The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Graduate School is pleased to announce the spring 2021 Research Grants for Graduate Students (RGGS) award recipients.

The awards, valued at up to $500 each, will support the research and creative activities of 28 graduate students studying in the College of Arts and Sciences, and Schools of Engineering; Pharmacy; and Education, Health and Human Behavior.

“Graduate students at SIUE engage in their profession through the creation and publication of original research and creative activities,” said Jerry Weinberg, PhD, associate provost for research and dean of the Graduate School. “Their projects have regional, national and international impact. Research Grants for Graduate Students awards recognize the project’s potential contribution and provides the students with necessary resources to conduct the work.”

Faculty advisors oversee these students’ individual research or creative activity. The primary purpose of the RGGS program is to support the graduate students’ work, particularly as it relates to their thesis or final project.

The spring 2021 RGGS projects are listed at siue.edu/graduate-students/awards/research-grants. A sampling of projects includes:

• Cultural Humility and Therapeutic Alliance in Art Therapy (Mariah Picarsic, art therapy counseling)
• Changes in Species Composition and Diversity of Loess Hill Prairies in Southwest Illinois (Andrew Pyszka, biological sciences)
• Structural Effects of the Temperature Dependence of Kinetic Isotope Effects in Hydride Transfer Reactions in Solution (Meimei Song, chemistry)
• How State Empathy and Perspective Shape Recall in Healthy and Brain-Injured Participants (Corrin Stines, clinical psychology)
• Development of the CVIPtools Automatic Test and Analysis Tool with Applications to Thermographic Imaging (Charles Stacey, electrical & computer engineering)
• Exploring Environmental Monitoring’s Effects on Youth’s Environmental Perceptions (Carolyne Banks, environmental sciences)
• How Gender and Parental Stereotypes Influence Financial and Career Outcomes for Mothers (Shelby Wilfong, industrial-organizational psychology)
• Development of Drone Swarms and Position Estimation Methods (Brandon Hickey, mechanical engineering)
• Modulation of Intracellular Calcium Concentration by Sigma-1 Receptor Ligands in BV2 Cells (Eric Lodholz, pharmaceutical sciences)

If you ask Courtney Parker’s four children, they will say their Belleville mom is the best! When the Illinois Head Start Association (ILHSA) was asked, they agreed – two times in a row. Courtney Parker, president of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Head Start/Early Head Start Belleville Center’s Parent Association, has been selected as the 2021 Illinois Head Start/Early Head Start Parent of the Year. 

Parker was awarded the top parent prize during ILHSA’s Virtual Annual Conference in March. Last year, she received the award in person during the same conference at the Abraham Lincoln DoubleTree Hotel in Springfield. The recognition includes a trophy and a cash award. 

“I’m surprised and thrilled to have won two times in a row!” said Parker. “My appreciation and commitment to SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start continues to grow, because I see the immense value of the program.” 

Parker is the mother of Londynn, 10; Brooklynn, 6; Kourtnii, 4; and Peytynn, 3. Kourtnii and Peytynn receive SIUE Home-Based instruction, while Brooklynn is enrolled at SIUE Belleville Head Start/Early Head Start Center. As a preschooler, Londynn also received Home-Based instruction. 

Parker was nominated for this year’s award by Belleville Head Start Center Director Alicia Parker (no relation). 

“Throughout the pandemic, Courtney continues to be a great addition to the Head Start program,” wrote Parker, in her recommendation letter. “Ms. Parker is extremely helpful, outgoing and participates in any event when asked. She still holds her position as president of the Belleville Center and is a policy council representative. Ms. Parker has updated us on several events that have helped our Head Start family and the community. She is willing to go above and beyond.” 

“The best thing about being a Head Start parent is when other parents look to me for advice or for something new and exciting to do with their children,” said Parker, also a parent representative for the Home-Based program. 

Parker has worked to help organize parents for the first parade to mark Head Start/Early Head Start’s 38^th Annual Parent Recognition Luncheon. The parade will be held Friday, April 15 at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville. 

“I’m excited to participate in the parade,” she said. “In light of the pandemic, I’m glad Head Start/Early Head Start administrators and managers decided to continue the tradition in a safe, responsible and fun way.” 

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:
Front row left to right are Peytynn, 3; Brooklynn, 6; and Kourtnii, 4. Back row left to right are Illinois Head Start Association Parent of the Year award winner Courtney Parker and Londynn, 10.

Parker shows her second ILHSA Parent of the Year award.

In times past, students participating in Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s spring break activities involved them putting their hands and feet to good use for the community. This year, students engaged their minds and hearts in order to better learn about poverty, race and empowerment in St. Louis and the Metro East area. 

Several students participated in SIUE’s first Virtual Alternative Spring Break, a three-part series held Saturdays, March 27, April 3 and 10, according to Carolyn Compton, assistant director of Community Engagement with the Kimmel Student Involvement Center. The alternative spring break was held in partnership with AMP Mission: St. Louis. 

“My team and I thought this type of program that looks at poverty and systemic racism through the lens of St. Louis specifically, would be beneficial to students who are and are not from the area,” explained Compton. “The history about St. Louis’ role in racism and slavery, and subsequent generational issues linked to poverty, racism and the lack of access to resources, can be extremely watered down or sometimes not even shared in some spaces.” 

During the first session on the history of poverty, there was discussion surrounding privilege.

“We shared about how we fit into the space of food insecurity and different levels of poverty,” noted Compton. “We discussed cultural humility, cultural competency and the differences, as well as the idea of right and wrong as it relates to making your way in a world that is not equitable.” The service project involved writing personal notes to elderly clients of AMP Mission: St. Louis.

