As the COVID-19 pandemic threatened college students’ first-year experience, students, faculty and staff at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville sprang into action and devised a creative plan to provide new students with a support system centered on near-peer mentoring.

The Cougar Connectors program, inspired by the Honors Student Association (HSA) peer-to-peer mentoring program, quickly developed into a robust and effective offering. During the program’s launch in fall 2020, 150 upper-class students volunteered to provide help and guidance to 1,500 first-year students (FYS).

“Ultimately, our aim was to provide a substitute for the kinds of natural relationships through hallway and classroom interactions that would develop between first-year students and upper-class students,” explained Carpentersville native Colin Boysen, a senior business administration major and HSA president. “This kind of program is especially valuable and important during these trying times. Although, it has exceptional benefits even in normal times.”

University Honors Program Director Eric Ruckh, PhD, associate professor in the Department of History, challenged Boysen to lead the charge on developing such an initiative that would be student-led and student-serving. Boysen had just two months to scale the HSA peer-to-peer mentoring program from a support system impacting 100 students to one that would serve 1,500 FYS.

“I challenged Colin, because I’ve had the great privilege of working with him and other wonderful students in the HSA,” Ruckh said. “I knew that Colin and the people around him would be able to create this program. I knew they wanted to help the institution, and if given the opportunity, they would not disappoint.”

To assist in guiding the student-side delivery of the program, Boysen convened a steering committee comprising upper-class students Ronald Akpan, Jacob Beebe, Leslie Kupferle and Minerva Mixon. Committee members collaborated to develop and administer the program.

Core aspects of program development included building content for volunteers and messaging to participants, coordinating with the First Semester Transitions (FST) program to build on its successful foundation, and recruiting 150 upper-class volunteer mentors.

Speaking to the grand challenge of producing a successful large-scale program on a short timeline, Boysen said, “This wasn’t just a charge from Eric. It was the Manhattan Project of mentorship. We had to remain constantly flexible with this program. Cougar Connectors demonstrated that SIUE has a dedicated student population that wants to help.”

Ruckh, Boysen, Honors Program Assistant Director Ian Toberman, and two volunteer mentors presented the Cougar Connectors program to the SIU System Board of Trustees (BOT) at its Feb. 11 meeting.

Sophomore nursing major Alexia Burnett, of Shelbyville, served as a mentor and was paired with 10 students. She primarily used GroupMe to stay in constant contact with her mentees.

“It was rewarding to share my personal experiences and provide students with helpful information,” she said. “I loved getting to know these freshmen and helping them succeed. I answered questions about how to study for the nursing entry exam, how to use Blackboard, how to email a professor professionally and how to get involved on campus.”

Fellow mentor and nursing major Marcus Kwasa, of Edwardsville, found email was the most effective form of communication for his group. In spring 2021, he is again participating in Cougar Connectors, this time as an “on call connector” who faculty teaching FST courses can contact if they feel a student would benefit from added guidance and help.

At the BOT meeting, the program received high praise from trustee Dr. Ed Hightower and system leaders.

“It’s exciting to use this type of program for supporting, energizing and providing freshman students the confidence they need during their difficult first year,” Hightower noted. “I’m always concerned about freshmen, as are other trustees. How are we not only recruiting, but more importantly, supporting and building their confidence?”

“This program is an amazing personification of empathy and altruism,” added SIU System Vice President for Academic Innovation, Planning and Partnerships Gireesh Gupchup, PhD. “Programs like this build culture.”

In spring 2021, Kwasa is leading a group with goals to re-evaluate and develop the curriculum of the Cougar Connectors program. The group will use participant feedback and mentor experiences to lead improvements. The program’s new curriculum will avoid duplication and complement FST content.

Toberman underscored that it was students who gave Cougar Connectors life and made it soar.

“We had 1,500 first-year students who refused to let COVID change their college plans,” Toberman explained. “But, we knew that part of the campus experience that makes SIUE feel special was threatened by the pandemic. We are proud to have presented Cougar Connectors as our response. Colin, Lexi and Marcus are just three of the 150 student volunteers who signed up for an idea, and made it into a program. Students yearning for a chance to lead came together with a shared identity and purpose.”

Cougar Connectors is a valuable contribution to SIUE that will go beyond the pandemic and help improve the first-year experience. And, students led the way.

“University professors and teachers always have an opportunity to learn from students,” Ruckh concluded. “It is deeply embedded in my experience as a professor and as an academic. They’re the ones who will renew the future of the world. They’re the ones who will renew the future of institutions like SIUE and the SIU System.”

Ruckh has plans to make the innovate program visible by promoting its success and sustainability at national conferences.

To view the Cougar Connectors presentation to the SIU System BOT, visit siusystem.edu/board-of-trustees/meetings/meetings2021. Click on the YouTube link and scroll to the 1:45 mark in the recording.

Photo: (Top L-R) SIUE Cougar Connectors’ Colin Boysen, Alexia Burnett, Marcus Kwasa (bottom L-R) and Honors Program Director Eric Ruckh, PhD, and Assistant Director Ian Toberman.

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Staff Senate awarded spring 2021 Faculty for Collective Bargaining scholarships to freshman Noah Tungett and sophomore Courtney Vollmer. 

“I am grateful for this scholarship, because it will help me in my pursuits at SIUE, said Tungett, a history major in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) from Bethalto. “I am also in the SIUE Army ROTC program with plans to be an officer in military intelligence.” 

