Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Kevin Tucker, PhD, assistant professor in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Chemistry, is the epitome of a teacher-scholar: offering numerous opportunities for students to engage in applied research and gaining funding to advance his novel research endeavors.

But, a necessary addition to that designation is mentor. And, amid a pandemic that has made it incredibly difficult for students and educators to conduct laboratory research, Tucker has demonstrated just how much emphasis he places on his role as a teacher-scholar-mentor.

A recent acknowledgement of his impact on students’ success is Tucker’s nomination as a “Difference Maker” by chemistry graduate student and research assistant Katherine Maloof.

“Dr. Tucker is more than an amazing professor and mentor,” Maloof said. “This past year has been one of the hardest in my life, but Dr. Tucker has helped me through it. Without him, I would not be where I am today, and I can say that confidently. He will pick you up when you’re down, and give you what you need to build yourself back up. He truly has a passion for learning and ensuring the success of his students. He goes above and beyond for us, and absolutely deserves to be recognized.”

“I am honored and humbled by Katie’s words,” Tucker shared. “I have a large research lab ranging from 15-20 students depending on the semester, and I truly enjoy mentoring each one of them as a student and as a person. I always want to know my students as a whole individual, because it allows me to mentor them more effectively toward their goals – professional and life.”

Tucker’s research focuses on the detection of pharmaceutical and personal care products, and other contaminants of emerging concern within local and regional waterways and the surrounding soil systems. These compounds include antibiotics, and endocrine disruptors, soaps, cosmetics and agricultural products.

He has worked diligently to overcome the challenges the pandemic has presented by creating policies that allow his research team to continue their important work in a safe environment. He developed lab “zones” that are reserved via a group calendar to ensure proper spacing of students. Additionally, each student wears a mask and face shield in the lab for protection.

Tucker credits students for making his scholarship possible, and knows from personal experience just how valuable effective mentorship is for academic, professional and personal development.

“As I pursue novel research projects and form new collaborations, I know that it is my students and their support and commitment to the lab that will enable me to continue to deliver positive results in the future,” Tucker said. “I remember having professors as an undergraduate who mentored me into the student and professional that I have become. I revered them and am still in contact with them to this day. I expect nothing less of myself with every student that I mentor than what my mentors gave me.”

SIUE is celebrating Difference Makers like Tucker throughout February. These individuals are just a few of the countless University faculty, staff and students who have made hard times a little less difficult for others. They were nominated by colleagues and students.

Photo: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Kevin Tucker, PhD, assistant professor in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Chemistry.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering alum Kip Polley was featured in the Southern Illinoisan in October 2020. The 2005 SIUE graduate founded Pale Night Productions, a special effects production company, while completing his bachelor’s in manufacturing engineering.

Like most entrepreneurs, Polley has had to adapt to business in a pandemic. Reporter Joe Szynkowski described Polley’s move from creating haunted attractions to building elaborate  playhouses in this story at thesouthern.com.

The Innovation and Excellence in Graduate Education (IEGE) grant program at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is funding new initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality and effectiveness of the graduate student mentorship.

“We are excited for the inaugural year of the IEGE program. We focused this year’s efforts on mentoring, because the guidance and support graduate students receive from their faculty mentors is crucial to their success, during the pursuit of their advanced degree and beyond,” said Jill Smucker, director of graduate education in the SIUE Graduate School and program coordinator. “Graduate students and their faculty have a unique professional relationship, and effective graduate mentorship enriches students’ academic, professional and personal growth. We look forward to seeing the immediate and enduring impact of this year’s IEGE projects on graduate student mentorship at SIUE.”

“Transforming the STEM Graduate Experience at SIUE: Evidence-based Practices to Support and Advance Effective Mentorship,” is an interdisciplinary collaboration that received $6,375 in funding. Its research team includes: 

• Carol Colaninno, PhD, research assistant professor in the SIUE STEM Center and adjunct professor in the CAS Department of Anthropology
• Adriana Martinez, PhD, associate professor in the CAS Departments of Environmental Sciences and Geography
• Rohan Benjankar, PhD, assistant professor in the School of Engineering Department of Civil Engineering
• Alan Black, PhD, assistant professor in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Department of Geography and Geographic Information Sciences
• Sharon Locke, PhD, director of the SIUE STEM Center and professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences

The research team will gather data on current perspectives and mentorship experiences, develop and implement an evidence-based STEM faculty mentorship professional development series, and use those activities to support a National Science Foundation S-STEM proposal.

Also receiving $6,564 in funding is the initiative, “Developing an Excellent Mentor Pool,” led by Jennifer Arnoldi, PharmD, assistant director of Experiential Education and clinical associate professor in the School of Pharmacy (SOP) Department of Pharmacy Practice.

Arnoldi plans to expand the SOP’s current mentorship program by incorporating interested alumni and volunteer preceptors into the pool of mentors for students. The creation of a thorough mentor training and development program aims to bolster that program.

In addition to the funded projects, the IEGE will host a professional development workshop for faculty on Thursday, March 25. Led by mentoring researcher and expert Laura Lunsford, PhD, of Campbell University, the interactive session will help faculty identify the behaviors of great mentoring, recognize and resolve dysfunctional mentoring and reflect on mentoring ethics. The workshop is open to colleagues in the SIU System.

“One other exciting piece of this project is that we are hosting an URCA (Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities) assistant this semester to lead a research project on developing effective mentorship training programs for faculty,” Smucker added. “We anticipate that this project will lay the foundation for building new support systems that enhance the faculty mentoring of graduate students now and in the future.”

Donations and pledges made to The Rosemarie Archangel, Ellen Sappington, and Stephen L. and Julia Y. Hansen Innovation and Excellence in Graduate Education Endowment, totaling $422,153, have made this funding possible. The endowment’s goal is set at $500,000. To contribute, visit siue.edu/graduate/giving.

Photo: SIUE’s Jill Smucker, director of graduate education in the SIUE Graduate School.

The Southern Illinois University (SIU) Board of Trustees, at its regularly scheduled meeting today, approved amending an existing contract with Academic Partnerships LLC to add three SIUE School of Education, Health and Human Behavior (SEHHB) online graduate programs.

In April 2018, the board approved an initial 7-year, $6.9-million contract with Academic Partnerships for targeted recruitment and outreach for online Master’s of Business Administration students for the SIUE School of Business.

The contract addendum will help the SEHHB develop and grow accelerated online master’s programs in the Department of Teaching and Learning and the Department of Educational Leadership: MSED in Curriculum and Instruction, Advanced Teaching Strategies and MSED in Educational Administration leading to Principal or Teacher Leaders endorsement.

