van Phan.

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering is hosting the 2020 Mid-American Environmental Engineering Conference (MAEEC) on Saturday, Oct. 24. The virtual event will run from 8:40 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

The conference features civil and environmental engineering graduate students sharing research and educational experiences.

SOE Dean Cem Karacal, PhD, points out that the conference is timely considering current public issues. “Given the challenges related to climate change, the pandemic and environmental pollution, it is extremely important that scientists and engineers from this region’s universities share information and exchange ideas to discuss possible solutions to these major problems that will shape the future of mankind,” he said. “The variety of topics covered in this conference by the participating faculty and students show that there are so many facets of the environmental problems that needs to be addressed urgently. The SIUE School of Engineering, its faculty and students are proud to be host site this important conference.”

Alexandria Boehm, PhD, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University and Senior Follow at the Woods Institute for the Environment will provide the keynote presentation on “SARS-CoV-2 in Wastewater Settled Solids is Associated with COVID-19 Cases in a Large Urban Sewershed.”

“Interest in water resources management and environmental engineering have escalated in recent decades due to increasing demand, excessive use of resources and challenging sustainability, and probable impacts of future climate variability on water resources and ecosystems,” said SIUE’s Rohan Benjankar, PhD, conference chair and assistant professor of civil engineering. “This is a global issue and has to be addressed by advanced management practices based on research, engineering technology and science. The MAEEC provides a platform to faculty and students of our regional universities to share knowledge, experiences and advancement in technologies to address current issues in water resources and the environment.”

Participating institutions include SIUE, Missouri University of Science and Technology, University of Missouri Columbia, Saint Louis University, Southern Illinois University Carbondale and Washington University in St. Louis.

SIUE and the St. Louis Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers-Environmental and Water Resource Institute (ASCE-EWRI) sponsor the event.

For more information, contact Rohan Benjankar at 618-650-2814 or visit siue.edu/engineering/civil engineering.

Because it’s good for young people to know their rights during legal proceedings and to be exposed to various career choices within the legal field, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center Collinsville’s Upward Bound Scholars Academy (UBSA) program is teaching the virtual course, Trial Advocacy, to its students. 

“It’s a critical subject we wanted our students exposed to, and we are happy to have such a qualified teacher to do it,” said Yvonne Hart, UBSA program director. “The weekly Zoom classes are one way our program is reaching out to make sure our students stay academically engaged and get what they need during this pandemic.” 

Jennifer D. Franklin, JD, MBA, principal consultant at Sentient Strategy is the lead facilitator for the weekly course that began Sept. 14. The course ends Monday, Dec. 7. 

“The purpose of the class is to teach students about the judicial system, specifically the structure and function of trials,” said Franklin. “So far, we have covered the purpose for having trials, the structure/parts of trials, pre-trial procedures (discovery and evidence issues) and jury selection. 

“In each class, we learn about and examine an aspect of a trial, and its effects. Then we compare it to what is seen in movies and on TV.” 

Students are learning the difference between fact and fiction in regards to what is seen on television, in the movies and in the media, versus what really happens in a trial, Franklin expounded. 

“This has led students to ask more questions regarding the way trials are portrayed in the media,” she added. “Students have also raised questions regarding real legal proceedings, such as the Breonna Taylor Grand Jury process and outcome, in order to gain a deeper understanding of the legal system.”    

Franklin said she is glad to see the students’ interest and excitement regarding the subject matter. 

“The students are great! They always have thoughtful and relevant questions, which makes the class fun and engaging,” said Franklin. “I am honored to have the opportunity to facilitate this class and make a positive impact in the lives of UBSA students.” 

“We have many students interested in law careers,” said Hart. “This is a popular course for our program, and we were determined to offer it this fall.” 

UBSA has aided in student learning and well-being during the pandemic, according to the program director. Other help that the program has offered includes:

• Distribution of back-to-school supplies
• Completion of a technology survey to determine which students are in need of hotspots, computers, Chromebooks or other devices
• Student check-in surveys to determine academic, social and emotional well-being and needs
• Remote courses and tutoring during after school hours 

Upward Bound Scholars Academy (UBSA) is a TRIO program federally funded by the U.S. Department of Education. UBSA serves high school students, ages 14-18, from low-income families and from families in which neither parent holds a bachelor’s degree. The goal of Upward Bound is to increase the rate at which participants complete secondary education and enroll in and graduate from institutions of postsecondary education. 

Photo:
Jennifer D. Franklin, JD, MBA, principal consultant at Sentient Strategy is the lead facilitator for the UBSA course, Mock Trial.

