EarthCaches are interesting geological sites that help individuals explore the landscapes around them. The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville STEM Center is encouraging community members to take part in the fun, outdoor learning opportunity by visiting EarthCache sites on the SIUE campus and in the region.

“It’s Earth Science Week, and last Sunday was EarthCache Day, so we figured what better time to encourage people to dive into geoscience learning,” said STEM Center Instructor and Outreach Specialist Colin Wilson. “There are EarthCache sites all over the world, and the STEM Center has created some within reach of campus. These sites open people’s eyes to some of the geology of this region. They’re available for some socially-distant outdoor fun, and offer opportunities to learn something new and explore SIUE’s amazing campus and surrounding areas while enjoying the fall beauty.”

The STEM Center is offering a special incentive to engage in EarthCaching. Community members who find at least three of the STEM Center’s six EarthCaches will get a beautiful geocoin. The collectors’ items are limited, so Wilson encourages participants to explore soon.

Information on the STEM Center’s six EarthCache sites is available at SIUESTEMCenter.org/earthcaching. The site also offers ideas for incorporating EarthCaches into the classroom, tips for creating original EarthCaches and a virtual walkthrough of an example EarthCache.

Participants who complete the three-site challenge should email STEM Center Director Sharon Locke, PhD, at slocke@siue.edu. Geocoins will be distributed this fall in the order the Center receives submissions.

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Center for STEM Research, Education and Outreach comprises an independent group of researchers and educators, innovating ways to engage students and the public in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Within the SIUE Graduate School, the Center brings together research faculty, graduate students and practitioners to conduct education research. The Center contributes educational expertise to SIUE undergraduate classes and provides professional development for K-12 teachers. The Center boasts a significant library of equipment and resources, which are available for loan at no cost to campus and regional instructors. For more information, visit https://www.siue.edu/stem/ or contact STEM Center Director Sharon Locke at (618) 650-3065 or stemcenter@siue.edu.

Photo: The SIUE STEM Center will award a geocoin to individuals who visit at least three of the Center’s six EarthCache sites.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Head Start/Early Head Start’s ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of students, staff and families garnered a visit from SIUE East St. Louis Center Executive Director Tim Staples, EdD, to all of its centers. 

Head Start/Early Head Start is gradually re-opening its centers for in-person services. Staples visited the Helen Davis Head Start/Early Head Start Center on Friday, Oct. 9. 

“The SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start staff continues to work diligently and tirelessly to make sure our services remain of high quality, are diversified and are offered safely,” said Staples. “I am enjoying seeing first-hand how the centers are safely providing services to Head Start children and families.” 

The SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start Program serves more than 860 families and children birth through age five, including children with special needs, throughout St. Clair County. The program also provides services to expectant mothers. The program is housed in 12 early childhood centers, seven managed directly by SIUE staff and five collaborations. The program includes a rigorous school readiness program and provides comprehensive services, such as health/ dental screenings and family engagement and support activities.  

Photos:
SIUE East St. Louis Center Executive Director Tim Staples, EdD, (left) observes as a Helen Davis Head Start staff member serves lunch to preschoolers. 

SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start preschoolers eat their lunch at the Helen Davis Center.

An engaging, thought-provoking and provocative assortment of topics and speakers were discussed and presented during Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s third annual Diversity Day, Wednesday-Thursday, Oct. 14-15. Under the theme, “The Fierce Urgency of Now – SIUE Shaping a Changing World,” the virtual event boasted more than 22 presentations with approximately 975 people registering. 

  “Diversity Day’s theme highlights the work of SIUE’s new Anti-Racism Task Force,” said Associate Chancellor and Chief Diversity Officer Venessa A. Brown, PhD. “Designed with community engagement and participation across all three of SIUE’s campuses in mind, Diversity Day showcased the multitude of ways in which membership in the global community is core to SIUE’s mission and values.” 

The event kicked off with a welcome from SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook, a welcome from SIU President Dan Mahony during the SIU Conversation of Understanding’s “Strategies and Actions to Dismantle Systemic Racism,” and remarks from U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois. 

“SIUE Diversity Day 2020 is a celebration of our institution’s past, present and future as it relates to advances in cultural responsiveness and inclusion,” said Pembrook. “SIUE is committed to serve as a model for inclusion, due to our location, core values and mission to shape a changing world.” 

Duckworth congratulated and encouraged SIUE on its diversity work. “Welcoming a diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, physical abilities, and more among students and professionals at SIUE is critical,” she said. “Americans have been laying down, standing up, kneeling, marching, and prodding our country, trying to drag it forward until it lives up to the words of the Pledge of Allegiance that in this republic, there is liberty and justice for all. 

“But the responsibility, the work of bending the moral arc of the Universe towards justice and equality, cannot just be put on the backs of those who have been feeling its weight this entire time. Rather, it must be on all of us. We need to reckon with the real, deep, uncomfortable realities and systemic biases that have marred our communities for centuries. That starts with days like today, where folks come together to discuss the dire need for diversity.” 

Offerings during Diversity Day included:

• A Parade of Nations – a video showcasing the global diversity and rich cultural heritage of SIUIE international students, staff and alumni
• A Tribute to Black Lives
• An Update to the Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan
• A virtual Community Fair
• Posters, cuisine representing various ethnic roots, Cultural Literacy on-the-Move and a pop-up Little Free Library 

Presentations included: 

• School of Business Alumni Panel
• Inclusion, Equity, and Social Justice at SIUE
• Christian Privilege: Understanding Faith-Based Advantage 
• Naming the Space and Access Intimacy
• Where Do I Fit? The Journey to Becoming Anti-Racist
• Improving the Climate for SIUE’s Women Faculty: Steps for Interrupting Bias and Fostering Inclusion
• Building a More Inclusive Classroom through Empowering your Non-Native English Speakers
• Dynamic Luncheon Panel - CRiT Talks
• The Social Impact of COVID-19 on International and Marginalized Communities in the St. Louis Area
• An Anti-Racist Medical Institution: A Marginalized Student’s Perspective 

“If I had to think of a TV show title that best describes what is going on right now it would be ‘Little Fires Everywhere,’” said Lori Patton Davis, chair of the Department of Educational Studies at The Ohio State University’s College of Education and Human Ecology. “We are dealing with the pandemic, continued racial violence, a tumultuous political climate, the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the rush to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett.” 