The second module on the impact of race focused on the effects of it in the St. Louis area. “Some of the policies that were created kept Black people out of certain neighborhoods and reduced access to housing,” she shared. “Additionally, we discussed the generational effects of this exclusionary practice because owning real estate is a major component in wealth building in America.” The interactive learning component involved students creating essentials bags that contained nonperishable food and toiletry items. The instructions were to keep the bags on hand and or in vehicles in order to give them away to those in need. 

The final session on empowering solutions involved a discussion and reflection on childhood experiences and correlations between socio-economic status and outcomes on standardized testing. “The interactive learning component involved a simulation project to use a grant to address poverty in a small town with other challenging issues,” said Compton. “We also talked about the difference between charity and empowerment.” 

 “It was crucial to have the ability to self-reflect on how we view ourselves in the spaces that contribute to these systems that propel racism, poverty, food insecurity, etc. in the St. Louis area,” she shared. “It was also important to understand the difference between cultural humility and cultural competence, and why it’s important. 

“The program addresses SIUE’s ‘Fierce Urgency of Now’ campaign. The Community Engagement team takes this seriously and is working to practice and engage with it every day. The Alternative Spring Break called on students to learn the value of service and how to apply it, as well as how to be a good global citizen.” 

Other Community Engagement team members included graduate assistants Meredith Bates and Arieanna Morris, and social work students Christopher Barry and Molly Hagen-Johnson. 

Photo:
Carolyn Compton, assistant director of Community Engagement with the Kimmel Student Involvement Center.

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing’s (SON) Advanced Nursing Education Workforce program hosted its second annual virtual continuing education conference on Saturday-Sunday, March 27-28.

This year’s theme was “Mental Wellness – A Journey through the Peaks, Plummets, and Plateaus of Life.” The SIUE SON and clinical partners collaborated on the development of the 2021 regional conference for primary care providers, highlighting behavioral and mental health education. 

“New this year was a collaboration with the SIUE School of Pharmacy,” said the SON’s Valerie Griffin, DNP, clinical associate professor and director of the nurse practitioner specializations. “Our keynote speaker, Mr. Mark Sanders, once again delivered an exceptional presentation. This year his focus was on trauma informed care. Centering this conference around mental health was timely, considering the pandemic and the negative effects we are seeing on patients.”

The ANEW program exemplifies the SON’s pioneering advancement of the nursing profession across Illinois, and is funded by a competitive four-year $2.75 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

The multi-faceted educational effort is creatively designed to increase the number of nurse practitioners who practice in rural and underserved communities throughout Illinois, by promoting a smooth and natural transition from the student role to practicing Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN).

Clinical partners bolstering the success of the ANEW program are Chestnut Health Systems, OSF HealthCare, Southern Illinois Healthcare, Interventional Pain Consultants, and the SIUE We Care Clinic.

Photo: ANEW Conference organizers (L-R) Ali Cetiner, Jodie Nehrt, Valerie Griffin, Melissa Bogle and Cassie Starrett.

The Madison County Health Department will host a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday, April 21 in the Student Fitness Center on the Edwardsville campus. Appointments are available for the Pfizer vaccine, and are open to SIUE faculty, staff and students ages 16 and older.

“We value our partnership with the Madison County Health Department (MCHD), and appreciate the opportunity to host a vaccine clinic on our Edwardsville campus,” said SIUE Health Service Director Riane Greenwalt. “Hosting this clinic on campus will allow many faculty, staff and students to receive both doses of the Pfizer vaccine prior to returning to their hometown, enjoying the local community or embarking on safe travel this summer.”

Pfizer is an mRNA vaccine and is considered 80% effective after the first dose. The completed series, including two doses, offers more than 90% effectiveness for prevention of infection.

SIUE School of Pharmacy Associate Dean Jessica Kerr, PharmD, emphatically recommends receiving the vaccine. She notes that vaccines are an important way to prevent the transmission and decrease the severity of the COVID virus and related hospital stays.

“As a practicing pharmacist and professor in the School of Pharmacy, I am thrilled about the opportunity for our students to receive the vaccine on campus, and to potentially complete the vaccination series just after finals week,” Kerr said. “This action will lead to a greater campus population becoming fully vaccinated by the end of May.”

College student personnel administration graduate student Lindsy Perry received the Pfizer vaccine.

“I got vaccinated so I can help us get back to normal, and to protect my family and friends,” Perry said.

SIU System Student Trustee Jacob Graham, a senior economics and management double major, plans to get his vaccine on campus.

“Receiving the vaccine will help me do my part in keeping my community and myself safe,” he said.

Senior early childhood education major Avalyn Mosby is getting vaccinated for the protection of herself and her community.

“I chose to get the Covid-19 vaccine because I will be in contact with various children and their families; therefore, I want to protect the students, their parents, as well as myself,” Mosby said. “The vaccine will give me added protection to safely visit my family in Illinois and travel to Texas to see my grandpa. Thank you to Health Service and the Madison County Health Department for providing this on-campus clinic.” 

School of Nursing Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Programs Ann Popkess, PhD, RN is grateful for SIUE’s partnership with the MCHD in providing the on-campus clinic.

“Vaccination of our campus community means we can continue to offer in-classroom teaching experiences, utilize our School of Nursing Simulation Learning Lab to its fullest capability and continue to provide clinical patient experiences in our partner agencies,” Popkess said. “All of this supports our mission to educate exceptional nursing graduates at SIUE.”

First dose appointments for the Pfizer vaccine will be available from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday, April 21. To make an appointment, visit  https://events.juvare.com/IL-IDPH/3hw7x/.

Second dose appointments will be available from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday, May 12. Students who are unable to schedule their second dose at the SIUE clinic and need assistance in scheduling a second dose in their home area should connect with SIUE Health Service via CougarCare@siue.edu for direction and assistance.

