The DREAM (Dismantling Racism through Education, Advocacy and Mobilization) Collective at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s “Blacktivism in the Academy” podcast will frankly discuss the varying outcomes of doing work in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). 

“Ride or DEI” airs Thursday, May 27 on Spotify, Apple and Stitcher. 

Host and DREAM Collective member J.T. Snipes, PhD, will be joined by Marcelle Mentor, Hadya Sow and Nkosi Anderson. The group will delve into the joys, frustrations, hopes and realities of the profession, and what has and hasn’t changed in the past few years. 

Other DREAM Collective members include education faculty Jennifer Hernandez, PhD, Jessica Krim, EdD, Nate Williams, PhD, and SEHHB Dean Robin Hughes, PhD. 

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

Photo:
“Blacktivism in the Academy” season five airs Thursday, May 27.

When faced with challenging circumstances, it is not the time to falter or double down. On the contrary, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Education, Health and Human Behavior (SEHHB) Dean Robin Hughes, PhD, believes it is the time to ramp up efforts. 

In light of varying economic fallout because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hughes (accompanied by the School’s associate and assistant deans) led the charge to increase the number of scholarship awards given to SEHHB students. 

The School awards student scholarships annually in May. This spring, more than $26,000 in scholarships were given to over 70 students, which translates to the highest dollar amount and most awards in the School’s recent history. 

“We wanted to boost giving, because we recognize our students had financial needs as a result of the pandemic,” said Hughes. “Many college students are essential workers in public places that greatly reduced hours, and they need help.” 

Receiving a scholarship from the SEHHB held personal and professional rewards for Amanda Dermody, a senior majoring in elementary education. Dermody was awarded the Kendall Allida Douglas Memorial Scholarship. 

“The scholarship was particularly important to me because, it is connected to my academic program, and I also knew Kendall Douglas,” said Dermody, who plans to be an elementary school teacher. “I played softball with her, and she was a wonderful person who was devoted to the program.” 

Dermody also expressed her commitment to elementary education. “I love the field and enjoy teaching children,” she added. “It’s noble and rewarding work to help children, and I can think of no better way to do that than to help educate them.” 

Saidee Bushur, a graduate student majoring in speech language pathology, received the Dr. O. Eugene Maag Speech Pathology Scholarship. 

“By receiving this award, some of the stress of paying for school was taken off my plate,” said Bushur. “Therefore, this scholarship can allow me to better focus on my studies.” 

It’s Bushur’s hope that her degrees will allow her to realize a commitment she’s had since childhood. 

“Throughout my childhood and continuing today, my parents are licensed foster parents,” informed Bushur. “Many of the children who came into our care had to participate in speech therapy services. When I saw how much this therapy changed their lives and allowed them to express themselves, I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.” 

“We want to be intentional, practical and generous in our giving,” shared Hughes, “and what better way to do that than to pay it forward with scholarships to students who will help shape a changing world.” 

Photos:
SEHHB Dean Robin Hughes, PhD.
SEHHB Kendall Allida Douglas Memorial Scholarship Winner Amanda Dermody, a junior majoring in elementary education.
SEHHB Dr. O. Eugene Maag Speech Pathology Scholarship Winner Saidee Bushur, a graduate student majoring in speech language pathology.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville senior Hillary Mann has been selected to serve on the 2021-22 Student Advisory Committee (SAC) for the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC). Mann, of Forsyth, is the 2021 SIUE Panhellenic Council president and a member of Alpha Sigma Tau.

Mann is a double-major in biology and psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences.

The SAC helps NPC ensure the collegiate sorority women’s perspective is included in all advocacy efforts. The SAC helps support the work of NPC to advance the sorority experience by providing suggestions to NPC leadership and professional staff on existing college Panhellenic campaigns and programs, as well as ideas for new initiatives.

“I’m proud of the work Hillary and her community have done, and for an SIUE student to have an opportunity like this speaks to her leadership capabilities,” said Tyler Manning, SIUE assistant director for Fraternity and Sorority Life.

Mann says that sorority life is the most welcoming experience she has had. “I’ve made connections within my chapter and with so many amazing people in other sororities and fraternities,” she said. “I’ve had many amazing mentors who’ve helped my transition into college, supported me academically and have helped build my confidence to be a Panhellenic leader.

“I owe my amazing college experience to my sorority and Panhellenic executive council. I’m so grateful to be a part of an organization so focused on empowering women. Now as a leader in my community, I strive to do the same for the new members joining us to empower and help them find their confidence.”

During her tenure on SAC, Mann expects to advocate for more NPC initiatives for diversity, equity and inclusion in the Panhellenic community. “This is something that SIUE’s Panhellenic community has been working toward for just about a year, but I’d love to see this at a national level by all sororities and Panhellenic executive boards,” she said. “I also would love to see NPC provide more resources on diversity, equity and inclusion, and continue to reform old bylaws and constitutions that inhibit Panhellenic progress.”