Davis was one of the speakers at the “Dynamic Luncheon Panel - CRiT Talks,” moderated by School of Education, Health and Human Behavior (SEHHB) Dean Robin Hughes, PhD. Other speakers included Denise Taliaferro Baszile, PhD, associate dean of Diversity and Student Experience and professor of Curriculum and Cultural Studies in the College of Education, Health and Society at Miami University of Ohio; David Stovall, PhD, professor of African-American Studies and Criminology, Law and Justice at the University of Illinois at Chicago; Timothy E. Lewis, PhD, assistant professor in the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences’ (CAS) Department of Political Science; and Dominic Dorsey, director of the SIUE Office for Accessible Campus Community and Equitable Student Support (ACCESS). 

“If we want to put out the fires, my call to SIUE and other institutions and persons who have some level of influence is to make a change,” Patton Davis continued. “Some fires that you can put out are to get rid of standardized tests, make college more affordable, tell more comprehensive histories of our institutions, and we can have a better and more comprehensive understanding of institution sanctioned violence.” 

One webinar dealt with biases as it relates to Asian Americans because of the pandemic. 

“Are Asian restaurants facing more challenges because of a COVID-19 backlash?” asked Min Liu, PhD, associate professor in the CAS Department of Applied Communication Studies. 

“We did absolutely hear that very early on about the backlash, terminology and the narrative that was used was very negative and continues to be,” responded Suzanne Sierra, senior program manager of the St. Louis Mosaic Project of the World Trade Center. “There were several people asking that hate speech not be tolerated. We are concerned that communities feel safe and know there are resources they can come to.” 

Liu and Sierra were guest speakers on the panel, “The Social Impact of COVID-19 on International and Marginalized Communities in the St. Louis Area,” moderated by Gaby Renteria-Poepsel, international student programming advisor in the SIUE Office of International Affairs. The other panelist was Sarah Caldera Wimmer, manager of Mental Health Integration, LifeWise StL. 

“Anti-Asian rhetoric is troubling,” said Wimmer. “We didn’t hear reports that rose to the level of calling the police, but there were reports about kids saying things to each other at play dates, neighbors putting trash in one of our community member mailboxes, and writing things that cannot be traced. We also know from national surveys that more than half of American Chinese households feel that the American public blames Chinese Americans for this virus, and that’s just heartbreaking to hear.” 

“All of the presentations challenged us to a new way of thinking, a new way of doing, a new way of being,” said Brown during the closing ceremony. “I challenge all of you to continue to dialogue, build new relationships and work for change. Be uncomfortable. It’s OK. Get involved. 

“We are grateful to have all of you on this journey with us, as we work to be an anti-racist institution, where everyone is welcome. We will be the light for the southern Illinois. We will be a place where every culture and ethnicity are celebrated.” 

Diversity Day was planned and executed by the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, the Diversity Day Planning Committee, University Marketing and Communications and Information Technology Services.

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Graduate School has presented its 2020 Outstanding Thesis Award to Jose Seiba Moris for his thesis, “Insights into the Male Athlete Triad (MAT) in Collegiate Athletics.”  Seiba Moris graduated in May 2020 with a master’s in kinesiology-exercise physiology.  

The Outstanding Thesis Award recognizes a master’s student’s thesis as the most outstanding among all theses completed in the previous academic year. The recipient will be honored at the virtual Graduate School Awards Reception this fall and also receive a $500 prize.

Seiba Moris’ thesis advisor was Brianne Guilford, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Applied Health in the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior. “Jose is undoubtedly the top graduate student I have mentored in my six years as a faculty member,” she said. “Jose’s academic performance and execution of his research project is representative of a doctoral student.”

Guilford said that research on the MAT is lacking. “Jose’s thesis was the first to examine all three conditions of the MAT in a single study,” she said. “Furthermore, this was the first MAT study to include collegiate athletes from seven different sports. This information could be pivotal in helping male athletes avoid the detrimental and potentially permanent effects of the MAT.”

Seiba Moris’ research results have been presented at two national conferences and were recently submitted for publication to a top tier journal in the field. “Jose’s thesis project included a large number of outcome measures and was extensive enough that it could have been divided among three master’s students,” Guilford said. “Impressively, Jose skillfully navigated all aspects of data collection and analysis for this study, and chose to include all physiological outcome measures in his thesis. Due to the large number of participants in this study, each of the five ELISAs (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) required a 12-hour work day. Jose energetically and happily put in the time.”

As Seiba Moris was preparing the manuscript for publication, he identified a novel relationship between a few of the outcome measures. “This was an exciting finding that made the data more novel and likely to be accepted for publication,” Guilford said. “His diligent work, even after he graduated, has resulted in a manuscript that all authors are quite proud of. His work will provide a significant contribution to the field.”

Along with Guilford, other Department of Applied Health faculty members serving on Seiba Moris’ thesis committee included: Bryan Smith, PhD, associate professor; Benjamin Webb, PhD, associate professor; and Maria Fernandez del Valle, PhD, assistant professor.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s online Winter Session offers convenient, high-quality opportunities for students to advance toward degree completion. The accelerated option features more than 80 three-week classes taught entirely online.

Registration begins Monday, Nov. 2, and classes start Monday, Dec. 21. Details are available at siue.edu/winter-session.

“Winter session supports SIUE’s student-centered mission, as our high-caliber faculty creatively develop and advance excellent academic programming that meets the needs of all students,” said Denise Cobb, PhD, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs.

“The flexibility of winter session allows students to enroll in a course they couldn’t build into their fall schedule or take pressure off of a busy spring course load. We are empowering students to move confidently toward degree completion and achieve their full potential.”

Available courses cover a variety of disciplines at the introductory, upper-division and graduate level. Students from other institutions are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to complete credits that can be transferred to their home institutions.

Due to the accelerated timeline, students are expected to dedicate significant time to their coursework each day and to limit themselves to one course in the winter session.

To register and learn more about winter session at SIUE, visit siue.edu/winter-session. Questions may be emailed to wintersession@siue.edu.

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering’s (SOE) development of a first-class power engineering program is being bolstered by the industry support of valued and long-standing partner, Basler Electric Company.

Basler has contributed $100,000 in equipment for the SOE’s Basler Electric Power Systems Lab. With this donation, Basler will bestow the naming rights of the 545-square foot lab, located in the Engineering Building.

“Industry partnership is extremely important for us to produce competent engineers who not only know the theory, but also the practical side of engineering,” said SOE Dean Cem Karacal, PhD. “The Basler Electric Power System Lab is an important component of making this happen. Through their support, we will maintain and advance our name recognition for producing the next generation of leaders in electrical engineering.”

“Basler’s donation is greatly appreciated, as it comes at a time when state support is diminishing, and we need the support of our industry partners to maintain and enhance our state-of-the-art laboratories. This is a mutually beneficial collaboration that will help both parties, as well as our region, in expanding a highly prepared talent pool in technology fields.”