“The School of Education, Health and Human Behavior is extremely enthusiastic about increasing our online degree opportunities for education professionals,” said SEHHB Interim Associate Dean Alison Reeves, PhD. “These new opportunities will bring our high-quality graduate programs to a greater geographic region than previously possible in our on-ground program offerings and meet the growing need for additional online options.”

Academic Partnerships will assist with marketing and recruiting prospective graduate students, optimizing course scheduling to enhance student retention and timely degree completion, and assist SIUE faculty in online technical support. 

 “Ultimately, we are here to serve communities, people in general, and students specifically who depend on our efforts to provide a great education,” said SEHHB Dean Robin Hughes, PhD. “We are fortunate in that we will be working with a great partner who also cares deeply about those communities. Together, I am confident that we will provide unique and innovative educational opportunities to this region and beyond. This is an exciting time for the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior.”

The estimated additional cost during the 7-year contract period is $1,801,424. It will be funded by 50% of the tuition and fees generated from the enrollment of new students. The actual amount paid to Academic Partnerships will be based on the number of enrolled graduate students.

Photo (L-R): SIUE School of Education Health and Human Behavior Dean Robin Hughes and Interim Associate Dean Alison Reeves.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Chancellor Randy Pembrook has named Jessica Harris, PhD, as the University’s first vice chancellor for equity, diversity and inclusion (VCEDI) after a national search conducted by Dr. Cornell Thomas, SIU School of Dental Medicine (SDM) chief diversity officer, director of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and assistant dean for admissions and student services. The position is pending SIU Board of Trustees approval at its spring session on April. 29.

The national search, which began in mid-October 2020, produced 46 applicants. “Thank you to our committee members who were committed to this search,” Thomas said. “It was a complete team effort. We had an outstanding pool of applicants, and we are excited about the energized direction that SIUE is traveling.”

“We are extremely excited about Dr. Harris serving as our inaugural vice chancellor for equity, diversity and inclusion,” Pembrook said. “There is much work to be done regarding SIUE diversity initiatives, and Jessica, with her academic and administrative experience at SIUE, is prepared to hit the ground running on day one.”

Harris was named assistant provost for academic equity and inclusive excellence in the SIUE Office of the Provost in 2020 after serving as the interim assistant provost for the previous two years. An SIUE faculty member since 2011, Harris has served as an associate professor of historical studies in the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and director of the interdisciplinary Black Studies program.

“I want to extend my sincere appreciation to Dr. Cornell Thomas and the members of the search committee for facilitating such a thoughtful search process,” Harris said. “I am also grateful to Chancellor Pembrook for this honored opportunity to serve SIUE in this capacity.

“As I shared during my open forum presentation, my first task will be to work with stakeholders across the University to develop a comprehensive, multi-layered, integrative roadmap to clearly outline and define the next steps in our sojourn toward inclusive excellence. There is much work ahead, and I cannot do it alone. I am confident that if we dream together, and more importantly work together, SIUE will be well on its way to becoming a national model for equity and excellence in higher education.”

Harris’ work at SIUE has included a special assignment as a Provost Fellow for Diversity and Inclusion. In this role, she collaborated with faculty colleagues, undergraduate and graduate students, the Honors Program, the Office of Academic Affairs and the Office of Student Affairs to launch a pilot of Sustained Dialogue, a powerful five-stage social action model encouraging dialogue across differences, as a curricular and co-curricular program. She received the Faculty Humanitarian Award at SIUE’s 2018 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration.

The VCEDI will serve an integral role in two important current initiatives – the Anti-Racism Task Force (ARTF) and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Quality Initiative focusing on anti-racism. The VCEDI also will work closely with the SIU System and its new vice president for diversity, as well as the Diversity Advisory Council (DAC).

The VCEDI’s direct responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Lead the Office of Diversity and Inclusion
• Supervise and administer the offices of EOA/Title IX, Military and Veterans Services, and the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion
• Work with equity advisors for staff searches and the Impact Academy for staff positions  
• Through the Diversity Council, continue to advance the recently developed Diversity Strategic Plan and be responsible for SIUE’s diversity goals
• Lead ongoing Anti-Racism Task Force efforts, including developing training and professional development opportunities, and implementing the recommendations from that group in coordination with the ongoing Higher Learning Commission Quality Initiative (QI)
• Coordinate the Institutional Diversity Leadership Team 
• Chair the Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT) 
• Participate in certain functions of the EOA/Title IX appeals processes in consultation with the EOA Director
• Provide guidance in the Strategic Hiring Initiative as it pertains to SIUE staff 
• Assume responsibilities for anti-racism, equity, diversity, and inclusion programming, including growth of campus constituency groups

Harris participated in the 2017 Higher Education Resource Services (HERS) Institute, an intensive, residential leadership development program for female leaders across the United States. Additionally, in 2017, she was named to the Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions Inaugural Aspiring Leaders Forum and Mentoring Program.

Harris is an accomplished teacher and scholar of 20th century African American History, and a dedicated servant leader committed to student success and inclusive excellence. Harris received the competitive Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation’s 2014-15 Career Enhancement Fellowship for Junior Faculty for her research on the contributions of Black women to the struggle for civil rights in Oakland, Calif. prior to World War II.

In 2011, Harris earned a doctorate in history from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. She also holds a master’s from Cornell University and a bachelor’s from Dillard University in New Orleans.

Photo: SIUE Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Jessica Harris.

Looking at race and racial inequality in different ways will be the subject of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Arts & Issues’ first session of the year. SIUE alumnus Rodney Coates, PhD, professor of critical race and ethnic studies at Miami University, will present the Zoom webinar, “The Matrix of Race-Fostering Social Change and Justice” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25. 

The free webinar, presented by Arts & Issues and the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Sociology, will take a unique look at race and racial disparities in new ways. Those being challenged will include minorities who have experienced the impact of race in their own lives and members of dominant groups who may believe that society is color blind. 

The matrix refers to a way of thinking about race that reflects the intersecting, multilayered identities of contemporary society, and the powerful social institutions that shape the understanding of race. The webinar’s objectives are to help viewers get beyond the familiar “us vs. them” arguments that can lead to resistance and hostility. It will seek to promote self-appraisal, and stimulate more productive discussions about race and racism. 

“At SIUE, we love having the opportunity to highlight alumni who are distinguished international speakers,” said Arts & Issues Director Grant Andree. “Rodney Coates, an alumnus from the Department of Sociology, brings a distinctive perspective on race. The ‘matrix’ includes the many ways people identify themselves and the social institutions that shape our views.” 