Complete details related to the on-campus vaccine clinic, including requirements and health advisories, are available at siue.edu/coronavirus in the Campus Updates & Status section.

Photos: College student personnel administration graduate student Lindsy Perry received the Pfizer vaccine.

SIUE School of Pharmacy Associate Dean Jessica Kerr, PharmD, gets vaccinated.

SIUE student Jacob Graham plans to get the vaccine during the on-campus clinic on April 21.

Senior Avalyn Mosby is getting vaccinated for the protection of herself and her community.

By providing insight on their experiences living in East St. Louis, a group of panelists hope to skew negative misconceptions about the city through Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s last Sankofa Lecture and Dialogue Series presentation of the academic semester.

The 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.

East St. Louisans will present “Perspectives from East St. Louis” at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 22 via Zoom. Registration is available at https://siue.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fLVsy8xnRqOYRDm7Eyeq0w.

Participants include Tandra Taylor, instructor in the SIUE Department of History; Cindy Reed, PhD, assistant professor in the SIUE Department of English; Antwoinette Ayers, TRHT community partner from I Am East St. Louis, The Magazine; and Kamina Loveless, director of Gardens Devone Network Food.

“The significance of this topic is relevant to those who drive through East St. Louis in their daily routine and make it home safe every day, only to hear negative perspectives in the media that have been influenced by a community of people who have never lived in East St. Louis or sat down with the beautiful people from our city,” shared Ayers. “This topic is about opening the lens of the negative construct to a more positive approach.”

Panelists will discuss the city’s limited economic and food resources, and the lasting impact of poverty that calls for change. According to Ayers, strategic planning, economic equity and community partnership are key to ensuring a change in the narrative surrounding the East St. Louis community for generations to come.

“Why can’t East St. Louis be seen as the mecca of great educators, artisans, athletes, gifted children and grass-root businesses?” asked Ayers. “Let’s open up the discussion that will alter the minds and thoughts of how people view our city by judgment and limited perspectives of a town they don’t truly know.”

Anyone who has driven through East St. Louis and wondered about the city is invited to join this discussion, and become part of the vessel working to change this narrative.

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: Antwoinette Ayers, TRHT community partner from I Am East St. Louis, The Magazine.

A steady stream of vehicles carrying parents and preschoolers drove onto the campus of the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville on Friday, April 16 for a parade that marked the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Head Start/Early Head Start 38^th Annual Parent Training and Recognition Luncheon. 

 “We are so grateful and proud of our parents,” said Curtiseena Wilson, Cahokia Head Start Center manager and Awards Ceremony committee member. “We did not want the pandemic to interrupt our history of celebrating and recognizing our amazing parents, so we decided for the first time to have a drive-through parade.” 

Each of the Head Start Centers and program options were given specific times to participate. Parents then arrived at their designated times and were greeted by waving, welcoming Head Start/Early Head Start staff and received a boxed lunch, fruit, and a swag bag that contained a yoga mat, a mask, hand sanitizer and family resource information. For parents receiving awards, their certificates were included in their swag bags. The theme of the event was “Building Bridges, Transforming Lives and Creating Family Well-Being.” 

“This is nice and convenient,” said Crystal Clark, parent of Bluffview Center students Brian and Brianna Johnson. “It is good to see everybody.” 

“I like Head Start. I miss not seeing the other parents,” said Home-Based mother Sonia Tiburcio, through interpreter Alina Schnietz, Family Support Program coordinator and Awards Ceremony committee member. “Head Start gives us a lot of security, information and help.” 

“This is my first parent luncheon,” said Porsha Cobb, mother of Bluffview student DeMarcus Lee, 5. “This is a good idea because of safety. We still get to see the staff and get our lunch.” 

“Normally what happens,” said Lisa Tate, SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start assistant program director/center operations, “are interactive training sessions for parents, feature guest speakers, individual Center display boards, a formal sit-down luncheon and many award presentations. The presentations and luncheon would culminate with the announcement of the SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start Parent of the Year.” 

Award categories include: Success Families, Male Involvement, Perfect Attendance, Policy Council, Education/Training and Volunteers. Among the multiple winners, Tate highlighted the Special Male Involvement award recipient Levert Conway of the Discovery Center. The SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start Parent of the Year is also the Illinois Head Start Association Parent of the Year – Courtney Parker. During the drive-through parade, Parker waved at the intermittent motorcade of parents atop of a makeshift stage. 

Other Awards Ceremony committee members included: Alicia Parker-Jordan, Belleville Center coordinator; Angela Cotton, family advocate; Kathleen Appleby, Bluffview Center coordinator; and Latonya Waller, Home-Based supervisor. Carolyn Jason is the interim program director.  

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

Photos:
SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start staff welcome parents and advertise their centers and program options. Staff also enjoyed serving their parents during the 38^th Annual Parent Training and Recognition Luncheon Drive-Through Parade. 

The Ohio Valley Conference Women’s Soccer Champion SIUE Cougars will face the 12th-ranked Virginia Cavaliers in the 48-team field for the 2020 NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship on Wednesday, April 28 at 6 p.m. in a location to be determined.  

All NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship matches will be played at venues in the state of North Carolina.

Virginia, an at-large team that currently sits at 10-4-2 and 5-2-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), played the entirety of its conference schedule in the fall and has played just four matches since the start of 2021. The Cavaliers went 2-1-1 in those four spring matches.

The winner will play No. 12 seed BYU on Saturday, May 1 at 6 p.m. By virtue of earning a national seed, BYU received a first-round bye.

Broadcast information will be announced at a later date.

Being a consummate worker, who functions as a leader while illustrating teamwork and showing respect, consideration and kindness, is what earned Amanda Morgan the title of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Student Employee of the Year 2021. 