 “This scholarship will allow me to continue my education and become a teacher,” added Vollmer, an elementary education major in the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior (SEHHB) from Belleville. “I am extremely thankful to have received this scholarship.”                        

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

• Student must be a labor union member employee of SIUE or the child, grandchild, spouse, or civil union partner of a labor union member presently employed by or retired from SIUE
• Meet undergraduate admissions requirements of undergraduate requirements at SIUE and be enrolled for the spring 2021 semester
• Applicants with fewer than 12 earned college semester hours must have an ACT composite of 19 or above (unless exempt because of SIUE’s admission standards) and at least a grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a scale of 4.0.
• Applicants with more than 12 earned college semester hours must have at least a college GPA of 2.5 and completed one term as a full-time student 

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

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

Photos:
SIUE sophomore Noah Tungett (left) with his grandfather, SIUE retiree Garry Sammons, was one of two SIUE Staff Senate’s spring Faculty for Collective Bargaining scholarship winners. 

SIUE sophomore Courtney Vollmer (left) with her father, SIUE grounds worker Ken Vollmer, was also awarded a spring Faculty for Collective Bargaining scholarship.

The District 7 Board of Education named SIUE alumnus Patrick Shelton, PhD, as the newest superintendent of schools on Monday, March 8, according to the Edwardsville Intelligencer. He will assume his new district responsibilities on July 1.

Shelton earned a master’s in education and a doctorate in educational leadership from SIUE.

Shelton is currently the assistant superintendent of elementary education at Lee’s Summit R-7 Schools outside Kansas City.

Caterers and restaurant entrepreneurs are invited to showcase their talents in the 2021 East St. Louis Café of Champions Challenge, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s first food industry business plan competition.

The opportunity is huge as the winning caterer or restauranteur receives the opportunity to operate their food business on the SIUE East St. Louis Higher Education Campus for students and the community to enjoy.

The competition is organized by SIUE East St. Louis Higher Education Campus and the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at SIUE. The purpose of the Challenge is to identify, encourage and support entrepreneurs and business in East St. Louis.

The winner will receive a $2,000 cash prize, and a one-year rent- and utility-free commercial kitchen/café space on SIUE’s East St. Louis Higher Education Campus. Runner-up and third place finishers will receive $1,500 and $1,000, respectively.

The Challenge is made possible through tremendous local support. Sponsors include the East St. Louis Center Foundation, the Illinois SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE, SIUE School of Business, National Development Council and First Bank.

The Competition includes three rounds, beginning with a brief questionnaire and executive summary submittal that is open to all applicants who meet the eligibility guidelines. Participants selected for the second round are invited to expand on their entrepreneurial concept by submitting a full business plan. These semifinalists are paired with business professionals who will mentor them throughout the competition and potentially beyond. The three finalists then participate in a taste test judging where a winner is chosen.

The initial entry deadline is Saturday, April 3. Semi-finalists will be announced Monday, April 12. Finalists will be notified on Sunday, May 30. The Challenge will announce its cash prize winners on Friday, June 10.  The winner is expected to begin operation at the SIUE East St. Louis Higher Education Campus on July 1. 

For more information on the East St. Louis Café of Champions Challenge or to initiate the application process, visit app.reviewr.com/s1/site//SIUE_Cafe_Champions

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.

The Madison County Health Department administered COVID-19 Pfizer vaccinations to more than 400 Alton residents on Monday, March 8.

The clinic was executed by a team of civic leaders and workers, with assistance from the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Successful Community Collaborative (SSCC). SSCC students aided in accepting calls and adding local seniors to the vaccination list. 

“Today was another great for day for Alton senior residents who received their first vaccine shot,” said David Goins, pastor of Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church in Alton. “We now have approximately 800 Alton seniors vaccinated, including those in the apartment buildings of Skyline Towers and Marian Heights, and disabled living facilities. We will continue to encourage seniors, 65 years and older, to get vaccinated as a way of reducing the chances of contracting COVID-19.” 

An additional 400 Alton residents signed up for their first vaccine shots, scheduled for Monday, March 15, and will be called on Thursday-Friday, March 11-12 to assign appointment times, according to Michael Holliday, Madison County board member and Alton civic leader. 

“The success of this vaccine campaign could not have been possible without our local clergy encouraging their church membership to get vaccinated and Dr. Connie Spurlock, director of the SIUE Successful Community Collaborative,” added Holliday. “Also providing greatly needed assistance were Executive Director of Alton Housing Authority and Pastor of Bread of Life Church Greg Denton, Alton Housing Authority Manager Lisa Brown and her team, President of the Riverbend Ministerial Alliance Jason Harrison, and LaMay’s Catering for opening its doors to being a vaccination site.” 

The second round of Pfizer vaccinations will be administered on Mondays, March 22, 29 and April 5 at LaMay’s Catering, 909 E. Broadway in Alton. An appointment is required to receive the vaccine. 

Seniors, 65 years and older, who want to get on the vaccination list may call 618-491-9340, 618-491-9920 or 618-491-0021 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Wednesday of each week through March 17. When calling, provide your name, age, date of birth, phone number, address and email. A representative will follow-up to schedule an appointment to receive the first vaccine dose. The second Pfizer vaccine appointment will be provided once individuals receive their first dosage. 