An East St. Louis native, Coates has conducted bias training for school districts, municipalities, police departments and universities. He works with local communities, corporations and Miami University to establish pathways to progress for under-represented students in fields such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), business and law. 

Register for this free event here. 

For more information on Coates, visit his website. 

 Arts & Issues is tied to the academic mission of the University. For 36 years, the series has presented some of the world’s finest performing artists and showcased speakers from across the spectrum in areas such as science, history, literature and politics. The program also offers unique opportunities for students, faculty, staff and the community to engage with these performers and speakers through master classes and special sessions. 

Photo:
SIUE alumnus Rodney Coates, PhD, professor of critical race and ethnic studies at Miami University.

“What identities or social group memberships are most important to you?” “To what extent did your formal education value diversity, equity and inclusion?” “What have been your encounters with injustice on campus?” These were some questions used during Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s IMPACT (Immersive Meaningful Practices for Accountable Campus Transformation) Academy session, “Community Connection: Inclusion, Equity and Social Justice at SIUE,” held virtually on Thursday, Jan. 11. 

“The workshop is an initiation point to lay the groundwork for future trainings and work,” said IMPACT fellow Shelly Goebl-Parker, professor in the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Art and Design’s art therapy counseling program. “It also functions as a grounding reflection point for those already involved in this work, as an opportunity to build community across our University, and to learn from one another about our experiences, needs, resources, questions, challenges and opportunities for engagement.” 

“The goals of the workshop are, if you haven’t already, to embrace inclusion, equity and social justice as an important part of culture that SIUE is trying to create,” said IMPACT fellow Ezra Temko, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Sociology. “We want you to be able to name the benefits and consequences of engaging with inclusion equity and social justice, identify how it applies to your role at SIUE, build and strengthen community connections, and commit to active engagement.” 

IMPACT fellow J.T. Snipes, PhD, assistant professor in the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior’s (SEHHB) Department of Educational Leadership and SIUE Black Faculty and Staff president, offered an introductory understanding of the words, “inclusion,” “equity” and “social justice.” 

“The goal of inclusion is thinking circularly and how to widen the circle. It is also being aware of who is included and excluded from the circle,” said Snipes. “Equality and equity are often used interchangeably. However, they have different meanings. If we want society to intervene in social injustices, we have to move beyond equality. Equity helps us to think what are the needs of various communities, and how we can supplement it. 

“Social justice talks about humanization, but when you consider humanization, you have to consider dehumanization or social injustice. Society in the U.S. is rife with injustices that are based on an individual’s social status (e.g., race, gender, and/or socio-economic status). Social justice is the struggle and the process to bring about greater freedom and liberation to folks who are marginalized.”

After the presentation, workshop participants went into a series of breakout rooms to confidentially discuss their responses to the various topic questions. 

The IMPACT Academy will present the same workshop again at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 25. Register at https://siue.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0H4pCTOHac4mJOC. 

Photo:
L-R: IMPACT fellows Shelly Goebl-Parker, professor in the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Art and Design’s art therapy counseling program; J.T. Snipes, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and SIUE Black Faculty and Staff president; and Ezra Temko, PhD, assistant professor in CAS’ Department of Sociology.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering seniors Austin Mattingly, Cody Smith and Joel Kuhlmann received $1,500 scholarships from the Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Association (IPLSA) at its annual conference.

A Marshall native, Mattingly is a construction management major with a land surveying specialization. He received the Seiler Instrument and Manufacturing Scholarship. Mattingly gained a variety of work experiences as an intern with Knight and Associates Surveying, LLC, of Paris. He also served as an intern for the past three summers with the Illinois Dept. of Transportation (IDOT) District 5.

“The scholarships have helped me achieve my goals, which is to ultimately obtain my bachelor’s in construction management with the land surveying specialization, and a minor in business administration,” said Mattingly, who received an IPLSA scholarship for the third consecutive year. “The awards mean a lot to me as it has been a lengthy journey for me to get to where I am. But the end of the tunnel is almost near, and my goal of getting a full-time job in the surveying industry is a few months away.”

Scheduled to graduate in May 2021, Mattingly plans to work for a surveying company that will allow for professional growth and to gain the best experience in the industry possible. He plans to become a licensed land surveyor (PLS) in both Illinois and Indiana.

Smith, a civil engineering major from Mason, earned the Michael Curtis Memorial Scholarship.

Kuhlmann, of Edwardsville, received the Neil Lee Memorial Scholarship. He attended the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in 2017.

IPLSA is a not-for-profit organization representing the interests of the surveying profession in Illinois. Its mission includes the advancement of the land surveying profession by promoting high standards of practice and conduct, by upholding the Illinois Land Surveyors Act, and by supporting and encouraging members through continuing education, professional association, and the use of current technology.

Photo (L-R): SIUE School of Engineering students Joel Kuhlmann and Cody Smith received Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Association scholarships.

SIUE School of Business alumnae Grace Noice has been touring the country since her graduation in May 2020 – driving the Planters Peanuts NUTMobile.

Boston University Daily Free Press reporter Ashley Soebroto described Noice’s adventure in this story posted Feb. 10.

Noice joined the The Kraft Heinz Co. as a brand ambassador in July 2020.

Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SDM) Dean Bruce Rotter, DMD, has named Dr. Duane Douglas as associate dean for faculty. The SIU Board of Trustees approved the appointment at its regularly scheduled meeting Thursday, Feb. 11.

The associate dean for faculty serves as the administrative officer responsible for overall management and leadership of the school’s faculty. Reporting directly to the dean, the associate dean acts as a liaison between the dean and the faculty at large. This individual also functions as the School’s director of research.

“We felt that there was a need to have an administrator that would be specifically dedicated to the needs of our faculty,” Rotter said. “An opportunity presented itself to reorganize the administration, and this position was created. Dr. Douglas rose to fill the position on an interim basis and, ultimately, on a permanent basis. Dr. Douglas’ dedication to the school and to our faculty make him the right choice for this position.”

Douglas has served as the interim associate dean for faculty since July 2019. Previously, Douglas served as the chair for the Department of Restorative Dentistry and the section head for fixed prosthodontics. He joined the SDM faculty in 1999.

Douglas said the position serves as a line of two-way commination between the SDM administration and its faculty. “Philosophically, my goal is facilitating the flow of communication between our administration and the faculty giving them a seat at the table,” he said. “From a practical perspective, my goal is to work with each faculty to facilitate their development in teaching and scholarly activity.