While its annual in-person celebration was thwarted by the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Business didn’t falter in its distribution of scholarships and awards totaling more than $320,000.

The awards were presented to 127 students in honor of their exemplary work and commitment to their academic journey. Recipients are pursuing degrees in accounting, business administration, computer management and information systems, economics and finance, and management and marketing.

“Scholarship gifts are remarkable investments in the future,” said School of Business Dean Tim Schoenecker, PhD. “It is critical that we continue to secure additional scholarships, both annual and endowed, and perhaps particularly so amid the current economic and health crisis. This will ensure we can continue to attract and retain the highest quality students by offering them a superior business education.”

A sampling of the 2020 honors included the Cox Scholarship’s awarding of its largest funding total to date, and the distribution of a new joint scholarship from the Grady Family Foundation.

The Cox Scholarship is awarded to incoming business freshmen and transfer students who reach specific academic criteria. In 2020, 27 freshmen were awarded a total of $108,000 per year for the next four years, and 14 transfer scholars were awarded a total of $56,000 per year for the next two years.

The Grady Family Foundation donated $300,000 to create two sizable scholarships for entrepreneurial-minded students, and to be awarded annually to one student from the School of Business and one from the School of Engineering.

“History shows that many of the inventions and technologies we enjoy commercially today were invented or developed by people with engineering or technical training,” said Ed Grady, BS ’72, a School of Engineering alumnus who sits on the SIUE Foundation Board of Directors. “However, the individual rewards vary based on whether or not the person knew how to manage business activities.”

The inaugural recipient from the School of Business was Abigail Schuneman, a senior majoring in management and marketing. Schuneman recently started her own freelance graphic design business after being encouraged by family and friends to sell her art.

“Receiving this scholarship is such an honor, as I’ve put so much work into finishing school while running my business,” said Schuneman. “It will help relieve some financial stress for my final semester.”

Additionally, 10 students received a $5,000 award from Busey Bank as part of its Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). Scholarships awarded through the CRA support the academic success of low-to-moderate income students with a commitment to continue their higher education.

Photo: Abigail Schuneman, a senior majoring in management and marketing, was the inaugural recipient of a scholarship from The Grady Family Foundation.

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Business is sponsoring a webinar on the Future of Remote Work at 9 a.m. (CT) Friday, Oct. 23. The presentation examines research on the effects of COVID-19 on remote work and considers the long-term implications on the future of work.

SIUE Emeritus Professor of Economics Sandy Levin, who is a specialist in telecommunications economics, organized the conference.

“We are grateful that Emeritus Professor Levin brought this opportunity to our attention,’ said School of Business Dean Tim Schoenecker, PhD. “This is clearly a relevant topic, and the School of Business is pleased to be a sponsor.”

Evaluating the economic impact of social distancing measures taken to arrest the spread of COVID-19 raises a number of fundamental questions about the modern economy:

• How many jobs can be performed at home?
• What share of total wages are paid to such jobs?
• How does the scope for working from home vary across occupations, cities, industries and countries?

Jonathan Dingel, PhD, associate professor of economics in the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, will present the results of research on the effect of COVID-19 on remote work and consider the long-term implications for the future of work after the pandemic. 

Looking broadly across countries highlights that high-quality telecom networks are a necessary condition for effective economic and public responses to COVID-19. In particular, strong networks have underpinned the success and broad acceptance of lockdown measures by enabling substantial continuation of work, education, and commerce, notwithstanding social distancing.

TELUS Communications Regulatory Affairs Director Joe Rowsell will review international evidence on the performance of telecom networks during the pandemic, including on speed, reliability and coverage. 

For more information and to register, visit www.itsworld.org.

Photo: SIUE Emeritus Professor of Economics Sandy Levin.

In an election season full of noise, division and distraction, there’s at least one premise both sides agree upon: this election matters. Join political scientists from the Southern Illinois University System at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 19 as they use their expertise to help identify what’s at stake in this election, from the local to the national level, as well as in the international arena.

The virtual event is open to the public. Pre-registration is available at siue.zoom.us.

The panelists include experts in Illinois local and regional politics, political parties and political methodology, presidential politics, human rights and the social movement, Congress, U.S. Supreme Court, politics and the media, political scandals, the politics of gun control, and urban politics. The panelists are:

• Ken Moffett, professor and department chair, SIUE
• Laurie Rice, professor, SIUE
• Andy Theising, professor, SIUE
• Sophia Wilson, associate professor, SIUE
• Benjamin Bricker, assistant professor, SIUC
• Scott Comparato, associate professor, SIUC
• Tobin Grant, professor and department chair, SIUC
• Virginia Tilley, professor, SIUC

A moderator will also allow time for a Q&A session.