Other Alton clergy organizers included Pastor Jason Harrison, Deliverance Temple; Pastor Michael Porter, Millennium Temple; Pastor Peter Hough, Alton Mission; Pastor Dave Burger, Community Christian Church; Pastor Mike Adams, Life House; and Associate Minister George Dickerson, Harvest Christian Fellowship. 

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

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Sally Boutelle will be a featured panelist at Starfish by Hobson’s COVID Pandemic virtual conference on Thursday, March 11. Starfish helps colleges and universities achieve increases in retention rate, exceed graduation rate goals, and set the standard for student academic success.

Representatives from both 4-year and 2-year institutions will discuss how they leveraged Starfish to support changed policies, processes, practices, and implementation during COVID, along with challenges they have faced and the approach to overcome those obstacles.

“I'll be sharing how SIUE jumped into action last spring to support our students as quickly as possible using Starfish,” said Boutelle, assistant director in SIUE’s Enrollment Systems, Research & Analysis (ESRA) Department. “Last spring in response ​to Illinois Gov. Pritzker’s Stay-at-Home order, we launched a Starfish initiative where students could ask for help by virtually raising their hand and be immediately connected with someone to help.”

Boutelle enumerated some other successful student-centered initiatives. “In addition, a campus-wide effort for supporting student success with online learning gathered faculty feedback by raising alerts for anyone struggling in their classes,” she said. “Advisors and faculty worked together to raise these alerts, and then followed up individually, assisting students and providing resources where possible. This enhanced effort saw a 111% increase in participation compared to the prior year.” 

Boutelle said Starfish also provides a great tool for faculty to give “kudos” to students who are achieving outstanding academic performance. “These notifications are sent to students to recognize their dedication and perseverance in this unprecedented time,” she said. “This small gesture helps motivate students to stay on track and continue conquering everyday challenges.”

“When our Enrollment Systems, Research & Analysis unit was formed a few years ago, Starfish was propelled to the top of the list of technology tools primed for enhancement,” ESRA Director Chris Leopold said. “The challenges of shifting teaching and learning to alternative modalities during the past year accelerated that work. 

“Under Sally’s implementation leadership and in collaboration with the professional advising community, Information Technology Services, committed faculty, and cross-divisional partners throughout the University, Starfish is emerging as SIUE’s signature retention tool.”

Boutelle will be joined on the panel by:

• Megan Court, student success technology specialist – Seattle Colleges
• Mary Ann Tietjen, associate director Office of Student Retention – Creighton University
• Kasie Von Haden, director of academic advising – Viterbo University
• D. Douglas, director, Undergraduate Education and Student Success Academic Affairs – Duquesne University
• Melissa Hediger Gallagher, assistant director, Center for Academic Achievement – La Salle University
• Katie Breedlove, assistant director, Office of Student Retention – Creighton University

“I am thrilled that Sally is representing SIUE on a panel of higher education peers from across the country,” Leopold said. “She will have the opportunity to spotlight ways in which SIUE is using Starfish to innovate student success, both in spite of and in response to the unique challenges of the pandemic learning environment.”

Photo: Sally Boutelle, assistant director in SIUE’s Enrollment Systems, Research & Analysis Department.

SIUE’s Library and Information Services continues to expand its creative offerings to promote wellness, enhance learning and serve as a “third place” for students. Newly installed Nap Pods on the third floor of Lovejoy Library provide a quiet place for individuals to rest and recharge.

FOX2 News reporter Patrick Clark visited campus to learn about the many benefits of these unique spaces. View his story here.

By highlighting the stories of those once enslaved in Southern Illinois, an upcoming Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Sankofa Lecture and Dialogue Series presentation will examine the history and long-lasting effects of slavery in the state.

The ongoing series features robust conversations surrounding the history of slavery and its lasting legacies, and is organized through SIUE’s Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) Campus Center, specifically its membership of the international Universities Studying Slavery (USS) consortium.

Darrel Dexter will present “Stories of Bondage in Egypt: Slavery in Southern Illinois” at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 25 via Zoom. Registration is available at https://siue.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_n336881gQr2WiQ-b6PwpNw.

The lecture is based off research presented in Dexter’s book, “Bondage in Egypt Slavery in Southern Illinois.”

“The existence of the ‘peculiar institution’ of slavery in ‘free state’ Illinois is a paradox that shows how complicated the issue of slavery can be,” said Dexter. “An examination of slavery in Illinois can contribute to our understanding of how a people and nation who celebrate liberty could at the same time enslave a group of people and deny them the same freedom they cherish so highly for themselves.”

While conducting research for his book, Dexter visited the courthouses of the southern 24 counties of Illinois and discovered many official records of slavery. He found the primary source documents to provide a concise picture of how the enslavement of thousands of individuals was carried out in Illinois for 150 years under the shield of the law.

By sharing the stories of several people who were enslaved in Illinois, Dexter hopes to emphasize the effect slavery has had on the state in the past and present. Among the lives to be examined include Lydia Titus, who filed the first freedom suit in Illinois and spent her life fighting for the freedom of herself, six children and grandchildren.

“These stories are a sad reminder that most stories of enslaved people in Illinois and the nation are lost and absent from the records,” added Dexter. “In many cases, their names are not even known.”

“Slavery was not a Southern problem alone, but a national dilemma embedded in our Constitution that created a rift between Americans of African descent and Americans of European descent that all too often continues today,” continued Dexter. “A better understanding of the issue of slavery in our state and nation can help all Americans confront our troubled past and lead to a better understanding of each other.”