The Basler Electric Power Systems Lab features state-of-the-art power system equipment, including Basler protective relays for current and voltage protection for power distribution applications, motor applications and generator applications. In addition, it includes innovative motor controls utilized in applications ranging from water and wastewater treatment, power production, mining and other industrial applications.

The lab is used by both undergraduates and graduate students. According to Andy Lozowski, PhD, chair and professor in the Department of ECE, power engineers are in huge demand nationwide. SIUE power engineering students’ job placement rate is nearly 100%.

“Basler’s donation will furnish the lab with instrumentation used in the field,” noted Lozowski. “Power systems, which is the technology to produce and deliver electrical power, has become sophisticated and computerized in recent years. There is a need to add modern equipment to the lab and have students exposed to it.”

“It is important to support the educational process of the next generation of engineering talent,” said Ken Rhodes, President and Chief Operating Officer of Basler Electric Company. “Having equipment in the Basler Electric Power Systems Lab that is available for students to experience real-world applications offers an invaluable piece of education for the power industry. Individuals who are able to apply theory to application are critical thinkers. Laboratory experience helps students adapt much faster to the challenges of integrating into the workplace within this rapidly evolving field.”

Basler has a history of closely collaborating with and supporting the SOE. The family-owned business, headquartered in Highland, previously provided $40,000 toward the construction of the School’s Fowler Student Design Center (FSDC). The FSDC provides creative collaboration and workshop space for students involved in senior design projects, collegiate competition teams, clubs and organizations. The two-story, 14,000-square-foot addition to the SOE Building includes design team workspaces, design labs, an engineer’s alley to showcase projects, and the Grady Family Foundation Innovation Loft.

Additionally, Basler employs multiple SOE graduates as engineers, and helps develop the skills and knowledge of aspiring industry professionals through internship opportunities.

Several Basler staff members have taught engineering classes at SIUE. Mike Basler is a respected instructor within the Department of ECE, and currently serves as chairman of the Industrial Advisory Board, which plays a critical role in maintaining the department’s status with the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

“Mr. Basler is an exceptional power engineering expert, and an extremely valuable instructor for SIUE power engineering,” noted Xin Wang, PhD, associate professor in the Department of ECE and director of the Power Systems Lab.

“The Basler family believes in higher education,” Rhodes said. “This includes the offering of tuition reimbursement for our employees. I am a product of that support having once experienced working full-time and finishing school at night.”

“A high education level and strong work ethic are qualities that we commonly find in SIUE students and graduates,” he added. “Individuals that have applied their knowledge and training have done well at Basler, and within the industry as a whole.”

About Basler Electric Company: Headquartered in Highland, Ill., Basler Electric is a family-owned business with a global presence. That global presence helps us identify the needs of specific markets and applications worldwide and provide solutions with quality products and services to meet our customers' requirements. In 2012, Basler acquired a full-service plastic molding company to provide a stable supply base for plastic parts and expand its product offering. Basler Plastics is a full -scale, ISO certified, UL approved custom plastics injection molder located in San Marcos, TX. To further expand its service and capabilities, Basler acquired E2 Power Systems in 2017. With this acquisition, Basler Electric now offers engineering services and turnkey installation for its excitation line, positioning us to truly offer the best support possible.

Photo: (L-R) Standing outside the SIUE School of Engineering (SOE) are Basler Electric’s Chairman of the Board and Treasurer Bill Basler (center), Vice Chairman of the Board and CEO Greg Basler (middle left) and President and COO Ken Rhodes (middle right). On their left are SOE Dean Cem Karacal, PhD (far left) and Associate Dean Chris Gordon, PhD, and on their right, Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Andy Lozowski, PhD, and SOE Director of Development Lisa Smith (far right).

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has added Karen Banks, MEd, LPC, as a counselor for faculty and staff within SIUE Counseling Services. Banks will focus on supporting colleagues with concerns related to the impact of the current pandemic and racial crises.

 “Karen brings approximately a decade of clinical experience to this role,” said SIUE Associate Dean of Students for Diversity and Inclusion Courtney Boddie, PhD, director of Counseling Services.

SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook acknowledged that the past seven months have provided unique and difficult challenges to the entire campus community. “Karen’s expertise in helping people deal with stress and anxiety, and honing coping mechanisms are particularly welcomed at SIUE at this time,” he said. “We are pleased to provide her support to our excellent, hard-working faculty and staff in addition to the services already available to SIUE students.” 

“I have worked with many clients experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, ADHD, and/or cultural concerns,” Banks said. “We spend time processing an individual’s situation and feelings, and finding solutions that work for each person. I recognize each client is an individual and treat them as such. I offer a personal and holistic approach to therapy that clients find helpful and supportive.

“Many clients come with anxiety, relationship problems and limited coping skills. If you have made it this far, I encourage you to keep going. Reaching out for support can be extremely challenging for most people.”

Banks is available to SIUE personnel from 8 a.m.-noon and 2-4 p.m. on Thursdays, and 8-10 a.m. and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Fridays.

Banks trained at the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) Accredited Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, ranked #2 nationally among counselor education programs.

Through grant funding from the Edwardsville Community Foundation (ECF), the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will launch a podcasting studio within their Edwardsville office, located in Alumni Hall on the SIUE campus.

SBDC Director Jo Ann DiMaggio May worked alongside the ECF and Pam Farrar, ECF executive director, to plan the studio, which will serve a variety of purposes to benefit the community.

“ECF is pleased to give this COVID-19 Relief Project grant, supported by ECF and its local business partners, to the SBDC to increase its virtual technology,” Farrar said. “The SBDC at SIUE has a proven track record of supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs from the Metro East, and we are proud to assist with their important work.”

Thanks to the generosity of the ECF and its partners, the SBDC has been able to purchase all of the necessary equipment to get the studio up and running, with the hopes of having it ready for use in the upcoming weeks.

SBDC clients and SIUE students will be able to access the podcasting room and equipment at a low cost. The SBDC also plans to utilize the studio for podcasts, webinars and content creation.

Additionally, the SBDC hopes to collaborate with the SIUE Department of Mass Communications for production and editing assistance for clients and students who use the studio.

“We are appreciative of the Edwardsville Community Foundation and sponsors that contributed to help us put together this valuable podcasting space,” DiMaggio May said. “It will be a great way to enhance our SBDC services and outreach through informative webinars and podcasts. We will also allow clients to create podcasts and other marketing materials for their businesses, increasing exposure and cash flow.”