Photo (L-R): SIUE professors of political science Ken Moffett, Laurie Rice, Andy Theising and Sophia Wilson.

If Black America’s knuckles could turn “white,” they probably would when gripping onto emotions while contemplating and wading through information and disinformation, options and potential losses, and securities and risks of the Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020 election. 

The DREAM (Dismantling Racism through Education, Advocacy and Mobilization) Collective at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will host its next webinar, “Identity Politics in the 2020 Election: A Black Scholar Activist Perspective,” from 4-5:30 p.m. (CST) Wednesday, Oct. 14 at youtube.com/watch?v=3ip9UcVKArQ. 

Panel members include Timothy Lewis, PhD, assistant professor in the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Political Science; and Sherice Janaye Nelson, PhD, professor in the Department of Political Science at Southern University and Agricultural & Mechanical College in Baton Rouge, La., and founder and executive director of the Black Leadership Roundtable. 

The DREAM Collective’s webinar will delve into the importance of the election to race relations and the future of democracy in the U.S. 

“The double pandemics of systematic racism and COVID in the year 2020, has left our country’s citizens divided, disconnected and unhinged,” said Jessica Krim, EdD, associate professor, chair and Secondary Education program director in the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior (SEHHB). “Doctors of Political Science Timothy Lewis and Sherice Nelson will offer their expertise in unpacking these identity politics that have left our nation divided and volatile.” 

DREAM Collective members include education faculty Krim, Jennifer Hernandez, PhD, J.T. Snipes, PhD, Nate Williams, PhD, and SEHHB Dean Robin Hughes, PhD. 

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

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy (SOP) fourth-year student Kristen Ingold was selected as one of 22 participants for the inaugural Phi Lambda Sigma (PLS) Leader Academy. She was selected from a pool of nearly 80 applicants nationally.  

“The PLS Leader Academy is a newly launched intensive leadership training program and Kristen exemplifies many of the important qualities of a leader,” said Keith Hecht, PharmD, associate professor in the SOP Department of Pharmacy Practice. “I am excited to see how this program will help her continue to develop as a leader in our profession.”

A Freeburg native, Ingold has high hopes for the experience. “I hope to gain a better understanding of my view on teamwork, how I make decisions and how I interact with others,” she said. “By analyzing these attributes in relation to myself, I can grow and better incorporate the leadership tools presented in this Academy. I am aiming to form a strong connection with my cohort through sharing our experiences.”

PLS eventually developed two 11-person cohorts from the talented applicant pool. Students submitted an application outlining their interest in the Academy and how participation in the program will be shared with their home chapter and school.  

In her application, Ingold focused on collaboration with the current officers of SIUE’s PLS chapter to form a leadership mini-series. “We will pull from the core skills and competencies that I learn in the Academy,” she said. “Each skill will become its own discussion topic for our current PLS chapter members and new inductees.”

The intensive leadership training program includes bi-monthly cohort meetings and individual coaching sessions in order for participants to develop an awareness of self and others to become a leader worth following.  The sessions began October 5 and will run until May 2021. 

The first meeting addressed questions regarding the Academy and introduced all members of the cohort. “Our facilitator allowed each member to share their thoughts and a fun fact about themselves,” Ingold said. “Even with a small 3-minute speech from everyone, my cohort found many similarities and bonds. At the end of the call, we had enough time to begin discussing a leadership tool, which is where we will continue at our next biweekly call.”

Ingold said an Academy requirement is for participants to be vulnerable and open. “This means accepting feedback and realizing you have weaknesses that can be strengthened,” she said. “A major skill I hope to improve upon is giving and receiving constructive criticism. A strong leader needs to be able to build a cohesive team and listen to them. Leadership is a two-way street!”

SOP Dean Mark Luer, PharmD, FCCP, strongly believes that each student should experience some form of leadership development while in the School. “While our curriculum has it intentionally imbedded, the PLS Leadership Academy offers a wonderful opportunity for Kristen to engage with students from across the country in pursuit of both personal and professional growth,” he said. “This type of programming offers the opportunity to improve her communication skills, navigate both self- and social-awareness, and sharpen her decision-making skills, which all easily translate to the pharmacy profession and the ever-present challenges of healthcare and society.”