Dexter invites anyone interested in continuing the struggle for equality, human rights and civil rights to attend the lecture.

The Sankofa Lecture and Dialogue Series is one of the University’s many anti-racism initiatives. For more information on the TRHT and its future programs and initiatives, visit siue.edu/provost/trht.

Photo: Darrel Dexter, author of “Bondage in Egypt Slavery in Southern Illinois.”

Small businesses in southern Illinois are invited to take a strategic look at the world and create a plan to expand their business internationally with guidance from industry leaders during the new, virtual, action-oriented series EXPORT NOW.

EXPORT NOW is presented by the Illinois SBDC International Trade Center (ITC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, in partnership with the Southwest Illinois Trade and Investment Council, LR International and the Illinois District Export Council.

“I am excited to lead this opportunity for small businesses, because I have seen first-hand in my 30-plus years of experience how exports can help companies grow with 95% of the world’s consumers living outside of the United States,” said Paul Jarzombek, chief operating officer at LR International. “My company, as well as many of the professionals involved in EXPORT NOW, have been involved at the start with many new exporters who have developed their international business and become true success stories.”

The virtual series consists of three sessions scheduled for Wednesdays, March 24, April 21 and May 19.

• Session 1: International Outlook - Participants will learn and strategize about the relationship between their company and the world.
• Session 2: Export and Import 101 - Participants will utilize industry knowledge to create a seamless international process.
• Session 3: Planning for Success - With a Shark Tank-style approach, participants will create an export plan for the future of their company and have it audited by industry veterans.

“This training is practical,” Jarzombek explained. “We are not teaching theory. We are bringing real-life examples and success stories as a way to educate these exporters or soon-to-be exporters.”

Group and customized personal coaching will be available between sessions. Participants will learn the key phases of smart exporting, find the benefits to exporting, develop a global mindset, absorb how trade has changed due to technology and the pandemic, discover the most critical component in exporting, and be positioned to propel their company toward international success.

Among the experts to be featured throughout the series are Silvia Torres Bowman, director of the Illinois SBDC ITC at SIUE; Elizabeth Ahern with the U.S. Department of Commerce; Laurel Delaney, founder and president of GlobalTrade.com; Tom Dustman, international sales director with Sunnen Products Company; Al Li with Regions Bank; Paul Toskin with Commerce Bank; Insurance brokers Abby Martinez (EXIM), Michael Fazio (SBA) and Jackie Grahn (TAG); Ben Shanbaum with Rock Trade Law; Craig Eversmann, with MSSC; Sonat Birnecker Hart with Koval Distillery; Chantal Wittman with Wintrust Financial Corp; Han Ko with USAKO Group; Edie Koch with Monroe County EDC; and Scott Kotvis with Daubert Chemical.

All virtual training sessions will take place via Zoom from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. with a break from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. The cost is $900 per company. Multiple export team members from each company are invited to attend.

Scholarships up to $750 per company are available to eligible small businesses from the southern Illinois region, potentially bringing the out-of-pocket cost to $150 per company. This low-cost opportunity will only be available for the spring series, thanks to CARES Act funding.

Registration is required. To register, email international-trade-center@siue.edu with your company name, southern Illinois address, number of employees, website, and contact information for all attendees committing to all three sessions. 

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. 

Photos: Paul Jarzombek, chief operating officer at LR International.

Silvia Torres Bowman, director of the Illinois SBDC ITC at SIUE.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy (SOP) Class of 2021 students are #1 nationally as scores for the 2020 Pharmacy Curriculum Outcomes Assessment (PCOA) have been released.

The 2020 Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) reporting cohort contained 14,110 students from 142 schools and colleges of pharmacy. The average overall score for 78 students in the SOP Class of 2021 was the highest among all the schools and colleges of pharmacy nationwide.  

PCOA is generally administered to third-year students prior to their experiential rotations during their fourth year, and intends to measure students’ knowledge base and readiness for their experiential rotations.

 “Our continued success in academic performance reflects our high-quality students, their hard work, and an excellent curriculum delivered by our dedicated faculty and staff,” said SOP Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs Jingyang Fan, PharmD.

The PCOA is an essential tool used by colleges to evaluate their doctor of pharmacy curriculum, and it allows students to become familiar with the examination process prior to sitting for the licensure exams after graduation.

The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Director Jo Ann DiMaggio May have worked with client Kimberly St. Clair to grow OTEKA SOLUTIONS, a launching pad for innovative solutions that solve global problems.

After working in corporate America for more than 30 years, St. Clair decided it was time to apply her skills and knowledge and start her own business. With her experience in strategic marketing, planning and problem-solving, OTEKA SOLUTIONS is the culmination of that experience – hands on know-how, fueled by passion.  

“Due to the pandemic, this year was either sink or swim. I told myself that I could continue to sit here and not act, or I could take that risk and get it done,” St. Clair said. “The overwhelming fear of rejection and insecurities in my abilities had paralyzed me for too long. Though the task of launching OTEKA SOLUTIONS seemed daunting, I decided it was time to take a deep breath and jump!”

Through the advice of close friends, St. Clair sought the guidance of the SBDC’s DiMaggio May. She assisted St. Clair with a business plan and marketing efforts, guided her through the registration process for Illinois operation, and provided various referrals.