The Illinois SBDC for the Metro East assists start-up ventures, 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.

About Edwardsville Community Foundation: ECF operates as a charitable trust that receives, manages, and distributes tax-deductible charitable contributions for the benefit of the residents living in the local communities, as defined by the Edwardsville School District 7. Since its inception in 1997, ECF has distributed more than $6.6 million to charitable causes. For more information, visit edwardsvillecommunityfoundation.org.

Registration is now open for the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine’s (SDM) third annual Veteran’s Care Day being held Thursday, Nov. 12 at its main clinic in Building 263, 2800 College Ave. in Alton.

Appointments are required for the event, which provides free dental services to veterans. To register, call Holly at 618-474-7200. 

“We are excited to bring this opportunity to our community and show our gratitude for veterans’ service,” said SIU SDM Director of Community Dentistry Katie Kosten, DMD. “We know that a lot of veterans don’t have access to extensive dental care, and some don’t have access to any dental care. There is a large need that goes underserved. We at the SIU School of Dental Medicine are proud to offer our services to benefit as many veterans as possible.”

In 2019, Philip O’Connor, of Alton, benefitted from the dental care he received during Veteran’s Care Day.

“I was quite impressed by the day’s set up, and the friendly and professional attitude of the staff and students,” said O’Connor, who served in the Naval Reserve for 21 years, including a deployment via Operation Iraqi Freedom. “I had a wonderful experience. The providers are not there to cause you any pain, so veterans can leave their stress at the door and be comfortable at the School of Dental Medicine. There are not that many opportunities like this for veterans. I am grateful to the School for offering this special day.”

During the past two Veteran’s Care Day events, the SDM has provided a combined nearly $60,000 in free dental care. Services include, but are not limited to cleanings, x-rays, fillings and extractions.

As the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing’s (SON) continues to experience rapid enrollment growth, it is expanding and enhancing its clinical simulation learning opportunities for future nurses.

In fall 2020, the SON opened an additional state-of-the-art clinical simulation lab. The School’s Simulated Learning Center (SLC) now includes three labs that span nearly 5,700 square feet on the second and third floor of Alumni Hall. The new lab space on the third floor includes an advanced simulated operating room, high-fidelity hospital simulation room, two simulation skill classrooms and a new debriefing room.

The SLC offers undergraduate and graduate nursing students the realistic primary and advance practice simulation experiences they need to provide high-tech, high-quality patient care.

“The current COVID-19 pandemic increased the urgency for the School to explore alternative learning modalities that are evidence-based, cutting-edge and creative in an effort to continue to elevate our educational programs in nursing,” said Kevin Stein, DNP, program director and assistant professor of the nurse anesthesia program.

“Through high-fidelity simulations designed by our faculty, students will be able to transfer the theoretical knowledge they learn in the classroom into clinical practice in a safe and controlled environment,” Stein said. “This will enhance student confidence and prepare them for hands-on patient care throughout central and southern Illinois communities.”

The SLC will be relocated to the University’s Health Sciences Building upon the new facility’s completion.

In fall 2020, the SON achieved a record enrollment of 1,877 students. With a 5% increase from fall 2019, the SON saw record enrollment for the second consecutive year.

Photos: Standing in the SIUE SON’s new clinical simulation lab are (L-R) Ann Popkess, PhD, RN, CNE, assistant dean for undergraduate programs; Dean Laura Bernaix, PhD, RN, and Kevin Stein, DNP, nurse anesthesia program director.

SIUE School of Nursing students and faculty engage in simulation learning in the School’s new clinical simulation lab.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is hosting two Esports virtual visit sessions Friday, Nov. 13. The event focuses on reaching out to high school seniors interested in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), the humanities and other high-achievers.

The sessions will include a live exhibition match on its twitch channel between two SIUE teams for Overwatch and Super Smash Bros., from 5-6 p.m. followed by Valorant and Rocket League from 6-7 p.m. Prospective high school students can ask questions to the various Esports teams about their experience at SIUE, campus life, training in Esports, and Esports management and production. 

“The Esports virtual visit is the first of its kind that we will offer at SIUE, and we are excited to see what’s to come!” said Kelley Brooks, assistant director of admission for campus visits and outreach. “This virtual visit creates an opportunity for prospective students to not only get involved with Esports at SIUE, but also provides a virtual experience to interact with current students and our admissions staff.”

 There will be an admissions representative on the stream moderating and answering questions about SIUE, scholarships, housing and more. 

Interested students can sign up for one or both sessions at siue.edu/esports-exhibition.

Photo: The Esports facility at SIUE is located in Bluff Hall.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville today announced that Congressman John Shimkus (R-15^th District-Collinsville) will join its College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Political Science for the spring 2021 semester following the completion of his 24-year career in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Three generations of Shimkus family members have taken advantage of the affordable, quality education offered by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville,” Shimkus said. “I’m excited to join the SIUE faculty, and give back to the University and the community that has been so good to me and my family.” 

CAS Dean Kevin Leonard, PhD, enthusiastically welcomed Shimkus to the College. “Representative Shimkus’ teaching of courses on U.S. politics will serve SIUE’s general education program and will attract students from many different majors,” Leonard said. “All of these students will benefit from the insights drawn from his many years of public service. His experiences in city and county government along with 24 years in the U.S. House of Representatives will offer particularly salient lessons for students in applied communication studies, history, mass communications, political science and sociology.”

Political Science Department Chair Ken Moffett, PhD, is equally excited about Shimkus joining the faculty. “He will teach courses in his areas of expertise, including American politics, law and society, congress, and NATO policy,” Moffett said. “I look forward to adding his expertise to our superb faculty in the Department. As a retiring member of Congress, he brings a dimension to our activities and to our students that nicely complements our strengths as a department and University.”

Shimkus expects that sharing his real-world government stories will help bring his classes to life. “Some of those stories are examples of how government works while others show its failures and its limits,” he said. “I hope my perspective will inspire my students to pursue elected office themselves.”

“Our students will benefit immensely from his experience,” Moffett said. “They will have a unique opportunity to learn about American politics from someone who has succeeded in this area over many decades. They will also be able to work closely with him in their coursework, and also, through the opportunities that he will bring as a result of his long, distinguished career in public office. He will be an invaluable mentor to our students.”

Shimkus believes in lifelong learning as a goal for all. “I am confident the classes I'll begin teaching next semester will deepen my own knowledge, as well,” he said. “Through many years of teaching high school and Sunday school, I've found I often learn more by preparing and instructing others than by trying to learn for just myself.” 

SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook focused on Shimkus’ 24 years of service in Washington. “Congressman Shimkus has developed a wealth of knowledge about energy and fuels, emergency communication formats, enhancing and increasing the effectiveness of the internet, as well as child safety measures,” Pembrook said. “He also is an expert on the people and politics of many parts of the globe. We are excited and fortunate that he will be sharing this expertise with SIUE students and our University community in general. We appreciate his generosity and enthusiasm for making SIUE an even stronger institution.” 

In November 2019, Shimkus donated his political records, correspondence, photos and more to create the “Shimkus Collection” at the Elijah P. Lovejoy Library on campus.

Among Shimkus’ many accomplishments are:

• Expanding the use of biodiesel fuels
• Expanding 911 emergency number legislation and coverage
• Establishing an Internet domain to provide a safe place for young children to surf and learn
• Encouraging child safety with booster seat testing and placement of heart defibrillators in schools
• Advocating for energy issues and a safe environment

“Southwest Illinois has been very gracious to me. I’m a Republican in an historic Democratic county,” said Shimkus. “They gave me my start. I hope when people look back on the issues I campaigned on and believed in when I first started, they will see that I was consistent to those values. I am also so proud of the connection and partnership I have had with SIUE through the years.”

 Shimkus’ SIUE roots include many family members:

• The congressman finished his master’s in business administration in 1997, as he was beginning his first term in the House of Representatives
• Shimkus’ father, Gene, earned an associate’s degree in business in 1968
• Shimkus’ wife, Karen, earned a master’s in music, with a music performance specialization in 1990
• The couple’s son, David, earned a bachelor’s in computer science in 2017

A Collinsville High School alumnus, Shimkus graduated from the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., in 1980. He then served as an active duty Army officer for more than five years. Shimkus earned a teaching certificate from California’s Christ College Irvine (now Concordia University Irvine) and returned to his native southwestern Illinois to teach at Metro East Lutheran High School in Edwardsville before launching his political career.

Photos:
Congressman John Shimkus (R-15^th District-Collinsville) is joining the SIUE Political Science faculty in spring 2021.

The Illinois SBDC International Trade Center (ITC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will continue its series of virtual roundtable discussions with its October session, “6 Key Actions for Exporting,” scheduled for 10 a.m.-noon Thursday, Oct. 29 and hosted via Zoom.

During this session, exporters will focus more specifically on six essential steps toward excelling in exporting, according to co-presenter Tom Dustman, international sales director at St. Louis-based Sunnen Products Company, a manufacturer that has been exporting deep hole drilling machines and tools for 80 years and has launched distributorships in South America, China and the Middle East.

“Each of these virtual roundtable programs is unique in terms of relevant content,” Dustman said. “Our next session will educate exporters on: 1) finetuning their marketing and business plan; 2) how to secure financing; 3) country-specific cultural issues; 4) how to find and vet a potential agent or distributor; 5) working with a capable freight forwarder and 6) how to gain support for exporting from a company’s executive leadership and board of directors.”

All businesses in the southern region are encouraged to participate. For details and registration, contact the Illinois SBDC ITC at international-trade-center@siue.edu.

“I often hear stories of how hardworking business owners in our region continue struggling during this uncertain season,” said IL SBDC ITC at SIUE Director Silvia Torres Bowman. “They may feel as if they’re functioning in a silo, wishing for a forum in which to discuss these challenges, bounce ideas off regional exporting peers and develop solutions to navigate it all. This virtual roundtable series welcomes their participation. Together, we can secure the necessary resources for exporting success.”

During the series’ first session in September, 15 active Southern Illinois businesses gathered remotely to interact and learn how to grow their sales through expanded international trade.

“The expertise shared during our first virtual roundtable session, paired with the meaningful shared dialogue and interaction between discussion leaders and participants, resulted in powerful connections forged among exporters across Southern Illinois,” said Torres Bowman. “Business owners who are just beginning to export their products asked questions of Southern Illinois-based company executives who have been successfully exporting for years. Experienced exporters shared techniques that have enabled their companies to thrive in the global marketplace. They also shared secrets to overcoming exporting challenges unique to those in our region.”

Marshall Girtman, shipping/receiving and international sales manager for Special Mine Services (SMS), participated in the initial exporting roundtable event. Girtman has been working with Torres Bowman since July, gaining expertise to expand SMS’ exporting beyond Canada and into Australia, Peru and Mexico. The West Frankfort-based company manufactures electrical connectors for mining and other industries.

“The Illinois SBDC ITC’s expertise and assistance has already proven invaluable to us,” said Girtman. “Silvia’s invitation for us to engage in these virtual roundtables has added to that value. It has increased our exporting knowledge base, equipping us to expand our global reach.”

The September discussion was moderated by Dustman, who emphasized Illinois’ robust exporting activity. “Illinois exports more than $60 billion annually,” he said. “Ninety percent of Illinois exporting businesses are small and mid-sized businesses. In 2019, Illinois-based companies shipped to 216 countries.”

Dustman encouraged participants to seek no-cost services from the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) through the Illinois Global Network’s nine SBDC ITC offices and six offices of trade and investment worldwide.

“Being successful in exporting requires being successful in a lot of little things,” Dustman explained. “Dare to grow your business exports. Forty percent of our products are exported. The trend I see is significant growth. It should excite and assure us that there’s true potential in international exports.”

Craig Eversmann, president of Collinsville-based MSSC, LLC, an industrial marking, coding and stenciling manufacturer, shared his experiences and successes in growing his firm’s exports during the September roundtable session. For 20 years, Eversmann’s firm has been selling via independent distributors located in strategic industrial markets such as Santiago, Chile and Lima, Peru. Eversmann regularly shares his expertise in areas such as how to establish independent distribution channels and how to vet potential distributors.

“The Illinois SBDC International Trade Center was instrumental in assisting us in establishing relationships with existing and potential distributors in these countries and others,” said Eversmann, who also serves as board president of the Southwest Illinois Trade and Investment Council, a regional organization providing resources and opportunities to local companies seeking to export. “The ITC helped us host product websites in the countries where we do business. The ITC also assisted us in navigating the product regulatory requirements. If you’re getting into exporting or want to expand your exporting business, resources like this are essential. We’re happy to share what we’ve learned with manufacturers that are just beginning exporting or growing their exporting.”

According to Torres Bowman, ITC support includes, but is not limited to:

• Evaluation of export readiness
• International business planning
• Export regulations
• International trade leads
• Export finance
• Market research
• Participation in virtual and in-person trade mission and international industry shows
• Training courses/seminars/workshops
• Access to federal funding through multiple programs such as the Illinois’ State Trade and Export Promotion (ISTEP) and the newly available CARES Act

The Virtual Roundtable Series is funded thanks to The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide fast and direct economic assistance for Illinois small businesses and to preserve jobs for American industries.