Morgan, a junior double majoring in political science and sociology, has worked for the past two years in the SIUE STEM Resource Center, which lends STEM education materials and provides outreach experiences to educators and students throughout the region. 

“I am motivated to do my best work,” said Morgan. “The most important attribute of a good worker is to receive tasks and complete the work with positivity and cheerfulness, with hopes that what you do will be impactful and purposeful.” 

“Amanda is an amazing worker who is an asset to our department,” wrote Candi Johnson, SIUE STEM Center program coordinator and resource manager, in her nomination letter. “I depend on Amanda to communicate with our dozens of guests and partners. She also edits curriculum materials, the website and our social media content. 

“Amanda works hard, and I can depend on her to do an exemplary job no matter the circumstances. She shows self-respect and self-worth by volunteering for additional responsibilities and leadership roles in the Center, while always maintaining wonderful grades.” 

“I am thankful to work at the STEM Resource Center and make relationships with such kind, smart and incredible people,” added Morgan. 

The recognition came with a plaque and a $500 SIUE scholarship. The National Student Employment Association (NSEA) declared April 12-18 as National Student Employee Week. 

First runner-up for SIUE Student Employee of the Year was Tamryn Williams, a senior in the School of Engineering, who works in SIUE Campus Recreation. 

Photos:
Amanda Morgan, a junior double majoring in political science and sociology, is the SIUE Student Employee of the Year 2021. 

Morgan (center) celebrates with her supervisor and SIUE STEM Center program coordinator and resource manager Candi Johnson (left) and SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook.

A recently discovered collection of oral histories about Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s history is now available online thanks to the work of Madison Historical: The Online Encyclopedia and Digital Archive for Madison County, Illinois, a digital history project run by SIUE’s History Department.

In 2019, Madison Historical acquired a collection of 79 oral history interviews conducted by SIUE’s Ellen Nore, PhD, professor emeritus of history. The interviews were conducted from 2005-07 as part of Nore’s research into the university's 50^th Anniversary.

The collection includes interviews from former department chairs, an assortment of support staff, former students, as well as two former University chancellors David Werner and Vaughn Vandergrift, and Assistant Provost Rudolph G. Wilson, one of the first Black faculty members at SIUE.

The interviews cover such milestones in SIUE history as the creation of the “One University” system, the construction of Edwardsville campus buildings, the establishment of new departments, University outreach, a broad assortment of collegiate memories, and the tempestuous relationship SIUE has had at times with diversity and inclusion.

Madison Historical staff have digitized the original tapes, and transcribed, audited and published them on madison-historical.siue.edu.

Highlights include:

• Earleen Patterson discusses early attempts at diversity and inclusion programs and the role of support services related to the SIUE student body. According to doctoral student Shannan Mason, “Patterson’s story is poignant in that she takes this initiative and drive to make a positive change in the world seriously, working not only to affect the lives of our students, but also working to impact the community as a whole.”
• Sheila Ruth’s interview recounts the origins of women’s studies at SIUE. Ruth helped inaugurate the first classes offered on women’s studies and blended them with religion, combining two seemingly different subject matters into one. “Ruth’s story is empowering,” said research assistant and undergraduate Hayley Goebel. “It shows that despite all odds, anyone can learn and bring change.”
• An interview with Patrick Riddleberger demonstrates how faculty protested the Vietnam War. According to research assistant and master’s student Tyler Young, “Riddleberger not only led one of the Edwardsville anti-war organizations, but also sent a letter protesting President Johnson’s rhetoric and decisions that were included in the Congressional Record.”

Currently, 28 interviews are published on the Madison Historical website with more slated to be published in the future. The collection is titled: 50th Anniversary of SIUE Oral History Collection.

The project is generously funded by the SIUE Provost’s Office, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Program at SIUE.

Photo: Madison Historical: The Online Encyclopedia and Digital Archive for Madison County, Illinois.

Trauma, such as what is sustained from violence, poverty and xenophobia, can be crippling. Specifically, the sustained and adverse effects of racism and COVID-19 have proven to be traumatizing on health outcomes for individuals, communities and systems. 

 In order to better care for patients grappling with pain and suffering, the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy (SOP) is incorporating Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) and anti-racism education into its pharmacy instruction, according to Lakesha Butler, PharmD, clinical professor and director of diversity, equity and inclusion in the SOP. 

“It is critical for pharmacists and future pharmacists to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to provide care with an understanding of how trauma, specifically racial trauma, significantly impacts our communities and patients,” said Butler. “These topics are not traditionally taught in the pharmacy curriculum. However, we are forging a path in line with our SOP diversity and inclusion strategic plan that can be a model for other healthcare programs and institutions.” 

Butler, along with Kelly Gable, PharmD, BCPP, professor and director of wellbeing and resilience, and Allie Herman, fourth-year student and PharmD candidate, created a grant proposal that included the development of the pilot TIC program. SOP student organizations, including the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (CPNP) and the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA), participated in the pilot program. 

Partnering with the new initiative is Alive and Well Communities, a nonprofit organization focused on activating communities in Missouri, Illinois and Kansas. It helps organizations build upon their understanding of how trauma and toxic stress impact the community, as well as how to become more trauma aware, sensitive, responsive and informed. Gable, faculty co-advisor for the CPNP SIUE student chapter, serves as an ambassador for Alive and Well Communities. 

From November through April, the SOP hosted four virtual TIC trainings that focused on community trauma, systemic racism, and anti-racism action and advocacy. 

“The issues discussed during the TIC sessions led to a great realization that I teach incorrectly about risk and race,” said Lisa Lubsch, PharmD, clinical professor. “I plan to restructure the content of all of my materials for the students with a better understanding about race.” 