“Working with St. Clair has been a true pleasure”, said DiMaggio May. “Her hard work and dedication is truly inspiring. I am honored to be able guide and assist her along the way.”

Additionally, DiMaggio May connected St. Clair with SBDC Media Specialist Megan Grove to craft a perfect logo design, as well as with Julian Smith of Tech Fusion to create a website

St. Clair believes her experience working with the SBDC has changed her life.

 “From the moment I was connected with the SBDC, I asked myself, ‘What took me so long?’ They have supported me every step of the way and provided the direction and mentorship needed to get me to where I am today,” St. Clair said. “I feel as though the stars aligned. DiMaggio May believed in OTEKA from the start, matching my passion and energy.

“With each Zoom call, she was prepared and equipped with resources to share. She and her team have been a wealth of information and an absolute joy to work with. The experience of working with the SBDC has shifted my perspective as a business owner, helping to better align myself with my target audience.”

St. Clair is excited for the future. “My experience working with DiMaggio May and her team has exceeded my expectations,” she said. “I have no doubt that the future of OTEKA SOLUTIONS will be successful. I am so incredibly grateful for the mentorship and support of the SBDC for helping bring my vision to life. I am extremely thankful for the team and all of their hard work.”

Looking to the future, St. Clair is eager for the OTEKA SOLUTIONS platform to officially launch. She plans to continue expanding OTEKA SOLUTIONS and become a global competitor like Amazon, eBay and the like. 

Visit OTEKA SOLUTIONS at otekasolutions.com. 

The Illinois SBDC for the Metro East assists start-up ventures, as well as existing businesses like Oteka Solutions, 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, visit IL SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE or call 618-650-2929.

Photo: OTEKA SOLUTIONS owner Kimberly St. Clair.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Director of Athletics Tim Hall has announced the addition of Venessa A. Brown, PhD, to the Intercollegiate Athletics staff.

Brown, who has been a longtime supporter of Cougar athletics, will become the first associate athletics director for diversity, equity and inclusion, and chief diversity officer. Brown is tasked with putting SIUE Athletics at the forefront on campus and across the country with regard to diversity, equity and inclusion.

“I look forward to leading DEI efforts with an athletics family that is diverse, embraces inclusion, strives for equity and is committed to being antiracist,” Brown said of her appointment. “I am excited about meeting with all of the coaches and staff, and developing an Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan that represents ALL of humanity. This is going to be a fun job.”

“We look forward to having Venessa as a key member of our administrative team,” Hall said. “Her efforts will, no doubt, put us in a preeminent position within intercollegiate athletics in regards to comprehensive equity, diversity and inclusion.”

Originally joining the University in 1995 as an assistant professor in the Department of Social Work, Brown became a full professor in 2006. She was most recently the associate chancellor for the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, chief diversity officer and ethics officer at SIUE. She holds a tenured faculty appointment as professor in the Department of Social Work. She also has served as associate provost in the Office of the Provost and Academic Affairs and executive director of the SIUE East Saint Louis Center (ESLC).

Brown already has led several training sessions with SIUE coaches and athletics staff.

In February, Brown was recognized by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education magazine as one of 25 women who have a made a difference in higher education. The special issue was just released.  

“Venessa is one of the foremost trailblazers in the equity, diversity and inclusion space as evidenced by her Diverse: Issue in Higher Education recognition,” Hall added. “The indelible mark she has already left at SIUE is clear and evident.”

Brown also will serve as a special assistant to Chancellor Randy Pembrook and will work to develop an SIUE speaker series on diversity. She will continue her work on SIUE’s annual HEED recognitions, as well as her training with SIUE police in building quality relationships with SIUE faculty, staff, and students.

Brown earned a bachelor’s in social work and psychology at Greenville University in 1983 and a master’s from Atlanta University School of Social Work in 1985. She received a PhD in social work with a concentration in statistics and computer science from Clark Atlanta University in 1994.

“What an exciting opportunity to share my DEI expertise with my athletics family on and off campus,” Brown added. “In the words of my brother, George, we are ‘in it to win it.’ We will win in the DEI space and be a model for athletic departments across the globe.”

Photo: SIUE Associate Athletics Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Chief Diversity Officer Venessa A. Brown.

Every year, ROTC Cadets nationwide are considered for a spot in the U.S. Army’s 17 branches based on evaluations of academic, leadership and physical performances. Three Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Army ROTC Cadets have been named Army Aviation Officers after participating in the competitive 2020 assessment process.

SIUE seniors Elijah Blecha, Kevin Kerkemeyer and Shalynn Woolsey were selected for the U.S. Army Aviation Branch based on their assessments compared to 6,000 cadets nationwide. In addition to taking a talent aptitude assessment, the trio passed the Selection Instrument for Flight Training (SIFT) test and a flight physical to meet the requirements for aviation duty.

“Of the 3,300 cadets that were selected for active duty, only 156 were selected for aviation,” explained Major Michael Stultz, SIUE assistant professor of military science. “Every cadet in the SIUE ROTC program that met the requirements and wanted aviation this year was selected to attend Army flight training and the Basic Officer Leadership Course to become Army Aviators. Having this many selected is rare at any program.”

Upon completing flight training, selected cadets will be qualified to operate Army aircrafts and lead other pilots and aircraft maintainers.

Blecha, a geography major from Shiloh, is excited to fulfill his dream of flying while continuing to pursue a leadership role.