“I want every member of the SDM to reach their full potential whether that be acclimating junior faculty and helping them navigating the tenure process or guiding department chairs in developing procedures and standardizing their policies toward unification among our many departments.”

The selection resulted from an internal search as the search committee believed an intimate knowledge of the School’s faculty would be essential in establishing effectiveness in the role.

During his time in the interim role, Douglas made progress by meeting with each faculty member individually. “Although I was a department chair prior to assuming the new position and felt I knew my faculty well, I learned so much more about the support they desired from the administration,” he said. “I developed an online ‘one-stop’ faculty handbook for the faculty-at-large, an interactive guide to development of a tenure dossier for our junior faculty and an online research handbook.”

Douglas has also focused on faculty calibration during his interim period. “The field of dentistry is highly dynamic, and we invest significant energy to keep our faculty members abreast of the latest technologies, as well as calibrating our faculty, whether full-time or part-time, towards standardizing treatment, procedures and grading,” he said.

A Winnipeg, Canada native, Douglas earned a DMD in 1989 from the University of Manitoba, a certificate in pediatric dentistry in 1992 from the University of Connecticut, a certificate in prosthodontics in 1994 from the University of Buffalo (N.Y.), a master’s of science in 1995 from UB and was board certified in prosthodontics in 2002.

Photo: Dr. Duane Douglas, associate dean for faculty at the SIU School of Dental Medicine.

“As a person who is still developing himself and working toward his future, I think it is important for me to cultivate and pass on the many lessons in life that I have so that others who come after me can be fruitful in their similar endeavors.” - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville senior David Sissac.

Just one interaction with Sissac makes it abundantly clear that he is a motivated, high achiever who radiates kindness. The St. Louis native, is a Difference Maker by all accounts. His pursuit of happiness isn’t only about working toward his personal and professional aspirations, but also about inspiring others to be well and do good.

The psychology major and creative writing minor aspires to become a clinical therapist and author. But his passions extend into the gaming world, too. That’s one of the places he’s found a niche, and his involvement has earned honorable recognition as a Difference Maker.

“David is an exceptional leader as he is the Esports Club President and has done phenomenal work,” said junior Ben Wilke. “During a pandemic, David and other students successfully delivered a 12-hour Black Lives Matter (BLM) Charity stream that raised $1,000. Within the club, he is extremely welcoming to new members and will help them in any capacity. He truly cares for the further development of the student organization, and I am glad to know him during my time at this University.”

To these words, Sissac humbly replied with a shared respect and appreciation for Ben and others in the Esports Club.

“This program has become a significant portion of my life, due largely to the wonderful people I have met along the way,” he said. “Through gaming, I have become a teacher, student and mentor, and overall a more whole person, as the experiences in this field have shaped a good amount of who I am. Being the president of the Esports Club is a privilege. I have been able to meet many talented and kind people. SIUE is a special place, and the students that I work with on a daily basis make the difficult parts infinitely more worth it.”

Like all activities associated with the University and beyond, the pandemic has required leaders to creatively adapt to achieve continued involvement and connectedness. Noting the natural composition of the gaming community provided for a smoother transition of activity, Sissac still worked hard to ensure he and his club members could enjoy their shared love for gaming.

“We have been more fortunate than other clubs with switching to an online format,” he explained. “Many of our members are active in our community discord server, in which we have been hosting community game nights, discussions and events. During this pandemic, it is important for our campus organizations to bolster their sense of community, as well as plan ahead for the future.

“A few other club members and I have been documenting, planning and making connections for those who will come after us, so the program can maintain its growth and momentum. We are also trying to take more initiative with our younger members, as I want freshman and transfer students not to have their first year at college be filled with isolation and Zoom lectures. A big part of hosting our events is creating memorable moments for the members of our club.”

The BLM Charity Livestream, coordinated by Sissac, was the club’s most successful live broadcast on Twitch to date.

“My personal interest and investment in the events of this summer as an African American male aside, the BLM Charity Livestream was something we collectively felt we had to do,” he explained. “Activism and constructive discourse are things that are typically not taught to us. They are learned by chance during the course of our lives. For those who felt shaken or paralyzed by the events, I wanted them to have an avenue in which they could support a cause they felt strongly for, while also doing something that a large audience could enjoy.”

“We played a multitude of party games,” Sissac added, “and used an incentive system to reach, and then exceed, our financial goal in far less than the 12-hour time span we gave ourselves. We raised over $1,000 doing something fun and inclusive. That really is the important part about all of this. We sent an important and pointed message, while still having a great time for a great cause.”

Sissac has proven he can gather, lead and empower diverse individuals through his passion for gaming. His efforts certainly make a difference. To learn more about the SIUE Esports Club, visit siue.edu/esports.

SIUE is celebrating Difference Makers like Sissac throughout February. These individuals are just a few of the countless University faculty, staff and students who have made hard times a little less difficult for others. They were nominated by colleagues, students and peers.

Photo: SIUE senior psychology major and Esports Club President David Sissac.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Denise Cobb, PhD, has announced that Lydia Jackson will serve as an assistant to the provost for library and community engagement and an associate dean in Library and Information Services (LIS).

In this split appointment, Jackson will focus 60% of her efforts as an assistant to the provost and 40% as associate dean.

As assistant to the provost for library and community engagement, Jackson will provide critical support to a set of new and ongoing initiatives on behalf of the Office of the Provost. “Lydia’s expertise in information literacy and public outreach will allow her to support our East St. Louis Center programs and work with colleagues to positively influence our K-12 pathways to higher education,” Cobb said. “Additionally, we can already see that Lydia’s administrative experience, commitment to East St. Louis, and knowledge of the University can help strengthen the relationship between SIUE programs at the East St. Louis campus and the Edwardsville offices with which they work.”

Jackson is already an integral contributor to SIUE’s Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) programs, and she will contribute in areas of equity, anti-racism, and community engagement in ways that will align with current institutional efforts and academic goals.

“My hope is that over time, she will work closely with Dr. Tim Staples (East St. Louis Center director) and the staff at the East St. Louis Center grant programs, Dr. Gina Jeffries (CHS director) at the Charter High School, Dr. Makesha Harris-Lee (assistant director for pre-collegiate programs) and our college preparatory (CORE) programs, while nurturing other campus and community collaborations,” Cobb said.

“I am elated to begin a new role which affords the opportunity for me to collaborate with partners throughout the University and greater community,” Jackson said. “I look forward to continuing relationships already developed and building new ones. My primary goals will focus on strengthening communication and connections between the SIUE East St. Louis Center and the University. In addition, I am committed to the integral work with all colleagues on anti-racism.”