Phi Lambda Sigma was established in 1965 to develop leadership qualities among pharmacy students and pharmacists, and to recognize leaders in the profession

Photo: Kristen Ingold, SIUE School of Pharmacy student.

The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is part of a professional committee supporting local restaurants and retailers for Small Business Saturday on Nov. 28. This group, known as the Small Business Week of Southwestern Illinois (SBWSWIL), reached out to area chambers of commerce to create a unique and enticing shopping experience to support local small businesses.

The Greater Belleville, Collinsville, Edwardsville-Glen Carbon, Metro East (Fairview-Swansea), O’Fallon- Shiloh and the Troy-Maryville-St. Jacob-Marine chambers are joining the effort in support of their small business members.

These Madison and St. Clair Counties’ chambers solicited companies to spotlight themselves on a “passport” in an effort to promote their respective establishments and attract more customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Local retailers and restaurant owners are also offering prizes in appreciation of their patrons.

The passport features 16 businesses from Madison and St. Clair Counties.

“This is a great opportunity for business owners to advertise and generate traffic for the upcoming holidays,” said SBDC Director Jo Ann Di Maggio May, who appreciates the support of the chambers and the SBWSBIL committee. “It truly takes a team effort to help small businesses survive and thrive.”

To obtain a “passport” and support Small Business, contact your local chamber or the Illinois SBDC for the Metro East at sbdcedw@gmail.com.

Shoppers have from Sunday, Nov. 22 through Saturday, Nov. 28 to stamp their “passport” at all 16 local establishments to win a prize from participating businesses. Return the passport via email (scan or take a picture of the completed passport) by 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 28 to sbdcedw@gmail.com. Winners will be announced on Monday, Nov. 30.

SBWSWIL pays tribute to the contributions that small business makes to the U.S. economy. It focuses on:

• Uniting the area’s tireless, hard-working entrepreneurs under one tent to inspire and nourish the entrepreneurial spirit that powers the economy through a full week of programming and events specifically tailored to their unique business
• Rallying southwestern Illinois to spotlight the unsung heroes of the small business community through the Small Business Awards. Together, achievements are celebrated in exponential growth, innovation, social entrepreneurship and company

The Illinois SBDC for the Metro East assists entrepreneurs as well as existing business owners operating in the nine-county Metro East region of Calhoun, Jersey, Madison, Bond, Clinton, St. Clair, Washington, Monroe and Randolph. 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.

SBDC’s in Illinois are funded, in part, through a cooperative agreement among the U.S. Small Business Administration, Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville as a service to the community. To learn how these no- cost services may help your business venture, contact the Metro East SBDC at 618-650-2929 or sbdcedw@gmail.com.

The National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has launched a new initiative “Future Leaders of Future Fuels,” focused on developing its own employees’ knowledge of the biofuels industry.

The Future Leaders group consists of Scientific Analysts Rachel Carpio and Kaitlin Lasseigne, Operations Manager Jared Burns, Assistant Research Engineer Kyle Sonderman, Policy and Business Development Specialist Aimee Dillenberger, Research Fellow Brad Smith, and Communications and Outreach Specialist Claire Weinzierl.

“The future of biofuels in America and around the world is very strong,” said NCERC Executive Director John Caupert. “In the future of biofuels, a key strength is the people working in the area of process improvement, as well as product discovery. NCERC has launched a ‘Future Leaders of Future Fuels’ program, created to enhance the capabilities and strengths of such people working in biofuels.”

The Future Leaders have been tasked with three projects to complete in the coming months including a corn ethanol trial, redesigning the NCERC display case in the lobby, and developing an Ethanol 101 presentation for future training purposes. The three projects are expected to be completely led and performed by the group, with only occasional guidance by supervisors when needed.

“These NCERC employees’ backgrounds range from biology to biological sciences, from chemistry to communications, from process operations to public policy, and from maintenance to mechanical engineering,” Caupert said. “While Aimee, Brad, Claire, Jared, Kaitlin, Kyle and Rachel are in the early years of their careers, they are the leaders of the future for biofuels and beyond. I’m extremely proud of the camaraderie, effort and teamwork I’ve witnessed. First hand, I’ve watched this group learn together while working together. The future of fuels knows no limits due to the attitude and innovation of these Future Leaders.”

The Future Leaders recently conducted their corn ethanol trial using the 150-liter fermenter in the Fermentation Suite. The objective of the project was to ferment 100 liters of #2 corn flour.

“Being a part of Future Leaders has me excited for the future of ethanol and other biorenewables,” Dillenberger said. “I am excited to learn even more about the ethanol industry and how we can work together toward a more sustainable future.”