“It is imperative that we engage our students, faculty and staff in meaningful conversations surrounding the ongoing trauma of systemic racism in our healthcare system and country,” emphasized Gable. “This pilot program offered a much-needed opportunity for our SOP to focus on anti-racism actions within our community that will have a direct impact on the trauma-informed care we provide to patients.” 

Photo:
(L-R): Lakesha Butler, PharmD, BCPS, clinical professor and director of diversity, equity and inclusion in the SOP; and Kelly Gable, PharmD, BCPP, professor and director of Wellbeing and Resilience.

By participating in internship opportunities, Khushali Sarnot is making the most of her time in the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy (SOP). The first-year student has been accepted to participate in the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists’ (ASHP) prestigious Summer Internship program.

The ASHP Summer Internship is a 10-week training program designed to provide pharmacy students with an opportunity to gain association experience in membership development and membership marketing at the national association level. To apply, students must be enrolled in a full-time Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE)-accredited doctor of pharmacy program, be in good academic standing and have an active membership with ASHP.

“This internship mostly focuses on building leadership skills that will be useful in my professional career,” said Sarnot, of Manchester, Mo. “I will also have the opportunity to work closely with several key ASHP staff members for both professional development and networking. My professors and the School of Pharmacy have prepared me for and helped me navigate through this opportunity, and I am extremely grateful.”

“I’ve seen myself in the pharmacy profession since high school,” added Sarnot. “I worked in a pharmacy during my undergraduate studies and knew it was the right choice for me. I love helping patients make sure they received the right medications at the right time to ensure a happy and healthy life.”

ASHP internships are typically held at the organization’s headquarters in Bethesda, Md. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sarnot’s internship will be virtual, allowing her to assist ASHP from the comfort of home.

Sarnot will participate in a variety of ASHP initiatives and projects related to the organization’s membership sections and forums. Throughout the summer, she will gain experience in association activities and operations, professional and public affairs, publications and drug information, student affairs, membership, marketing, governmental affairs and product development.

She will gain an understanding of how pharmacy associations are structured, understand the need for and purpose of pharmacy organizations, and have general knowledge of the full range of association activities.

During her time with the SOP, Sarnot has been named the Class of 2024 vice president and historian, a first-year liaison with the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP), and with the Student Society of Health-System Pharmacists (SSHP). She enjoys participating in volunteer opportunities throughout these organizations and credits her involvement with the SSHP for leading her to the summer internship opportunity.

Sarnot has been accepted into SIUE’s healthcare informatics master’s program and will begin coursework this summer. Currently, she serves in an inpatient pharmacy at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital. Her goal upon graduation is to utilize her internship experience by completing a pharmacy residency.

Photo: SIUE School of Pharmacy first-year student Khushali Sarnot.

What is the definition of an ally and who makes the determination? Is it the person extending the actions of solidarity, or the one on the receiving end? This concept served as the framework to discuss “allyship” towards those who are oppressed and disadvantaged. 

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Immersive Meaningful Practices for Accountable Campus Transformation (IMPACT) Academy presented the virtual workshop, “Allyship: A Title Bestowed” on Tuesday, April 20. 

IMPACT fellows Timothy E. Lewis, assistant professor in the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Political Science, and Liz Stygar, instructor in the Department of Sociology, co-facilitated the over-capacity crowd workshop that examined the meaning, obligations and provided examples of substantive “allyship.” 

“The workshop pushed participants to re-think ‘allyship,’ not as an identity chosen by a privileged person but a recognition granted because of sincere ongoing actions of solidarity,” said Lewis. “Thus, it informed actions that are recognized by an oppressed group. Helena Liu (2020) states, ‘an ally is not a status that white people can designate themselves. It can only be assigned by those marginalized who recognize the ally’s struggles towards solidarity.’” 

“Your individual desire to be seen a certain way does not mean folx in marginalized group(s) would consider you helpful,” said Stygar. “‘Allyship’ is not an identity. ‘Allyship’ is a verb. It involves constant and consistent work.” 

“Historical realities led to systems that currently benefit certain groups, and allyship is centered on actions of dismantling those systems in an equitable way,” said Lewis. “Additionally, the equity that results from dismantling systems of oppression has a communal benefit to everyone in society, including historically privileged groups.” 

 “The work is individual and institutional,” added Stygar. “We want SIUE to be an inclusive campus for all students, faculty and staff.” 

For more information on the IMPACT Academy and upcoming trainings, contact Kathryn Bentley, MFA, IMPACT Academy coordinator, associate professor in the CAS Department of Theater and Dance, and Black Studies program director, at kbentle@siue.edu. 

Photo:
IMPACT fellows Timothy E. Lewis, assistant professor in the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Political Science; and Liz Stygar, instructor in the Department of Sociology.

Choosing the right distribution channels can be difficult for businesses, whether a small-scale custom t-shirt design company or a giant producer of goods. A virtual conversation with Southern Illinois Businesses will offer expert advice on Gaining Sales Channel Partners for Exporting.

The free webinar is part of an ongoing virtual roundtable series hosted by the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) International Trade Center (ITC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and the Southwestern Illinois Trade and Investment Council.

It will be held from 10:30 a.m.-Noon Thursday, April 29 via Zoom. The webinar is free, but registration is required at International-Trade-Center@siue.edu.

“We invite southern Illinois businesses who want to jump-start their export sales,” said ITC at SIUE partner and roundtable moderator Tom Dustman, international sales director of Sunnen Products Company. “Exports are incredibly important to southern Illinois small- to medium-sized businesses, because they expand markets for their goods. One of the most basic functions of diplomacy and foreign policy between governmental and educational institutions is to foster economic trade. Encouraging exports and imports for the benefit of business owners and employees helps individuals and the economy.”

According to Dustman, establishing a sales channel partner for exporting is a pivotal business decision. Who and how businesses choose a partner determines how their products are handled, the speed at which they are delivered, and business growth.