For more information about how to do business globally, how to gain immediate access to the ISTEP and CARES Act funds and to learn how other no-cost services may help start or grow your exporting business, contact the ITC by email International-Trade-Center@siue.edu or phone at (618) 650-3851, or visit siue.edu/business/itc.

The Illinois SBDC International Trade Center at SIUE serves businesses in Southern Illinois by providing individualized, no-cost export advising, identification of foreign buyers, agents and/or distributors through trade leads, international market analysis and more. The ITC is funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville as a service to the region’s entrepreneurial and business community.

The ITC has a longtime partnership with the Illinois Office of Trade and Investment (OTI), which maintains a full-time staff of both foreign and domestic-based international trade and marketing experts. OTI also manages six foreign trade offices located in Belgium, Japan, Mainland China, Mexico, Canada and Israel.

As a key member of the Illinois SBDC Network, the International Trade Center delivers these important services to its clients while supporting the goals and objectives of both the SIUE School of Business and the University at large.

Photo: Illinois SBDC International Trade Center (ITC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

While pursuing an advanced degree, it is integral for students to remain involved in the community and current with new practices within their fields. One significant way to meet the mark on both accounts is through participation in national professional organizations.

At Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, College Student Personnel Administration (CSPA) students Darien Wilson, Michelle Black and Lindsy Perry are investing in themselves and their field through service opportunities.

“Our goal is to develop scholar-practitioners in the CSPA program—so for our students to gain meaningful experiences with professional organizations throughout their time in the program is amazing,” said CSPA Co-Program Director Candace Hall, EdD. “I am proud of the initiative our students take to explore opportunities that suit their interests and budding expertise.”

Wilson and Black are serving as student ambassadors for the American College Personnel Association (ACPA). As ambassadors, they serve as a liaison between ACPA and SIUE to update educators on conferences, job openings, and upcoming ACPA events. Additionally, ambassadors are responsible for hosting monthly events on campus and connecting fellow students with professional development and networking opportunities.

“These experiences allow me to form connections with other entity groups and professionals nationally,” said Wilson. “This position has also allowed me to serve in a wide variety of leadership roles that serve as stepping stones for future roles within ACPA.”

In the future, Wilson aspires to serve as a director of students and inclusion, and hold a leadership position within ACPA.

“These experiences add value to my education in several ways,” added Black. “Through ACPA, I am able to expand my professional network and develop my professional identity. ACPA emphasizes social justice through these offerings as well, aligning with my personal and professional values.”

Upon graduation, Black hopes to blend her background in social work with student affairs and pursue her doctoral degree. “I am passionate about helping students overcome barriers to success,” she said. “Students have lives outside of attending classes, and any challenges they might be facing, such as housing insecurity, food insecurity, poverty or abuse, do not end simply because they are a student.”

Perry is a member of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators’ (NASPA) Graduate Associate Program (GAP). As a graduate associate, she provides leadership and outreach to SIUE by delivering information about upcoming NASPA programs, events and resources to fellow graduate students and college personnel colleagues.

“This experience allows me to connect with graduate and student affairs professionals around the world,” Perry said. “This will be helpful to obtain a job and references upon graduation. Also, this experience provides tools to excel as a future student affairs professional.”

After graduation, Perry hopes to serve as a diversity and inclusion coordinator or fraternity and sorority life coordinator. She aspires to later pursue her doctoral degree and eventually become a vice president of student affairs.

Photo: (L-R) SIUE College Student Personnel Administration (CSPA) students Darien Wilson, Michelle Black and Lindsy Perry.

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. 22. 

Episode six, “Justice or Just Us: Asians for Black Lives,” will feature Megan Segoshi, PhD, program lead for Scholar and Community Engagement at the National Center for Institutional Diversity, University of Michigan; and OiYan Poon, PhD, program officer at The Spencer Foundation. 

Segoshi and Poon join the conversation to share their experience and research when it comes to combating racism in higher education. The conversation will center on racism-conscious admissions, attitudes towards affirmative action, and what a future of solidarity and racial justice looks like. 

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) OiYan Poon, PhD, program officer at The Spencer Foundation, and Megan Segoshi, PhD, program lead for Scholar and Community Engagement at the National Center for Institutional Diversity, University of Michigan.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville retiree Jo Gibson has been re-elected to a second term as a regional director serving on the State Universities Annuitants Association (SUAA) board of directors. The action occurred at the September 30 meeting of the SUAA House of Delegates.

“My role as SUAA Director Region 3 Universities is to be sure our collective voice is heard at the state level, particularly as related to the universities in our region (SIUE, SIUC, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Eastern Illinois University),” said Gibson, who served as SIUE transfer coordinator prior to retirement. “The three regions within SUAA reflect as equally as possible the total paid chapter membership in universities and community colleges. Region 3 reaches diagonally from Joliet to SIUE and south.”

Gibson said the SUAA provides the framework for a unified message dedicated to preserving and protecting a strong public pension system, healthcare benefits, higher education, and the general well-being of its membership. “SUAA advocates on behalf of all faculty and staff of public universities and community colleges - both retired and current employees - their spouses and survivors, who are participants and beneficiaries of the State Universities Retirement System,” she stated.

Gibson acknowledged that the COVID-19 pandemic has provided challenges. “As with all other organizations during this unprecedented time, SUAA has continued to keep its membership connected and engaged while also reaching out to the greater SURS (State Universities Retirement System) audience,” she said. “Our executive director meets with legislators virtually and sends email mini-briefings regularly to the membership. Members and guests have been invited to participate in five separate Zoom meetings on the Graduated Income Tax amendment that is on the November ballot. Our annual and fall meetings are being delivered via Zoom. Local chapters are providing virtual relevant educational seminars. Behind the scenes, there is much discussion about reaching the needs of current employees who are most at risk of adverse legislation.”

SIUE is also represented by former Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Narbeth “Nobby” Emmanuel, who continues to serve as SUAA Foundation treasurer, securing donations to support student scholarships and emergency funds for members in financial need. Emmanuel retired as SIUE vice chancellor for student affairs in spring 2016.

The SIU System is also represented by SUAA President Pat Eckert, from the SIUC Chapter, who previously served as the association’s vice president. Eckert was SIUC’s continuing education coordinator prior to retirement.

SIUE Chapter President John Jennetten underscored the importance of the SIU System’s strong representation within SUAA. “SUAA adopted a regional delegate structure several years ago to ensure that the organization was serving the membership of the entire state,” he said. “SUAA advocates and supports funding of all higher education programs, not just retirement benefits.