“Growing up outside of Scott Air Force Base, I was always mesmerized by the ability to fly,” said Blecha. “I chose the Army because of family ties and knowing it was the best fit for me.”

As an Aviation Officer, Blecha will be responsible for the welfare of his soldiers, the progression of non-commissioned officers and warrant officers, the operational ability of his unit’s aircraft, and overall mission success.

“I hope to inspire young men and women to better themselves daily,” added Blecha. “I’ve been given great opportunities and mentorship throughout my young career, and want to provide those same things to others I encounter along the way.”

Kerkemeyer, a computer management and information systems (CMIS) major from St. Charles, Mo., shares a similar dream of flying while serving the U.S. Army.

“I always found flight to be an abnormal and exciting pursuit by mankind,” explained Kerkemeyer. “All of the branches in the Army are great, but only one has aviation assets. During an ROTC training event, a UH-60 Black Hawk came to campus and took us on some flights around St. Louis. I was sold.”

“Being selected as an Army Aviation Officer is a goal that I have pursued throughout college,” continued Kerkemeyer. “The job is unique, and I couldn’t pass up this opportunity.”

After flight training, Kerkemeyer aspires to fly one of the Army’s main airframes.

For more information on the SIUE Army ROTC program, visit siue.edu/rotc.

Photos: A UH-60 Black Hawk flies over the SIUE campus.       

SIUE ROTC Cadet and Army Aviation Officer Kevin Kerkemeyer (center) sits with fellow cadets in an Army aircraft. (photo taken pre-COVID)

For the purposes of keeping preschoolers on track, the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Head Start/Early Head Start program opened in-person services on Wednesday, March 10. Six of the seven managed SIUE Head Start Centers have at least one classroom open for in-person services, according to Carolyn Jason, interim program director. 

“SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start’s goal is to provide as much comprehensive in-person services as possible,” said Jason. “We especially want children who are transitioning to kindergarten, and those with identified specialized needs, to receive these services prior to the end of the school year.” 

In-person classes are being held from 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Open classrooms will also have a remote/virtual instructional period from 2:30-4:30 p.m. 

Specifications for in-person classrooms consist of the following:

• In-person services were determined utilizing parent surveys and staff availability. This phase of in-person services and enrollment ranges between 10-35 students per site. 

• Each classroom is staffed with two qualified teaching staff (one teacher and one teacher assistant). As needed, a third staff person, one childcare assistant (CCA), will be assigned to classrooms. 

• Head Start classrooms servicing children from ages 3-5 are providing in-person instruction to a maximum of 10 children, with two qualified teaching staff. The ratio is one teacher per five children. Early Head Start classrooms servicing children from ages 6 weeks-3 years-old have a maximum of five children, with two qualified teaching staff. 

SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start managed centers conducting in-person services include:

• Belleville Head Start Center
• Bluffview Head Start/Early Head Start Center
• Cahokia Head Start Center
• Discovery Center Head Start/Early Head Start (SIUE East St. Louis Center)
• Helen Davis Head Start/Early Head Start Center (East St. Louis)
• Jackie Joyner-Kersee (JJK) Head Start Center (East St. Louis) 

“Our reopening planning team, site supervisors and teaching staff have done an incredible job with the preparations for our reunion with children and families,” added Jason. “Our program will continue to be flexible and adapt to any changes in protocols to ensure in-person service are successful.” 

“We have spent a year of social distancing and risking emotional isolation,” added Jason. “It is imperative that we journey back to feeling comfortable with rebuilding physical, social and emotional relationships with our children, families and staff, because when we are emotionally ready, we can be school ready!” 

Classrooms remaining in remote status will have remote/virtual instruction from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 

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:
Teacher LaVonne Dew, of Helen Davis Head Start/Early Head Start Center, helps three-year-old Rihyan Gresham put on a face mask. 

Three-year-old Truu Samuels, a student at JJK Head Start Center, identifies colors on the board.

Jie Ying, PhD, assistant professor of finance in the SIUE School of Business is the featured expert in recent online articles focusing on insurance. He shared his insight on recommended coverage amounts, liability-only car insurance and how the auto insurance business model works.

View the CreditDonkey article here:

Best Car Insurance for College Students

View the MoneyGeek articles here:

Cheap Liability-Only Car Insurance: Which Companies Have the Cheapest Liability Car Insurance in 2021

The Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance for 2021

SIUE graduate student Karagan Romoser is serving as the Edwardsville Public Library’s second social work intern. The opportunity is positive for all involved, including Romoser, the SIUE social work program, the library and its patrons.

Edwardsville Intelligencer reporter Scott Marion details Romoser’s role at the Edwardsville Public Library in an article posted Tuesday, March 2. Read the article here.  

SIUE alumna Niki Allen, senior vice president of Technology at Kohls, has been named among the Top 100 Women in Tech as part of the 2021 Tech Inclusion Conference being held March 23-25.

Allen earned a bachelor’s in business administration from the SIUE School of Business 2004. Learn more about Allen’s professional success at techinclusionconference.com/2021/speakers.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is adopting the Common Application, joining all 12 of Illinois’ public universities in utilizing the application to attract students to the array of academic opportunities available on their respective campuses.

As prospective students apply through the Common App, they will choose from a list of colleges and universities that are part of its system. The common application is used by more than 900 colleges and universities, and more than 1 million students across the globe.