“As associate dean, Jackson will serve as a senior member of the LIS administration team, including providing vision and strategic directions on library operations and issues related to anti-racist policies for LIS and SIUE,” said LIS Dean Lis Pankl, PhD.

As part of those efforts, Jackson will engage as a thought-leader with colleagues across LIS and SIUE in advancing institutional goals toward creating an anti-racist community committed to equity and social justice; develop and implement measurable goals and metrics, and use data, research, and evidence-based practice to identify and change institutional culture. She will identify and pursue avenues for LIS to support education, reconciliation, restoration, and cultural transformation with regard to bias and discrimination against any group or people, including racism in all its forms. She will also serve as a leader in collection development in business, social work, anti-racism and social justice, including building anti-racism collections and grant projects at Lovejoy Library and the East St. Louis Center with the diversity and engagement librarian.

Jackson will also serve as coordinator for the Eugene B. Redmond Learning Center, encompassing its collections, digitization and programs, and supervision.

Jackson’s associate dean appointment continues her important role in serving the needs of LIS and its patrons, including serving as interim LIS dean from 2018-20. She began her professional affiliation with SIUE in 1983 as a library technical assistant III. She provided reference services, conducted library instruction sessions, managed computing problems, and assisted in the development, planning, implementation, promotion and assessment of instructional programs.

In 1998, Jackson was named assistant instruction and reference librarian. As a tenure-track and tenured library faculty member, she has served in leadership roles such as instruction librarian, director of instruction and outreach, and director of the research commons. Before joining SIUE, she held positions at the Saint Louis University Medical Library and the East St. Louis Public Library.

Jackson earned a bachelor’s in government and sociology from SIUE in 1983. She also holds master’s degrees in both instructional technology and library science.

Photo: Lydia Jackson, SIUE assistant to the provost for library and community engagement, and associate dean in Library and Information Services.

Feelings of exhaustion for being asked to represent a group aligned with a marginalized identity, dealing with the invalidation of lived experiences and repeatedly being called on for diversity work are examples of racial battle fatigue. 

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Black Heritage Month Committee (BHM) presented “Battle Fatigue and the Importance of Holistic Wellness” during the SIUE Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion’s (CSDI) Inclusive Conversation series, held virtually on Friday, Feb. 12. 

“Battle fatigue is the World War II name for what is known today as post-traumatic stress,” said Tarsha Moore, BHM chair and CSDI assistant director, “It is a psychological disorder that develops in some individuals who have had major traumatic experiences. 

“Racial battle fatigue is a term coined in 2008 to describe the psychosocial stress responses from being a racially oppressed group member in society and at a predominantly white institution (PWI).” 

“Part of understanding racial battle fatigue is thinking about how to help individuals who have and are experiencing it,” said CSDI Director Lindy Wagner. “Holistic wellness is an approach to being healthy that looks at a person’s health and considers their body, mind and spirit. Attention to all three is needed to stay balanced.” 

In order for a person to replenish their cup, Moore examined self-care tips for racial battle fatigue:  

• Mindful isolation
• Discharge the energy
• Participate in relaxing activities (i.e. yoga and meditation)
• Connect in the community
• Engage in social justice causes
• Ask for help
• Get good rest
• Take breaks from social media
• Attend to your whole essence

 Wagner added ways that others can be supportive of those experiencing racial battle fatigue:

• Show ally-ship through social action
• Reach out and do well-being checks
• Use your voice to stand against racial discrimination
• Attend multiple equity and inclusion training/workshop/meetings (consistency is key)
• Check your own implicit biases
• Review articles, documentaries, movies and other resources on the issues

“Students, faculty, staff and community members of color are depending on peers and administrators to provide them with the support they need to avoid experiencing racial battle fatigue,” concluded Moore. “If we all work together to help avoid creating environments that cause racial battle fatigue, we can propel ourselves forward to create thriving environments where all of our colleagues, including those of color, can truly be their best selves and do their best work.”

For information on other upcoming events, visit BHM calendar. 

Photo:
(L-R) CSDI Director Lindy Wagner and CSDI Assistant Director and BHM Chair Tarsha Moore.

Researchers, parents and practitioners may soon be privy to interesting and revealing data related to tween television programming, specifically its portrayals of gender and race.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Ashton Speno, PhD, assistant professor in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Department of Mass Communications, has earned the SIUE Graduate School’s 2021-22 Vaughnie Lindsay New Investigator Award in support of her research on this understudied topic.

The award recognizes faculty members whose research has the promise of making significant contributions to their fields of study, their respective school/department, and to SIUE in general. Speno will receive a combined $12,500 from the SIUE Graduate School and the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) to be used in a one-year period for her project entitled, “An Examination of the Intersection of Gender and Race in Tween Television Programming.”

“I am honored and delighted to receive the Vaughnie Lindsay New Investigator Award,” Speno said. “This award will provide me with the funding and time needed to do this research, while also generating momentum for future external grants. I am excited to work with undergraduate and graduate research assistants on this project.”

According to Speno, tweens experience important physical, social and cognitive development during middle childhood, and television is one important source of information to consider. Research shows tweens spend nearly five hours a day with screen media.

“Given the important developmental stage that tweens occupy, and the potential for television viewing to shape gender and racial identities and perceptions of these social categories in the culture, it is critical to examine the intersections of gender and race in current tween television programming,” Speno noted.

Speno will conduct a content analysis of gender and race portrayals in popular tween television programs airing on broadcast, cable and streaming services such as Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu and Disney+.

“Dr. Speno’s project is timely and of great significance in the media industry,” said Musonda Kapatamoyo, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Mass Communications. “Her target age group (8-12 years) are emerging media consumers whose development ought to be studied. Young people have access to a lot more content via their personal devices than previously available.”

The novel project will build on Speno’s previous work. In a 2011 study on gender-role content, Speno and her co-author found that female characters were underrepresented, shown as more concerned about their appearance, were more attractive and received more comments about their looks than male characters.

Speno’s internally funded project will act as a springboard for future externally-funded research that explores what tweens are actually learning about gender and race from tween television programming.

 “Researchers, parents and practitioners will directly benefit from this examination as it will elucidate the programming that tweens are spending so much time with,” Speno explained. “The results of this project will provide valuable data for future work exploring what children glean from these programs through a survey.”

 Stephen Hansen, PhD, faculty emeritus, established the Lindsay Research Professorship Endowment that funds the award in honor of Lindsay, who served as graduate dean from 1973-1986. Lindsay was responsible for creating much of the infrastructure that supports faculty research and scholarly activity at SIUE. Faculty and emeriti faculty at the time of the award’s conception donated the funds to endow the award.