“There are important regional differences in the state related to higher education opportunities and access to quality healthcare. SIU’s representation on the SUAA board helps ensure that the needs and concerns of members in southern Illinois are taken into consideration as SUAA develops advocacy policies and positions. In turn, SIU campus chapters benefit from regular communication of statewide initiatives back to their members resulting from the active participation of Jo Gibson and President Pat Eckert.”

SUAA is the only organization focused on issues affecting State Universities Retirement System (SURS) employees, retirees and beneficiaries. “Membership matters!” Gibson said. “Every employee, retiree, and their beneficiaries should be concerned about their futures by supporting the organization advocating on their behalf.” 

Photo: Jo Gibson, SIUE retiree and regional director serving on the SUAA board of directors.

Each year, the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) honors exceptional students with scholarships to enhance their learning opportunities. This fall, the SDM has awarded four students with its annual Dean’s Scholarship and two students with the Dr. Larry A. Lowe Memorial Scholarship.

The Dean’s Scholarship was created to reward academic merit, assist financial aid and increase student diversity within the SIU SDM. This year’s Dean’s Scholarship recipients include Jordan Bolletta, of Alton, Janice Choo, of Savoy, Rhett Farmer, of Mattoon, and Brooklynn White, of Maryville. Each has been awarded $5,000 for the 2020-21 academic year.

Bolletta appreciates receiving the monetary award as it enabled his application to multiple residency programs, allowing him to reach his dentistry goals without a financial burden.

“Receiving the Dean’s Scholarship is an honor for anyone, but the award means even more to me as this is the first scholarship I’ve ever received,” he said. “I’m thankful to be recognized for the hard work that I’ve put in throughout my academic career.”

Upon graduation, Bolletta’s goal is to become an orthodontist and help patients with craniofacial abnormalities and deformities.

Choo was inspired to enter the profession to help others by increasing affordability and access to dental care. She plans on utilizing the scholarship to pay for the Central Regional Dental Testing Service (CRDTS) exam and a new pair of dental loupes.

“I was surprised and extremely grateful that the school would recognize me as a Dean’s Scholar,” Choo said. “There are many times where I feel that I fall short, but receiving this award underscores that I am not here by accident. It is motivation to keep trying my best each and every day.”

Amazing community role models inspired Farmer to pursue dentistry. After dental school, he hopes to follow in their footsteps by volunteering on committees to help improve his community while starting a family.

“To be chosen is humbling,” he said. “The monetary award helps relieve some burdens that COVID-19 has placed on me and my family. The most rewarding part is the connections that I have made through the application process and my time as a student. Those connections are key in pursuit of my academic and life endeavors, and I certainly do not take them for granted.”

White felt a calling to pursue a career in medicine at a young age. After graduation, White hopes to serve as an associate dentist. She later aspires to focus her area of expertise in cosmetic dentistry and deliver beautiful smiles while providing access to dental healthcare to those who need it most.

“To me, the most incredible thing about dentistry is the ability it gives to provide both physical and mental health benefits to patients,” said White. “Every day in clinic, I have the great privilege to not only diagnose oral diseases such as cavities, dry mouth, periodontal diseases, and even the possibility of cancer, but also I get to help people feel better about their appearance by improving their smiles.”

The recipients of this year’s Dr. Larry Lowe Memorial Scholarship are Lauren Nicholson, of Oswego, and Hunter Watson, of Brighton. The annual scholarship was established by Sherry Baker in memory of her late husband, a SIU SDM Class of 1977 alumnus.

“Receiving such a wonderful scholarship means that my hard work and dedication to the dental profession is starting to pay off,” said Nicholson. “I am extremely appreciative of amazing alumni like Dr. Lowe and his wife who believe in young dentists and aid in their education.”

Nicholson hopes to return to her hometown and work in a private practice upon graduation. While practicing as a general dentist, she plans to continue her education and stay knowledgeable about new technologies developing in the field.

Watson’s ultimate goal is to be an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, where he can apply his dental background to highly complex surgical cases in the operating room.

“I was surprised to receive this generous scholarship,” Watson said. “It is nice to know that others appreciate my hard work in dental school. I was able to put the scholarship towards my residency applications, which lifted a huge financial burden. I am grateful that the Lowe family has helped support my future endeavors.”

The SIU SDM presented scholarships to nine additional students. The Keith W. and Peggy G. Dickey Scholarship Award went to Olumayomide Coker and Michael Hudson. Premier Dental Partners Scholarship Awards were presented to Daniel Setzke and Stephanie Wiechmann.

Sally Ayoob and Kaveh Shokoufi received the Dr. and Mrs. Sami Latif Student Scholarship Award. Kapil Jadhav was presented the Dr. Sondra K. Naegler Memorial Scholarship Award. And, Dr. Christopher L. Maurer Memorial Scholarship Awards were granted to Jessica Chellis and Colin Kelliher.

Photos: (L-R) SIU School of Dental Medicine Dean’s Scholarship recipients include (L-R) Jordan Bolletta, Janice Choo, Brooklynn White and Rhett Farmer.

Recipients of the Dr. Larry Lowe Memorial Scholarships are SIU School of Dental Medicine students Lauren Nicholson (left) and Hunter Watson.

The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine’s Action Collaborative on Preventing Sexual Harassment in Higher Education held its 2020 Public Summit virtually Monday-Tuesday, Oct. 19-20. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Carol Colaninno, PhD, research assistant professor in the STEM Center and adjunct professor in the Department of Anthropology, was among the national event’s speakers.

The Collaborative comprises more than 60 colleges, universities and research institutions, and is “dedicated to working toward targeted, collective action on addressing and preventing sexual harassment across all disciplines and among all people in higher education.”

Colaninno presented the initial findings of her research aimed at preventing sexual harassment from occurring during undergraduate field-based courses, specifically in the field of archeology. She is principal investigator of the project “Evidence-based Transformation of Undergraduate Field Schools to Promote Safety and Inclusivity,” funded by a $300,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.

“Attending this conference was rewarding, and a great opportunity for professional growth,” Colaninno said. “Scholars who have been influential in research into sexual harassment in higher education presented their work. There was a full range of higher education professionals, researchers and graduate students in attendance. It was beneficial to learn how other universities are approaching sexual harassment and assault in ways that support populations who have been historically impacted. I hope I can bring some of these approaches to archaeology. “

In 2018, the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine released its report on the sexual harassment of women in higher education: Sexual Harassment of Women: Climate, Culture, and Consequences in Academic Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

“That report detailed the ways in which the climate and culture of higher education perpetuates environments where women are frequently subjected to harassing behaviors, as well as means of preventing harassment and supporting women,” Colaninno explained. “Our field school research was heavily influenced by the report.”