Exporters should consider several key factors when determining a distribution channel, including:

• Does my product have a shelf life? 
• How large is the target market for my product? 
• How large is the potential distribution company in the foreign country and what is its product mix? 
• What is the status of the economy in the target geography? Will it aid our growth strategy?
• What is the cost of a specific channel of distribution?

The roundtable will provide actionable recommendations focused on exporting success. Presenters include Craig Eversmann, president and CEO of MSSC LLC in Collinsville, and Skip Wolford, director-OEM business development at Hangsterfer’s Laboratories, Inc. in New Jersey.

For more information, contact Illinois SBDC ITC at SIUE Director 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: Tom Dustman, international sales director of Sunnen Products Company.

Today’s virtual environment is allowing Southern Illinois University Edwardsville programming to achieve global reach, bringing world-renowned experts to the local region and vice versa. The 2021 International Studies Days virtual edition exemplifies the benefits of this international engagement.

International Studies Days will take place Tuesday-Thursday, April 27-29 via Zoom at siue.zoom.us/j/6353923128.

“This event has become a tradition of students, faculty and community engagement for the international studies program within the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS),” said Sorin Nastasia, PhD, director of the international studies program and associate professor in the Department of Applied Communication Studies. “This year’s virtual series of events will include an exciting lineup of speakers from nonprofit organizations, business and educational settings, and diplomatic institutions.”

A complete programming schedule in Central Standard Time (CST), includes:

Tuesday, April 27

• 9:30 a.m. – Opening Remarks from CAS Dean Kevin Leonard, PhD
• 10-11:30 a.m. – Panel: The State of Regional Businesses with an International Focus during the Pandemic
• 1-2:30 p.m. – Panel: The State of Regional Nonprofit Organizations with an International Focus during the Pandemic

Wednesday, April 28

• 10-11:30 a.m. – Sabbatical Presentation: The Growing Impact of Social Justice on Public Relations
• 1-2:30 p.m. – Discussion: The Memory of Communist-Ordered Deportations in Eastern Europe Based on the Film “So, What is Freedom?” by Romanian Director Andrei Zinca (the film will be available for prior viewing to International Studies Days participants)
• 3-5 p.m. – Keynote Presentation: Character Assassination in the Relations between the European Union and Russia’

Thursday, April 29

• 10-11:30 a.m. – Panel: Learning and Professional Opportunities in International and Global Studies
• 1-2:30 p.m. – Panel: Diplomatic Corps
• 3-5:30 p.m. – Senior Assignment Presentations, International Studies Majors

For details on the stellar speaker lineup for this event and for information on SIUE’s international studies program, visit siue.edu/artsandsciences/internationalstudies.

Photo: Sorin Nastasia, PhD, director of the international studies program and associate professor in the Department of Applied Communication Studies.

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing (SON) hosted its 2021 Scholarship Ceremony and Tea virtually on Tuesday, April 20 in celebration of the accomplishments and aspirations of its students and sponsors.

The program announced 54 scholarship awards, totaling approximately $45,000. Attendees, including SON faculty, staff, students, parents and donors, learned about the future aspirations of scholarship recipients and heard audio presentations from SON alumni who previously benefited from scholarship support and are now achieving professional success and advancement.

“On behalf of the entire SIUE School of Nursing community, I am delighted to welcome you this afternoon,” said SIUE SON Senior Director of Development Patti McDonald. “It has been a difficult year with unprecedented challenges. You are some of our most talented and dedicated students of nursing, and you most certainly will make a difference in the future of healthcare in our region, state and world.” 

SON Dean Laura Bernaix, PhD, RN, extended her sincere appreciation for the School’s donors and partners, noted the SON’s second consecutive year of record-setting enrollment in all of its programs, and applauded faculty and students for their flexibility and adaptability amid the pandemic. She also recognized SON students’ active engagement in the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine throughout the region.

“I hope you have been doing well and are staying safe,” Bernaix said. “It has certainly been a trying time, and I am proud to say the SON has thrived, despite the many obstacles the pandemic has created. It is exciting to honor our high achievers and celebrate the strong partnerships that positively impact our continued growth.”

“Our record enrollment speaks volumes of our high-quality programs, which are specifically designed with strategically-hired faculty, to ensure our students are receiving the best possible education. Our simulation and lab programs continue to grow. We are in the process of planning and designing the new Health Sciences Building that will come to fruition in 2023. That magnificent facility will open numerous opportunities for the SON to expand its simulation program and increase participation in interdisciplinary collaborations.”

Among the awards presented was the Sandra Jeanne MacDonald Crome Scholarship Endowment, a new scholarship established by Wayne Crome to honor his wife, Sandra. Sandra had previously established a scholarship to honor her sister, Roberta Lee MacDonald Dial, RN, BSN Award. The 2021 recipient of both awards was sophomore Jennifer Robards, of Dieterich.

“Sandy loved her job and was a big booster for the University,” said Wayne. “My wife was very interested in medicine. She was the go-to in the family for medical needs. I thought this scholarship would be a nice way for her to continue helping people in perpetuity. It is an honor to help deserving students in this way."

Robards’ appreciation and future aspirations were shared during the program: “The vision I have for my career is to always do my best and never stop learning. After graduating from the SIUE School of Nursing, I would love to work at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. While there, I will be the best nurse possible for my patients and fellow healthcare providers. I will be a caretaker and educator, and show compassion to others.”

The Gems of Nursing 2009 Award was created by a group of male SON students. Others have joined in their support of this scholarship. Donors include Nick Hogan, Cody Gowler, Mat Hettinger, Michael Rickher and Zach Davis.

This year’s award recipient was senior Balam Bue, of San Antonio, Texas. His message of purpose read: “My purpose is to make a difference in the lives of individuals and their families by working closely with people, and gaining experience as I ambitiously pursue my education to obtain an MSN.”