The fermentation project ran over the course of seven days, providing the Future Leaders with hands-on experience operating a bioprocessing facility. The team was encouraged to observe and learn how to set up a fermentation project, run an operation in the Fermentation Suite, and collect samples for fermentation trials. Lab quality control and analytical testing for liquefaction and fermentation were also incorporated into the training.

“The biofuels industry is constantly evolving and presenting new challenges,” Burns said. “So, as the industry continues to grow, it is important for NCERC to perfect its fermentation and distillation methods through trials such as this one in order to provide the best possible data for our clients.”

The fermentation was performed using Ethanol Red yeast strain in order to convert the fermentable sugars into ethanol. The fermentation beer was distilled and the remaining material was dried.

“Being a part of Future Leaders has led me to take on a new sense of confidence in myself as a scientist and has also allowed a new side of me to grow by having the freedom to be a leader,” said Carpio. “It has taught me the importance of teamwork and the importance of inclusiveness on a team. We all have our different backgrounds and strengths, but this has allowed us to design and complete a goal together. I am looking forward to being a part of many more Future Leader trials.”

About The NCERC
The NCERC is a nationally recognized research center dedicated to the development and commercialization of biofuels, specialty chemicals and other renewable compounds. The NCERC’s fully functional dry grind pilot plant and laboratories are equipped with advanced biofuels capabilities including corn fractionation, pretreatment, and a fermentation suite with 5, 30, 150 and 1500L scale-up. Facilities are staffed by industry veterans with more than 100 years of collective experience in fermentation and biofuels production. This knowledgeable team has the flexibility and expertise to design and carry out projects in any region of the advanced biofuels or specialty chemicals space. For more information contact Claire Weinzierl at cweinzierl@ethanolresearch.com, or visit www.ethanolresearch.com.

Photo (L-R): Back row - Research Fellow Brad Smith, Operations Manager Jared Burns and Assistant Research Engineer Kyle Sonderman.

Front row - Policy and Business Development Specialist Aimee Dillenberger, Scientific Analyst Rachel Carpio, Scientific Analyst Kaitlin Lasseigne, Communications and Outreach Specialist Claire Weinzierl, and NCERC Executive Director John Caupert.

The DREAM (Dismantling Racism through Education, Advocacy and Mobilization) Collective at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will air its next episode of the podcast, “Blacktivism in the Academy,” on Thursday, Oct. 15. 

Episode five, “Not a Monolith,” will feature Jessica Harris, PhD, assistant professor in Higher Education and Organizational Change at University of California, Los Angeles; and Jasmine Haywood, PhD, strategy director at Lumina Foundation, an independent, private foundation in Indianapolis committed to learning opportunities beyond high school. 

Harris and Haywood will discuss what is a “buffer class?” They will also examine the topics of multi-raciality, Afrolatinidad, and how white supremacy aims to enforce a racial hierarchy. Also contributing to the discussion will be DREAM members and education faculty Nate Williams, PhD, and Jennifer Hernandez, PhD. 

The podcast is for scholar activists by scholar activists, and encourages and facilitates learning, activism and anti-racist action. If you are seeking a community of like- minded scholar-activists, keep listening. Access “Blacktivism in the Academy” on Spotify and Stitcher. Featured will be prominent speakers from communities of color, who will address how to step out of the societal cyclical patterns of the past. 

DREAM Collective members include education faculty Jennifer Hernandez, PhD, Jessica Krim, EdD, J.T. Snipes, PhD, Nate Williams, PhD, and School of Education, Health and Human Behavior Dean Robin Hughes, 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:
L-R: Jessica Harris, PhD, assistant professor in Higher Education and Organizational Change at University of California, Los Angeles; and Jasmine Haywood, PhD, strategy director at Lumina Foundation, an independent, private foundation in Indianapolis committed to learning opportunities beyond high school.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering (SOE) Professor Brad Cross, PhD, PE, SE, has been named a Fellow by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

“This is a great accomplishment and recognition of his contributions to the civil engineering profession,” said Ryan Fries, PhD, PE, professor and chair of the Department of Civil Engineering.

According to the ASCE, Fellows have made “celebrated contributions and developed creative solutions that change lives around the world.” Only three percent of ASCE members hold the prestigious honor.

An SOE faculty member since September 1992, Cross performs research in the areas of historic preservation, the seismic retrofit of existing structures, structural dynamics, finite element analysis, and bridge instrumentation and design. He has extensive experience in the structural design and preservation of buildings.