Colaninno and her co-researchers are all members of the Southeastern Archaeological Conference, the professional organization Colaninno and her research team are working with to conduct this work. Along with Colaninno, the team includes:

• Emily Beahm, PhD, research station archeologist with the Arkansas Archeological Survey, University of Arkansas-Winthrop Rockefeller Institute Station
• Carl Drexler, PhD, research assistant professor with the University of Arkansas and station archeologist with the Arkansas Archeological Survey – Southern Arkansas University research station
• Shawn Lambert, PhD, assistant professor at Mississippi State University and research fellow at the Cobb Institute of Archaeology

In the project’s first year, surveys were administrated to field school directors asking how often they implement certain policies and practices at their field schools that prevent and reduce sexual harassment and assault. Field directors were also asked to share their field school syllabi for document analysis and coding.

“Our initial findings revealed areas where field directors can improve their practices. We found that they don’t generally require students to have participated in sexual harassment and assault training before attending field school,” Colaninno said. “Additionally, nearly half of our respondents do not provide contact information for their university’s Title IX coordinator, and few provide contact information for counseling services.”

Among the positive findings, according to Colaninno, is that field directors generally participate in sexual harassment and assault training, and tend to require that their supervising graduate assistants and/or staff do the same.

“Most directors provide students with the contact information for their supervisor (i.e. department chair or dean), so that students may report complaints directly to those individuals,” she noted. “This helps provide some accountability over the field director and gives students more power, too. We are seeing areas where field directors have been thoughtful and are making meaningful changes that support students. Still, we see areas for improvement.”

Next, the researchers will develop recommended practices, and then help implement them while documenting how these practices help create a safer and more inclusive field learning environment.

For more information, visit siuestemcenter.org/safe-field-schools. Questions can be sent to safefieldschools@gmail.com.

Photo: Carol Colaninno, PhD, research assistant professor in the SIUE STEM Center and adjunct professor in the Department of Anthropology.

Seven Southwestern Illinois-based entrepreneurs and their innovative business concepts have been selected to move into the final round of the 2020 Metro East Start-Up Challenge (MESC), Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s 7th annual regional business plan competition.

More than 25 entrepreneurs expressed interest in the regional competition this year, according to Jo Ann DiMaggio May, director of the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at SIUE and Challenge coordinator. Approximately half of the prospective competitors completed the entry process and were invited to participate.

“We’re extremely pleased with the sustained level of interest in our region’s business plan contest,” DiMaggio May said. “There has been a robust outpouring of enthusiasm about the Challenge from applicants, community leaders and our small business development partners.

“The SIUE Metro East Start-Up Challenge creates the opportunity to engage with the region in cultivating an important economic development strategy. Although only seven remain eligible for the $10,000 top cash prize, we encourage everyone that considered or entered the Challenge to access the SBDC’s wide menu of resources and expertise.”

The remaining part of the Challenge will require the finalists to present a 5-minute pitch in front of five judges. Ultimately, they must clearly define reasons why their business concept will be successful. The Metro East SBDC helped prepare the finalists by offering guidance and two pitch classes September.

Competitors will pitch on Thursday, Oct. 29 before a select panel of judges. The winners will be announced immediately following the pitch presentations.

The winning entry is worth $10,000. The runner-up receives $6,000 and third place is valued at $4,000. This year, Regions Bank is sponsoring a 4^th place prize of $1,000.  An array of in-kind services also are provided to the top three competitors.

The 2020 Metro East Start-Up Challenge Finalists include:

• Air Eye, of Edwardsville
• Amygdala Co., of Belleville
• Art Sculpt International, of Fairview Heights
• Clara B’s Kitchen Table, of Belleville
• Denali Building Supply, of Edwardsville
• Pushing Limits, Inc., of Mulberry Grove
• Sharp Coffee LLC, of O’Fallon

The Illinois SBDC for the Metro East assists start-up ventures, 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.

In hopes of cultivating the academic success, supporting the personal well-being, and raising the retention and graduation rates of Black male college students, a group of Black male college advisors presented the virtual webinar, “Advising Black Male Students in 2020 and Beyond,” on Wednesday, Oct. 21. 

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Darryl C. Cherry, Office of Student Opportunities for Academic Results (SOAR) student retention coordinator and SIUE Collegiate 100 advisor, was one of six National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) leaders who participated in the webinar sponsored by NACADA’s Inclusion and Engagement Committee. 

“Sparked by the killing of George Floyd and during a NACADA Advising First-Year Students Community steering committee meeting, I appealed to the committee for targeted, intentional support of Black male students,” said Cherry, NACADA Advising First-Year Students Community committee chair. “This appeal led to combined efforts that ultimately culminated in both the ‘Advising Black Male Students in 2020 and Beyond’ published article and the conference by the same name.” 

 More than 150 participants from institutions across the country attended the webinar in search of ways to better engage, support and matriculate Black male students. The webinar identified challenges facing Black male students, and discussed how academic advisors and advising administrators can work to improve the overall experience for Black male students, according to Cherry. 

Some suggestions for advisors included:

• Work to build a positive relationship with Black male students by establishing rapport with them. Advisors should learn developmental theory, critical theories and theories on racial and male gender identity development.  

• Be intentional, empathetic, strategic and patient when providing guidance, development and support for Black male students to help them develop a healthy work/school/life balance. 

• Purposefully engage in conversations on thoughts and feelings about the traumatic events that have occurred, and continue to occur regarding racial discrimination and police brutality against Black men in society. 

• Aim to become a co-conspirator willing and ready for action rather than just becoming an ally by only showing empathy to their plight. 

Cherry noted that SIUE is working to support Black males. “I am encouraged by the University’s efforts including Goal-Oriented African American Men Excel (GAME), African American Male Initiative (AAMI) and SIUE’s Collegiate 100. I am hopeful that SIUE will expand on its efforts.

“I am also encouraged by regional efforts such as the St. Louis Regional Consortium of Higher Education Initiatives Supporting Black Male Success’ Black Male Excellence Conference and national responses such as NACADA’s Advising Black Male Student Webinar and Luke Woods’ Black Minds Matter.” 

Photo:
Darryl C. Cherry, student retention coordinator for Student Opportunities for Academic Results (SOAR), SIUE Collegiate 100 advisor and chair of the National Academic Advising Association Advising First-Year Students Advising Community Committee.