Senior Ranita Donaby, of Centralia, and junior Justine Oestricker, of Collinsville, were awarded the Cecil Howard Griffin, Florence Bowmazter Griffin and Dr. Anne Griffin Perry Scholarship. Perry was interim dean of the SON from 2013-14 and an SIUE Hall of Fame honoree in 2017. She established this scholarship to honor her parents who put her education first.

Donaby stated, “Upon graduating nursing school, I plan to work as an OB nurse. About a year in, my goal is to further my career in becoming a midwife.”

Oestricker shared, “After graduation, I hope to become a pediatric nurse at a children’s hospital. I’d love to work in the PICU or operating room.”

The program ended with a video collage of “thank you” messages from all of the scholarship recipients.

Photos: School of Nursing scholarship recipients (top to bottom) Jennifer Robards, Balam Bue, Ranita Donaby and Justine Oestricker.

The NCERC at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is leading the way in converting municipal solid waste (MSW) to biofuel through two proposals recently submitted for funding.

The NCERC has received funding from a grant proposal that was submitted to SIUE’s Transitional and Exploratory Projects (STEP) grant program by Jie Dong, PhD, NCERC’s fermentation scientist and assistant professor in the SIUE Department of Chemistry. The project’s goal is centered on the conversion of MSW, waste that comes from both residential and commercial sources, to biofuel. The biofuel created through this method is ethanol, which is currently used across the country as an octane-boosting fuel additive in gasoline.

Another proposal submitted by NCERC to the United States Department of Energy (DOE) is a collaboration among NCERC and industry-leading organizations from across the country, including a government lab, a waste management company from California, an international analytical equipment manufacturer, and a technology company leading in artificial intelligence, machine learning and sensing technologies.

If funded, this two-year project will establish specifications needed for characterizing MSW for biofuel conversion. It will also contribute to creating a more robust conversion method for turning MSW into biofuel or bioproducts. By creating a scalable model that will use waste as a feedstock for fuel, NCERC and its partners are turning trash into treasure and contributing to a solution that diverts waste from the landfill to a process that will provide added value.

“NCERC is a leader in creating a machine learning model that will allow us to understand the chemical composition of a pile of trash as it’s being collected by the waste management company,” says Dr. Yan Zhang, NCERC’s director of research. “Understanding this information is key, as it will allow those of us in the bioprocessing industries to receive this material and convert it to value-added products. By combining leaders from industry, academia and government laboratories, we will have a breakthrough in the field of converting waste to energy.”

The ethanol fuel that will be the result of a successful conversion is clean-burning and can be used in light duty vehicles on the road today. In fact, all cars 2001 and newer are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to run on E15, fuel that contains 15% ethanol. There are also thousands of flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) on the road that can run on fuel that contains as much as 85% ethanol, also known as E85 or Flex Fuel.

“While ethanol from corn is a significant step in the right direction for decarbonizing the transportation sector, this unique project tackles additional environmental issues,” NCERC Executive Director John Caupert said. “I’m extremely proud of the proposal the NCERC team has put together, as well as the team we’ve built through our coalition of impressive partners.”

Photo: NCERC at SIUE Executive Director John Caupert.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Day 2021: Community featured a positive overview of the University’s vision and strengths, an inspiring alumni success story and collaborative breakout discussions. The 15^th annual event, held Thursday, April 22, was a virtual giving day featuring community partners.

“We are incredibly proud of the SIUE alumni and supporters in attendance, and are grateful for the many individuals and community partners whose dedicated support helps our institution and our students thrive,” said Rachel Stack, vice chancellor for University Advancement and CEO of the SIUE Foundation.

Chancellor Randy Pembrook highlighted the University’s financial impact in the community. “For every $1 that’s invested in SIUE, the turnaround is approximately $8 of economic impact,” he said. “So, right now the state is investing approximately $50-60 million per year, and that results in a nearly half billion-dollar impact.”

“We develop leaders who will shape a changing world,” Pembrook continued. “We shape our local communities through programs like our SIUE Successful Communities Collaborative, and internationally, through experiential learning and service trips. I hope you take great pride that SIUE is the largest producer of bachelor’s degrees in the St. Louis Metropolitan area. I thank you for your gifts and for your support.”

The SIUE Day Community Chairs were Pfund Construction owners, Matthew Pfund BS ’96 and Kristen Pfund BS ’98. A spotlight video shared their story of success and commitment to community giving and volunteerism.

An optional networking opportunity concluded SIUE Day. Breakout rooms featured information on establishing an intern or co-op partnership with SIUE, enhancing workforce through education and training opportunities, and how to access assistance with new ventures and existing small businesses.

To date, the virtual giving day has raised $3,822. Visit siueday.com to donate, view the video feature on the Pfunds, and learn how to pursue a mutually beneficial partnership with SIUE.

Photo: SIUE Day Community Chairs Matthew and Kristen Pfund.

Sustainability projects, achievements and plans were shared at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering’s (SOE) third annual SIUE Energy Symposium on Wednesday, April 21. 

The conference theme was Sustainable Campuses, and featured national and internationally known sustainability experts. 

“This symposium originated from a senior-level alternative energy class. I was taken with the passion and excitement from the students,” said Serdar Celik, PhD, professor and graduate program director in the SOE Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering. “When we first started, I didn’t think it would become such a colossal event, and I especially want to thank all my students who motivated me.” Celik is also chair of SIUE’s Climate and Sustainability Advisory Board, which provides leadership for SIUE’s sustainability initiatives. 