Students can apply to a complete array of Illinois’ highly accredited academic programs delivered at reasonable cost beginning with one document. Illinois four-year public institutions will have access to thousands of students who may not have taken the time to complete separate application processes for multiple public four-year institutions in the past.

“Getting more students to look at Illinois’ universities through the Common Application will mean more of them applying and enrolling at our institutions,” said SIU System President Dan Mahony, PhD. “That’s the opportunity we’re going to take advantage of thanks to Governor J.B. Pritzker’s continued commitment to higher education. Making the application process easier for students both within Illinois and beyond our borders has the potential to be a real game changer in the admissions process.

“That’s why the SIU System campuses in Edwardsville and Carbondale are excited to join our sister institutions in this effort, which will showcase the great things we have to offer, while at the same time, permitting families to choose the university that provides the right fit for their students.”

“Use of the Common Application by Illinois’ public universities will greatly benefit those from historically underserved populations,” said SIUE Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Jessica Harris, PhD. “By streamlining a critical part of the college admissions process, we reduce barriers and will expand opportunities for so many to have even greater access to higher education.”

“Participating in the common application will get SIUE’s vast array of highly accredited programs in front of more Illinois residents from beyond this region,” said Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management Scott Belobrajdic, EdD.  “The simple act of including SIUE on their common application could lead many students to take a closer look at our 140-plus programs in engineering, nursing, business, education, and arts and sciences. We believe they will like what they discover through that process. We are pleased to take part in a truly credible state-wide effort to offer 4-year college access to all eligible Illinois residents beginning with just one document.”

 “We want to encourage Illinoisans to stay on course with their post-secondary dreams, and this step is instrumental in making the application process simpler and more affordable,” said Illinois Board of Higher Education Executive Director Ginger Ostro. “This will help students and it will help our public universities as we can showcase the terrific opportunities for our high school graduates to attend college in Illinois.”

As the COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues nationwide, misinformation is swirling, leaving individuals confused and concerned about its administration. Now, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy (SOP) experts are dispelling common myths and easing concerns.

“Vaccination is an important tool to protect oneself and others from the virus that causes COVID-19,” said Miranda Wilhelm, PharmD, clinical professor in the SOP Department of Pharmacy Practice. “Information about the new vaccines is coming out daily, making it difficult for individuals to stay up-to-date. It is important to know which sources can be trusted and debunk myths that are circulating. Pharmacists are a trusted source of information and can provide vaccine education. Additionally, pharmacists can administer vaccines and pharmacies are providing the COVID-19 vaccines.”

“A vaccine will not get us back to normal, vaccinations and public health and social measures will,” said Jennifer Rosselli, PharmD, clinical associate professor in the SOP and clinical pharmacists at SIHF Healthcare. “I am optimistic that we will return to our pre-COVID routines. We can get on the other side of this pandemic quicker if everyone acts responsibly by accepting the vaccine when it is available to them and persistently following public health measures.”

Wilhelm and Rosselli offer the following facts debunking common myths swirling throughout the nation.

•  Myth: The vaccine can give me COVID-19.
  • Fact: None of the COVID-19 vaccines that have received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) contain the virus that causes COVID-19. This means the vaccine cannot make anyone sick with COVID-19. The side effects people experience after receiving a vaccine (sore arm, headache, muscle aches and low-grade fever) are the body’s immune response to the vaccine. This means the vaccine is working.
• Myth: The vaccine was developed too quickly.
  • Fact: Although the COVID-19 vaccines have been developed more quickly compared to other vaccines, no steps in the development, testing or manufacturing processes have been skipped. Years of vaccine research and technological advances in vaccine development, along with the collaboration of worldwide organizations and the U.S. Operation Warp Speed provided an unprecedented amount of resources to develop a safe and effective vaccine. This allowed for the phases of testing and mass manufacturing of the vaccine to occur simultaneously. These clinical studies took about the same amount of time as with other vaccines. Never before have there been so many scientists, research dollars, and manufacturing resources dedicated to the development of a single vaccine.
• Myth: The vaccine is going to alter my DNA.
  • Fact: All of the COVID-19 vaccines available teach the body how to make a spike protein like the one on the Coronavirus. This triggers the body to make an immune response that is ready to attack the virus and fight off COVID-19 if the need arises. The vaccines do not enter the nucleus of the cell, where the DNA is found. This means the vaccines cannot interact or change DNA in any way.
• Myth: I have already had COVID-19, so I do not need the vaccine.
  • Fact: The exact length of time that natural immunity lasts after recovering from COVID-19 is unknown, and it is possible to be re-infected with the virus. The CDC recommends that people who test positive for COVID-19 receive the vaccine after the isolation period is over. It is reasonable to wait up to 90 days to allow other people to receive the vaccine.
• Myth: I will test positive for COVID-19 after I receive the vaccine.
  • Fact: None of the COVID-19 vaccines contain the virus that causes COVID-19. Viral tests, to see if someone has a current infection, look for the presence of the COVID-19 virus. Because the vaccines do not contain the virus, a person cannot test positive. If the body develops an immune response from a vaccine, the body will make antibodies. Antibody tests look for the presence of COVID-19 antibodies. This would mean a person could test positive on an antibody test.

Additional concerns that the pharmacy experts have heard from patients relate to the vaccination’s effect on pregnancy, questions of its ineffectiveness, exposure potential in lines and timeliness of second doses. To those, they offer the following guidance as evidence-based reassurance.