 Those wishing to help support new investigators through the award may donate to the Graduate School section of the endowment at siue.edu/give/.

Photo: SIUE’s Ashton Speno, PhD, assistant professor in the College of Arts and Sciences Department of Mass Communications.

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing (SON) has pledged to safely engage in COVID-19 vaccine administration, a commitment made by more than 220 schools of nursing nationwide and led by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).

“We are proud to join this national commitment to keep our communities safe,” said SON Dean Laura Bernaix, PhD, RN. “This initiative underscores the critical role schools of nursing play in immunization efforts.”

Throughout February, faculty and students of the SON’s course on The Care of Populations have been participating in immunization clinics hosted by the Madison County Health Department (MCHD) and the East Side Health District (ESHD).

SON students have vaccinated more than 1,000 community members in Phase 1a and Phase 1b, including individuals in long-term care residents, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, residential treatment centers, dentists, morticians, school nurses, EMS, first responders, grocery store workers and persons over 65.

“This course introduces students to nursing practice outside of the hospital setting,” said Amanda Ross, instructor in the Department of Family Health and Community Health Nursing. “While a fundamental knowledge of core nursing concepts is necessary, students also have to think about the community environment in which people live, including the limited resources and challenges that patients may face.”

“Participating in this community COVID-19 immunization clinic has allowed our nursing students the opportunity to see firsthand the difficult logistical challenges that vaccinating thousands of people can entail,” she added. “Through these clinic collaborations, students have the opportunity to serve the community by not only administering the vaccinations, but also providing patient education related to the vaccine.”

Ross and her colleague Cheryl Jackson, also an instructor in the Department of Family Health and Community Health Nursing, are leading students in the community health clinical. Jackson notes that students have had the opportunity to work with diverse populations of individuals from Cahokia, Fairmont City, Washington Park, Smithton, East St. Louis and nearby communities.

“Having SIUE nursing students participate in the vaccination clinics enables the public to get their vaccines in a timely manner. For example, a group of 8-10 students can safely provide more than 60 vaccines per hour,” Jackson explained. “The students have the opportunity to practice communication skills and health education skills with diverse populations. They’re also learning how to organize large immunization clinics at the agency and at other sites. They’ve worked with the National Guard, and volunteer nurses from nearby communities.”

Students have expressed how humbling this experience has been, and their dedication to doing the “most good for the most people.”

“I’ve always had a love of making people feel better, and nursing seemed like the best fit for me,” said senior nursing major Caitlynn Elliott, of Sorento. “This opportunity has solidified that decision, because I feel like I’m helping not only the whole world fight a pandemic, but also friends and family in my community.”

“Because of this experience, I feel like I am already a part of the medical workforce, and that I am doing my part in the fight against COVID-19,” said Cheniya Alston, a senior nursing major from Richton Park.

“What’s exciting about this experience is seeing how appreciative each patient is to be getting the COVID-19 vaccine,” added Livia Brown, a senior nursing major from Tolono. “They are thankful for those volunteering to administer the vaccine.”

“Nursing is an intense field that requires focus, intelligence and grit, combined with selflessness, compassion and courage,” noted Kylie Clemens, a senior nursing major from Rochester. “Nurses are there in the best times and in the most challenging times. COVID-19 has posed many challenges for people around the world, and providing a vaccine has given those people hope for the first time in over a year. I am nothing but grateful to have had this opportunity to vaccinate the people of Madison County. I am reminded of that every time an individual comes to my station, beaming with pride to be a part of this history-making moment.”

Photos: SIUE SON students assist in a local immunization clinic.

SIUE SON students prepare their station for individuals to receive the COVID-19 vaccination.

The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) International Trade Center (ITC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is partnering with the Southwestern Illinois Trade and Investment Council (SWITIC) to host a virtual roundtable conversation on “Selecting the Right Logistics Partner and INCOTERMS 2020.”

Southern Illinois businesses are encouraged to participate in the free discussion being held via Zoom from 10:30 a.m.-Noon Thursday, Feb. 25. Register via email at international-trade-center@siue.edu.

“It seems nearly every business has been negatively impacted by COVID-19, and the resulting global economic slowdown,” explained ITC Director Silvia Torres-Bowman. “The ITC has created this forum for small businesses to discuss concerns and export challenges, ask questions and gain insight on successful exporting. Those wanting to jump-start their export sales are encouraged to join this important conversation.”

The roundtable will provide actionable recommendations focused on exporting success. Featured experts will include:

• Craig Eversmann, president of MSSC, a Collinsville exporter, will share specific strategies that have enabled his company to thrive
• Tom Dustman, with more than 25 years of experience in export activities, will provide the thought leadership on exporting
• Kevin Doucette, director of Trade and Compliance with C.H. Robinson

“The overall well-being of Southern Illinois depends on the present health and future growth of exporting and foreign direct investment,” said Eversmann, president of the SWITIC. “This is our fourth Zoom roundtable of regional exporting business leaders who will discuss the unique challenges being faced, and receive tips and strategies on how to thrive in this new COVID world.”

The roundtable will offer business leaders a convenient opportunity to gain immediate access to export funding via the Illinois State Trade and Export Promotion (ISTEP) program and Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act supplemental funds.

For more information or with questions, contact Torres-Bowman at sitorre@siue.edu.

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. 

As a key member of the Illinois SBDC Network, the ITC 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: IL SBDC International Trade Center at SIUE.

Southern Illinois University System President Dan Mahony, PhD, will make his permanent work space and home in Springfield, where he will be near the Illinois State Capitol and the SIU School of Medicine. However, in order to better understand and have first-hand experiences of the Carbondale and Edwardsville campuses, Mahony has chosen first to live and work at each location. 

Mahony arrived on the Edwardsville campus in January, after previously working and living in Carbondale. He will move to Springfield in May. 

“It was during the second round of interviews, where we came and visited campuses, that I had the idea to work at both Carbondale and Edwardsville,” explained Mahony. “I realized that Springfield was the best place for me to be on a permanent basis, but I was concerned that if I went there right away, I wouldn’t have the chance to connect and understand the campuses.” 

Also, being on campus would afford the former sport management professor the ability to do what he loves – teach. Mahony is currently co-teaching the course, “History and Current Issues in College Athletics” with SIUE School of Education, Health and Human Behavior (SEHHB) Dean Robin Hughes, PhD. While on the Carbondale campus, he taught a similar course in the Honors program with Bobbi Knapp, PhD, that was open to students on both campuses. 