“Having national and international experts join SIUE’s annual energy symposium, speaks to SIUE’s global vision,” said SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook in his welcome address. “We hope the conversation and exchange of ideas during this symposium leads to more innovation and future collaboration between all of the participants. Your efforts are helping to shape a changing world for the future well-being of our local environment, as well as the global community.” 

“While there is a great deal more work that we could do as a campus to support sustainability, this conference is one aspect of our efforts,” said Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Denise Cobb, PhD. “There is a lot of sustainability activity that goes on by the sheer will of our students, faculty and staff. Beyond the initiatives that the chancellor mentioned, I suggest that the embedding of sustainability into the curriculum and engaging our students and future scholars may be the most powerful thing we can do in the long term.” 

SOE Dean Cem Karacal, PhD, emphasized the critical nature and importance of the symposium in his introductory remarks. “In my humble opinion, humanity is facing the biggest challenge in its history. Energy production use is going to impact every aspect of our civilization, and is going to become more and more prominent,” he said. “There is an extremely important role for universities to play, because it is where breakthrough and new technologies are created to address this problem. We have to lead by example and set the tone for society.” 

Highlights from sustainability experts at the symposium included:

• Ugur Soytas, head of Climate Economics and Risk Management, Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
  In 2010, DTU was one of the first universities in Denmark to mention environmental goals in its development plan. The theme is to create sustainable solutions that improve the quality of life, create value for society and promote sustainable uses of resources. “We also recognize that sustainability is a multi-disciplinary issue and requires a multi-disciplinary approach.” 

• Merry Ranklin, director of sustainability, Iowa State University
  ISU’s Live Green initiative strives to engage the campus community through the collective commitment to environmental economic and social sustainability, and a sustainable future. At the heart of the initiative is a team of student interns, “Some of our sustainability recognitions include: The Princeton Review’s Green Honor Roll, Best College Review’s Best 25 Colleges and three consecutive Gold Certifications through the Association of the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS).” 

• Riccardo Guidetti, coordinator of the Città Studi-Sustainable Campus Project, University of Milan, Italy
  The campus project started in 2011 to merge technical, scientific and humanities skills in order to implement best practices to raise awareness and improve the quality of life for students and people living in the area. Categories were developed to deal with “energy monitoring of buildings, sustainable lifestyles and consumption use, mobility that encourages bike riding and sharing, and food and health.” 

• Pinar Menguc, director of the Center for Energy, Environment and Economy, Ozyegin University, Turkey
  One of the first sustainable questions for the new university founded in 2007 was how to design energy efficient buildings. One of the university’s sustainable buildings uses six times less than a typical building in Turkey. “We are saving the university $200,000 a year. In 2020 and 2021, we were one of the top 200-300 universities in the world. In Turkey, we are one of the top five universities.” 

• Phil Valko, assistant vice chancellor for sustainability, Washington University in St. Louis
  In 2010, the university set a goal to reduce its emissions to 1990 levels, despite a projection that it would double in square footage from 1990-2020. “We have doubled our size in the last three decades, yet we are using 7% less energy today than in 1990. Our carbon story is a little different. Our campus has expanded about 13% since 2010, and emissions are down 22%.”

• Connie Frey Spurlock, director of the SIUE Successful Communities Collaborative (SSCC) and Center for Spirituality and Sustainability board president
  Since 2008, SIUE has seen sustainability progress in the following three ways: Built and Natural Environment, SSCC and the Fuller Dome. “SSCC is a cross-disciplinary program that supports year-long partnerships between SIUE and our surrounding communities. We partner so we can advance the community’s local resilience and sustainability. The Fuller Dome is real hidden gem. It is home to the Center for Spirituality and Sustainability, and its vision is to preserve the Buckminster Fuller geodesic dome on campus as the physical embodiment of Fuller’s philosophy.” 

Photo:
Serdar Celik, PhD, professor and graduate program director in the SOE Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering.

Take the electrifying, rhythmic sounds of rock, fuse it with impassioned, operatic singing and cutting-edge projections, add in the message about a life re-created after experiencing the horrors of a concentration camp, and the result is an experience that is captivating and heartfelt. 

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Arts & Issues presents a free virtual production of “Iron & Coal,” written and performed by critically acclaimed composer and performer Jeremy Schonfeld, at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 29. 

Schonfeld, a native of University City, Mo., traces his father’s attempts to create a life out of ashes, having spent a year in concentration camps at the age of 10. He weaves memories of his own early childhood, his coming to terms with the death of his father Gustav and the birth of his own son. 

Schonfeld was inspired to create the piece after reading “Absence of Closure,” a memoir of his father Gustav, who is an East St. Louis native. Gustav went on to become a medical doctor and had a long, notable career at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. 

In the fully-staged production, which was filmed at the Music Center at Strathmore in Maryland, audience goers will be treated to original animation, a rock band with an orchestra, and a youth chorus and orchestra. 

Following the presentation will be a virtual, live panel discussion with Schonfeld, Music Director David Bloom, Director Kevin Newberry and Chase Hopkins, general manager for the Haymarket Opera Company and artistic director for Opera Edwardsville. 

“I saw ‘Iron & Coal’ in New York in January a year ago, right before the pandemic hit,” said Arts & Issues Director Grant Andree. “It was terrific. The story was moving. The music was great. The number of singers and musicians made it a rare and inspiring event.” 

Watch the trailer here, and then tune in to watch the highly acclaimed production here. For more information, read the Strathmore program for full credits and information.

The event is sponsored by Opera Edwardsville. This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency. This engagement is supported by the Arts Midwest Touring Fund, a program of Arts Midwest that is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional contributions from the Illinois Arts Council and the Crane Group. 

The Alestle and 88.7 WSIE FM The Sound are Arts & Issues media sponsors.  

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 courtesy by Jill Steinberg:
“Iron & Coal” created, performed by critically acclaimed composer Jeremy Schonfeld.