• Concern: The vaccine may cause infertility and should not be taken by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
  • Fact: The COVID-19 vaccines teach the body to fight the virus that causes COVID-19 and prevents getting sick in the future. There is no evidence that this immune response causes any problem for women who are trying to become or are currently pregnant and/or breastfeeding. There is evidence that pregnant women are at risk of getting severely sick with COVID-19 and may end up in the hospital.
• Concern: The vaccine may not work.
  • Fact: The effectiveness of the three available COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen) in U.S. populations ranges from 72% to 95% for reducing the risk of developing COVID-19. Most importantly, each of these vaccines is highly effective at preventing hospitalization and death.
• Concern: I will be exposed to COVID-19 while I am in line to get the vaccine and around other people.
  • Fact: Providers of the vaccine screen each person and require individuals with COVID-19 symptoms or a possible exposure to reschedule their appointment after the recommended isolation period. People receiving the vaccine should follow public health measures (mask wearing, physical distancing, handwashing/sanitizing) to minimize virus exposure, and healthcare workers administering the vaccine wear personal protective equipment such as masks, eye protection and gloves.
• Concern: I won’t be able to get the second dose in a timely manner.
  • Fact: The U.S. government and manufacturers of the COVID-19 vaccines are working to increase the availability of vaccines. At the time of the first vaccination, most vaccine providers are scheduling appointments for recipients of the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines to receive the second dose. If a delay in receiving the second dose occurs, it may be administered up to 6 weeks after the first dose. The authorization of the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine provides an effective one-dose vaccine option that alleviates the burden of needing a second dose.

Finally, Wilhelm and Rosselli underscore that despite some opinions that masks do not need to be worn after an individual is vaccinated, the full immune response after being fully vaccinated does not happen immediately.

“It takes about two weeks after vaccination for the immune system to completely respond and provide protection against the virus,” Wilhelm noted. “People who have received the vaccine and are exposed to the virus may still become infected without symptoms or, rarely, with mild to moderate symptoms.”

“It is unknown if someone who has received the complete vaccine series can still spread the virus,” Rosselli added. “It is important to continue to wear a mask, wash hands and stay six feet apart from others to help end the pandemic.” 

Photo: (L-R) SIUE Miranda Wilhelm, PharmD, clinical professor in the School of Pharmacy’s (SOP) Department of Pharmacy Practice, and Jennifer Rosselli, PharmD, clinical associate professor in the SOP and clinical pharmacists at SIHF Healthcare.

The Edwardsville Rotary Club named Southern Illinois University Edwardsville College of Arts and Sciences senior Megan Walsh, of Toledo, Ill., the February SIUE Rotary Student Leader of the Month.

The anthropology major was nominated by Susan Kooiman, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology and faculty advisor for the SIUE Anthropology Club, for her outstanding leadership style and revitalization of the club despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Megan is a natural leader and demonstrates her abilities when opportunity arises,” said Kooiman. “Her leadership shines in all levels from classroom and field projects to community action. Perhaps most importantly, however, Megan has learned to be a fair and humble leader. She always endeavors to represent the needs of everyone, is both transparent and fair, and makes decisions while incorporating the opinions and interests of others. Although being a strong leader may come naturally for many students, being a fair leader is indeed a unique characteristic. I cannot think of another person more deserving of the student leadership award.”

When she took over as club president, Walsh reorganized by setting up an email list, registering the club with the University and attending several University events for recruitment.

“Once I had a viable club it was about engaging them,” explained Walsh. “We hosted movie and game nights (starting with the Mummy, an archaeology classic), professor dinners, community service projects, fundraisers, etc. Due to the pandemic, we switched to a mostly online format hosting events like a virtual multicultural food night to celebrate national anthropology day as well as virtual movie nights.”

While she credits the revitalization of the club to the students who are involved, Walsh also mentioned how thankful she is to have had the support of Kooiman as well as Julie Zimmermann, PhD, chair and professor in the Department of Anthropology.

“Megan has proven an exceptional student leader this year,” Kooiman wrote in her nomination form. “In fall 2019, Megan took over as president of the Anthropology Club, which had been waning and struggling. By the time I took over as club faculty advisor in January 2020, Megan had revitalized and reorganized the club. Her enthusiasm and passion for anthropology and the club has spread throughout the other students and now there is a healthy membership, active participation and new students eager to take up leadership positions.”

When asked how she became interested in anthropology, Walsh replied, “I intended to major in physics, but as a freshman, I stumbled upon anthropology when I took Human Ancestry and Adaptations and fell in love with the field. I am a biological anthropologist and found that the discipline perfectly merges science with respect to history and culture.”

In addition to her position with the Anthropology Club, she is also the public relations officer of the SIUE Philosophy Club, a participant in the Legacy Advanced Leaders Program, and is a member of the American Anthropological Association and the Lambda Alpha Anthropology National Honor Society, both professional anthropology organizations.

After graduation this spring, Walsh plans to attend graduate school at either the University of Oklahoma or George Mason University. Her long-term goal is to complete her doctorate in bioarcheology and continue to teach, research and foster a love of anthropology in others. 

Walsh was honored at the Edwardsville Rotary Club meeting in March, and will be honored at the 2021 SIUE Kimmel Student Involvement Center Leadership Awards Ceremony the week of April 26.      

Photo: Megan Walsh, SIUE senior anthropology major.