When he’s not teaching, Mahony takes opportunities to interact with others as much as possible. “One of the nice things about being on the Edwardsville campus is being in Rendleman,” he acknowledged. “I’m in the center of everything. I can go to the Morris University Center anytime, and I do so almost every day. Occasionally, I wander around and stop in someone’s office. Seeing people in person is much better than talking to them on Zoom.” 

After getting to better know the campus and the University community, Mahony lists a few of SIUE’s strengths:

• The faculty are extremely dedicated to undergraduate students. “SIUE offers an excellent undergraduate education. If my children went here, I’d feel good about them getting an undergraduate degree from SIUE.”
• The professional programs (the Schools of Dental Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy, and the allied healthcare areas) are exceptional.
• Being close to St. Louis and the SIUE East St. Louis Center provides students with a wealth of opportunities to learn, conduct outreach projects and have an impact on the community. 

“During the next several weeks, I will be touring different professional schools at SIUE,” said Mahony. “Before COVID, we did a brief, partial tour of the Edwardsville campus. I also toured the East St. Louis Center and the SIU School of Dental Medicine in Alton in the fall. Still, I haven’t seen what normal looks like on either the Edwardsville or the Carbondale campus.” 

In learning more about the various elements that make up the SIU System, Mahony is first and foremost working on ways to make the whole better and stronger. In doing so, he has organized a systemwide strategic planning process and committee. Some of the committee’s concerns include:

• How to create efficiencies and capitalize on strengths
• How to take advantage of collaborations
• How to better impact the community
• How to use collaborations to provide more educational opportunities for students
• How to work together to address anti-racism and systemic racism 

“Edwardsville and Carbondale have beautiful campuses, with great chancellors and dedicated faculty and staff,” Mahony appraised. “I’m excited about our future and what we can all accomplish together.”

Photo:
Southern Illinois University System President Dan Mahony, PhD.

Effective mentorship plays a pivotal role in the success of graduate students, as supportive mentorship relationships are linked to student retention, degree completion and early career success. 

That’s why the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Graduate School has centered its new Innovation and Excellence in Graduate Education (IEGE) grant program’s inaugural funding on projects that enhance the quality and effectiveness of graduate student mentorship.

“Transforming the STEM Graduate Experience at SIUE: Evidence-based Practices to Support and Advance Effective Mentorship,” is an interdisciplinary collaboration that has received $6,375 in IEGE funding. Its research team includes:

• Carol Colaninno, PhD, research assistant professor in the SIUE STEM Center and adjunct professor in the CAS Department of Anthropology
• Adriana Martinez, PhD, associate professor in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Departments of Environmental Sciences and Geography and Geographic Information Sciences
• Rohan Benjankar, PhD, assistant professor in the School of Engineering Department of Civil Engineering
• Alan Black, PhD, assistant professor in the CAS Department of Geography and Geographic Information Sciences
• Sharon Locke, PhD, director of the SIUE STEM Center and professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences

“Despite the importance of mentor-mentee relationship to the success of the graduate student, few faculty members receive training in and/or assessment of their mentoring practices,” Colaninno said. “Graduate students, who are learning how to be experts in their field of study, need that additional mentorship support to feel as though they are integrated into the scientific community and develop their identity as a STEM professional.”

The project’s primary goals include documenting current graduate student perceptions of mentorship experiences via focus groups, developing and implementing an evidence-based STEM faculty mentorship professional development series, and leveraging those activities to support the submission of a National Science Foundation (NSF) proposal that would provide scholarship support for SIUE graduate students. The researchers’ results will be disseminated throughout the SIUE graduate mentoring community.

“Research indicates how important a factor mentorship can be toward contributing to the retention, persistence and success of students,” Colannino added. “Understanding how we can make mentorship more effective, especially for students of color who have been historically kept out of STEM by systemic barriers that include failed mentorship practices, has been an area of research for me.”

“Thus far, our efforts have been productive and enjoyable, because we are a group of faculty, like many at SIUE, who strongly believe we should be building the strongest possible programs for students,” she emphasized. “Mentorship is such a huge component of graduate education that all of us want to understand and develop mentorship practices at SIUE that are student-centered and truly work for graduate students.” 

The initiative is already working to meet its goals. According to Colaninno, the team is currently conducting focus groups with graduate students in STEM departments to understand their current perceptions of the strengths and weaknesses of their mentorship experience. Soon, they will host a panel discussion with graduate students for a faculty audience.

In March, a book reading will be held in collaboration with the Center for Faculty Development and Innovation on the 2019 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s The Science of Effective STEMM Mentorship. The following month, the team will host a two-day workshop to facilitate faculty as they develop a mentorship plan. Results will be shared with the Graduate School in fall 2021.

Donations and pledges made to The Rosemarie Archangel, Ellen Sappington, and Stephen L. and Julia Y. Hansen Innovation and Excellence in Graduate Education Endowment, totaling $422,153, have made this grant funding possible. The endowment’s goal is set at $500,000. To contribute, visit siue.edu/graduate/giving.

Photo: SIUE research team members (top L-R) Carol Colaninno, PhD, Adriana Martinez, PhD, (bottom L-R) Rohan Benjankar, PhD, Alan Black, PhD, and Sharon Locke, PhD.

The paradox for women of color in being seen, yet unseen was the topic of the virtual webinar, “Visibly Invisible: The Sociopolitical Reality of Black Women,” presented by the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Department of Political Science’s Sociopolitical Lecture Series on Wednesday, Feb. 17. 

The panelists included Ella Jones, Ferguson mayor and founder of Community Forward, Inc.; Sharon Johnson, PhD, professor and dean of the School of Social Work at the University of Missouri-St. Louis; and SIUE alumna Tarsha Moore, SIUE Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion (CSDI) assistant director, Black Heritage Month committee chair and Sustained Dialogue coordinator. 

“It may seem to be a contradiction to evoke that the existence of Black women in the U.S. is both visible and invisible,” said Timothy Lewis, PhD, political science professor, chair of the Black Sociopolitical Lecture Series and panel moderator. “But when we look at statistics about Black women, we see a group that is largely overlooked. Black women are more likely to live in poverty, less likely to get married and twice as likely to die in childbirth. 

“On the other hand, some would say Black women are extremely visible when considering Vice President Kamala Harris and the impactful role of Black women in the past election cycle from politician, voting rights activist and lawyer Stacey Abrams to Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. Our very panelists are testaments of ‘Black Women Magic.’ Thus, we have a dichotomy. Is the theme of this discussion accurate?” 