Cross has served ASCE in a variety of positions during his career, including past chair of the St. Louis section of the Structural and Earthquake Engineering Technical Committee, founding member of the New Madrid Chapter of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, associate editor for seismic effects for the ASCE Journal of Structural Engineering, and co-chair of the 2006 ASCE Structures Congress in St. Louis. He is currently a member of the American National Standards Institute/Truss Plate Institute (ANSI/TPI) National Design Standard for Metal Plate Wood Truss Construction Committee.

A Piscataway, New Jersey native, Cross earned a bachelor’s in civil engineering from the University of Maryland in 1984. He achieved a doctorate from The Johns Hopkins University in 1992.

Photo: SIUE Civil Engineering Professor Brad Cross has been named an ASCE Fellow.

St. Louis Small Business Monthly has named SIUE alumnus Derek Barnard, CPA, CEPA, among the 2020 Best Accountants.

Barnard is a tax partner at Anders CPA + Advisors and a member of the firm’s Business Transition Planning practice. He earned a bachelor’s in accountancy from the SIUE School of Business in 1983, and currently serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board.

For more information on Barnard, click here. The complete list of 2020 Best Accountants from St. Louis Small Business Monthly viewed here.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville criminal justice professor Dennis Mares, PhD, shared his expertise on technology in policing and reducing violent crime during a presentation for the Bureau of Justice Assistance on Wednesday, Oct. 7.

Mares, and co-presenter Emily Blackburn, with the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD), presented on their collaborative, award-winning Strategies for Policing Innovation (SPI) site project. The project, SkyCop Mobile Surveillance Unit, won the 2020 Phil E. Keith Project of the Year award from the International Association of Law Enforcement Planners.

“The SLMPD was awarded a grant to test the efficacy of mobile surveillance trailers, or “SkyCops,” said Mares, professor in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Criminal Justice. “My work is to explore if and how much crime reductions can be realized by deploying the units. We randomly deployed them for three-week intervals across all police districts in the City of St. Louis.”

During their presentation, Mares and Blackburn shared challenges faced by the SLMPD, strategies for the deployment, and data-based findings upon measurement of impact on gun crime, robbery and vehicle related crime before, during and after deployment.

“One of the key points we made in the presentation was the fact that evaluating technology must be done with care in mind,” Mares explained. “Not only should police agencies try to develop sound and non-biased deployments so evaluations are possible, but also academics must keep in mind that agencies have to be able to continue to implement technology once the research partner completes the evaluation. In St. Louis, we’ve come up with a plan that is scientifically sound, yet can be sustained in perpetuity by the agency.”

Over the next two years, Mares notes the SLMPD aims to achieve approximately 40 complete deployment cycles. This will allow for examination of the overall impact of “SkyCops.”

Photo: SIUE’s Dennis Mares, PhD, professor in the Department of Criminal Justice.

The Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine’s (SDM) 15^th annual Give Kids a Smile Day held Monday, Oct. 12 was a huge success, with more than 110 children between the ages of 3-13 receiving a combined $52,990 worth of free preventative, restorative and surgical dental treatment.

“This was one of our most successful events in recent years. We served 30 more children than last year,” said SIU SDM Director of Community Dentistry Katie Kosten, DMD. “Aside from addressing patients’ immediate dental needs, the other big goal of Give Kids a Smile Day is to make sure each patient has an established dental home.”

“We were able to connect with a lot of patients who otherwise did not have a dentist of record, and start the process of them becoming patients at the SIU SDM,” she added. “This is the best way for us to make sure there is continuity of care, so these children don’t fall through the cracks.”

Care included examinations, x-rays, cleanings, fluoride treatments, fillings, sealants, stainless steel crowns and extractions. All services were provided by SIU SDM faculty, students and staff. Due to extra precautions surrounding COVID-19, the event did not include its staple Smile Stations, but Kosten notes all went smoothly.

“We are accustomed to protecting our patients, providers and staff every day in our clinic, so much was business as usual,” Kosten explained. “Parents and patients were grateful, and we hope that they had a positive experience. We missed being able to host the Smile Stations in the gymnasium, but we hope to bring that back in future years.”

Give Kids a Smile Day is a national event sponsored by the American Dental Association to provide free dental treatment for underserved children. The event is organized to promote community awareness of the need for dental services among the underserved.

Photo: Checking in at the SIU SDM for Give Kids a Smile Day are mom Tarshaee Turner and children (L-R) Tarjayee, Tarmajae and Taliyiah.