“We start out as invisible. But to become visible, you have to sacrifice,” said Johnson. “Stacey Abrams commanded a dynamic movement but did not receive the attention needed when running for office, until she proved herself. So, our visibility comes with a lot of sacrifice, hard work and constantly having to prove ourselves.” 

“The theme is an adequate reflection of the reality we experience as Black women,” said Moore. “There is an overwhelming amount of loyalty that is expected from Black women, and that loyalty is not reciprocated when opportunities become available for us to be seen. 

“To echo the remarks on sacrifice, one thing we sacrifice is the family component. It’s a daunting experience, but a lot of that sacrifice is in the shadows. People see our super powers and forget that we are also human.” 

“What type of visibility are Black women seeking,” Lewis asked the panelists, “and why don’t they have it?” 

“When we were going through the unrest in Ferguson after the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, so many mothers took to the street, because they realized it could have been their child lying in that street,” said Jones. “It propelled me to look at my life, and see how I could contribute. I decided to go knocking on the door of city hall to get a seat.” 

“We deserve a seat at the table,” interjected Johnson. “We shouldn’t have to be invited to the table. If we wait on an invitation, then we have to ask are we obligated? We want a natural seat at the table with everyone else.” 

“When we’re not at the table, we are always on the menu,” warned Jones. “I’ve learned that even when you push your way to sit at the table, and the menu is passed, and the dinner is set – they take the fork away. So now, not only do you fight to sit at the table, fight to see the menu, but you better bring your own fork!” 

“What efforts must Black women put forth to have a seat the table?” posed Lewis. “When Kamala Harris was chosen as vice president, a lot of news agencies began to talk about her hard work. This hard work narrative personally scares me, because it assumes that a person can work hard enough to overcome the disadvantages of an entire system. As a Black woman, what would you say are the benefits and dangers of embracing this hard work narrative?” 

“The issue of having to work so hard is because of oppression that has been ingrained within the system,” said Johnson. “Kamala had connections and resources, but she still had to fight hard. Her privilege wasn’t good enough. There are plenty of Black women who have resources and privileges, but we can’t use our privileges the way everyone else uses theirs. That becomes the heart of the fight. 

“And when we have to work so hard all the time, what happens when we become tired or vulnerable? Do we lose our status? Do we have to fight more to maintain what we have, because we can’t do it anymore? There’s nothing wrong with having a good work ethic, but working hard is different than having a good work ethic.” 

“The hard work narrative scares me, as well,” Moore confessed. “Again, we have to look at the systemic issues and that not all Black women have the same background, experiences and opportunities. Yet, one of the pros is that we are a resilient group of individuals. It is a trait and value to be proud of, celebrate and instill in our children.” 

For information on other upcoming events, visit BHM calendar. 

Photo:
(L-R): Ella Jones, Ferguson mayor and founder of Community Forward, Inc.; Sharon Johnson, PhD, professor and dean of the School of Social Work at the University of Missouri-St. Louis; and SIUE alumna Tarsha Moore, SIUE Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion (CSDI) assistant director, Black Heritage Month committee chair and Sustained Dialogue coordinator.

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Graduate School has recognized Deborah Sellnow-Richmond, PhD, with the 2021-22 Vaughnie Lindsay New Investigator Award for her exemplary scholarship and commitment to conducting outstanding and timely research.

Sellnow-Richmond is an assistant professor in the College of Arts and Sciences’ (CAS) Department of Applied Communication Studies (ACS). Her research focuses on the efficacy and unforeseen effects of public relations messages in health and organizational crisis contexts, as well as the emerging role of social media in creating and resolving organizational crises.

“I’m enthused and grateful to be awarded the Vaughnie Lindsay New Investigator Award,” said Sellnow-Richmond. “It is an honor to have the University committee determine my research worthy of this support, which will help move my research forward.”

Sellnow-Richmond will receive a combined $12,500 from the SIUE Graduate School and CAS to be used in a one year period. The funding will support her research project entitled, “Strategic Messaging to Address the Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic among Health Disparities and Vulnerable Populations,” which aims to address health disparities within vulnerable populations and uncover issues of organizational trust following consequences from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Dr. Sellnow-Richmond came to SIUE recently and has hit the ground running,” said Duff Wrobbel, PhD, chair of the Department of ACS. “She has proven not only to be a capable educator and positive colleague, but also a strong scholar. This is the kind of work that public institutions such as ours were created to support, and Dr. Sellnow-Richmond is the kind of scholar that this award was created to encourage.”

Sellnow-Richmond will gather data from vulnerable groups in the St. Louis region to inform strategic communication messages and instructional risk design. Instructional risk communication messages will be designed and tested among a sample from the same St. Louis region population to inform organizational, governmental and community risk mitigation messaging.

“My research broadly looks at effective strategic communication, specifically aimed at typically underrepresented, often missed groups,” explained Sellnow-Richmond. “The pandemic has highlighted health disparities among low-income populations of color, and the St. Louis area was hit hard early on. The messaging about how to mitigate COVID-19 risk has been quite inconsistent, which can hurt public trust.

“We also know there is a great deal of mistrust in health and government policy among marginalized groups, for good reason. As we try to move out of the pandemic, we have to first understand which mitigation strategies will be effective while also trying to understand the perspective of those who’ve been hit the hardest.”

“Dr. Sellnow-Richmond has already been engaged in scholarship and has excellent scholarly potential,” said CAS Dean Kevin Leonard, PhD. “This work will advance knowledge not only on a specific timely issue, but also has broader implications for communication studies in understanding the role of culture, identity, messaging and organizational systems.”

“Overall, we have done a good job of understanding effective strategic communication to the population as a whole,” said Sellnow-Richmond. “Unfortunately, in that process, underrepresented groups are often missed. This is a huge problem as it further marginalizes people who are already at the margins of our society. Learning to reframe our approach to overcome this is paramount to my research agenda.”

Stephen Hansen, PhD, faculty emeritus, established the Lindsay Research Professorship Endowment that funds the award in honor of Lindsay, who served as graduate dean from 1973-1986. Lindsay was responsible for creating much of the infrastructure that supports faculty research and scholarly activity at SIUE. Faculty and emeriti faculty at the time of the award’s conception donated the funds to endow the award.

Those wishing to help support new investigators through the award may donate to the Graduate School section of the endowment at siue.edu/give/.

Photo: SIUE’s Deborah Sellnow-Richmond, PhD, assistant professor in the College of Arts and Sciences’ (CAS) Department of Applied Communication Studies (ACS).