With her SAC experience, Mann hopes to gain the skills to become a better leader in her community. “As I am approaching my senior year, I want to be able to inspire the next group of leaders in my Panhellenic community to continue working towards progress and expanding our ideas to the campus community,” she said.

NPC is the world’s largest umbrella organization specifically charged with advancing the sorority experience. Through its advocacy, NPC seeks to enlist nearly 5-million sorority women in its efforts to showcase the transformational power of the sorority experience.

Photo: SIUE senior Hillary Mann will serve on the 2021-22 Student Advisory Committee for the National Panhellenic Conference.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Alicia Plemmons, PhD, has established herself among U.S. legislators, policy groups and community leaders as a go-to expert with research-backed insights related to the economic impacts of regulation, particularly in healthcare.

Plemmons, assistant professor of economics in the SIUE School of Business and undergraduate economics program director in the College of Arts and Sciences, has advised legislators in the U.S. House of Representatives and routinely testifies at the local, national and federal level on bipartisan bills related to occupational licensing and certificate of need laws.

“The overall purpose of the research is to try and understand how policymakers can best improve access and quality of healthcare for disadvantaged communities,” Plemmons explained.

The public economist counsels on the feasibility of a project and workshops if the wording of a bill matches its intended meaning. The current critical need for Plemmons’ expertise at all legislative levels centers on healthcare regulations amid COVID-19.

“COVID-19 acted as a natural experiment on the potential burden of some laws,” she said. “Many states temporarily expanded scope of practice or suspended certificate of need laws during the pandemic, and now they are wondering how it affected access to healthcare for our most vulnerable populations, and if some of these changes should be considered long-term.”

“These experiences have added value to my work as a researcher, because I can physically see the changes that occur in policy because of my research, which is a rare and unique experience in academia,” Plemmons added. “Working with legislators, policy groups and community members has taught me to think outside the raw numbers and understand the many facets of policy questions. It’s easy to say ‘we should do things this way or that way,” but to truly understand and precisely measure both the intended and unintended consequences of a policy change is critically important, because they affect real lives.”

A true teacher-scholar, Plemmons uses her worldly experiences and noted research advancements to teach her students about the economics of taxation, expenditures, and regulation at the local, state and federal levels.

“As much as I love participating in the legislative process, I love teaching about it more,” she said. “I teach my students about my research to contextualize the process of research and advocacy, and then I have students explore their own interests. My students pick policies and laws that excite them, and they use our economics tool kit to analyze the potential economic impacts of the policies and proposed changes.”

She notes that potential biases must be checked when pursuing academic research, especially related to policy work that affects daily life.

“The purpose of academic research is not to take sides, it is to research and communicate the history, data, analytical tools, and professional insight to help inform decision making,” Plemmons explained. “It is important to caution anyone who wants to get more involved in the policy world to remember to check your own potential biases and contextualize what these changes would mean for other people from different life situations.”

Plemmons serves as a research affiliate at the Center for the Study of Occupational Regulation at Saint Francis University, and is co-founder and leader of the Scope of Practice and Medical Licensure Research Group at the University of Central Arkansas. 

Photo: SIUE’s Alicia Plemmons, PhD, assistant professor of economics in the SIUE School of Business and undergraduate economics program director in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Coworkers are circled around a twist of five colorful chords, working together and trying to come to an agreement as to which rope is connected to the other four. 

Consensus Circle was one of the activities that Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center Collinsville’s Upward Bound Scholars Academy (UBSA) program staff participated in during team building exercises held Friday, May 28 in the Multipurpose Room at the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus (ESLHEC). The workshop was provided by Wyman Center of Eureka, Mo., with facilitator Terrance Brown. 

“We plan to build relationships and learn techniques we can use when our students arrive,” said UBSA Program Director Yvonne Hart. “We are a predominantly new staff, and this is our first time working together. The Wyman Center will guide us through various activities that we can use with our students during the summer and academic year.” 

“We are finishing up our second week of training. In our first week, we were virtual,” she continued. “We completed trainings of mandated reporting, CPR, suicide prevention, first-aid, and workshops on developing relationships with youth. We started this week with a discussion on how to create positive classroom environments, announced summer class assignments for lesson planning, and today will end with team building activities that will help us get to know each other better, in order to build a stronger bond before the students get here.” 

UBSA Summer Academy runs from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday, June 7-Friday, July 16 in Peck Hall on the Edwardsville campus. 

After more than 10 minutes in the Consensus Circle, the UBSA staff decided upon one rope – the green one. They were wrong. It was the brown chord. 

“How do you turn a negative into a positive? That is one question and perspective you can offer students,” said Brown. “And how many people ever decided to go along with a group decision, only to find out they made a wrong choice in the end?” 

“We can reinforce that we all did come to one agreement,” said UBSA Counselor Gregory Johnson. 

“We can also emphasize that sometimes our decisions may  be wrong,” explained Jennifer Yoder, instructor in the SIUE Department of English Language and Literature. 

In another team building activity, participants were paired off. One person had to navigate the other (who kept their eyes closed) to a nearby triggered mousetrap. The objective was for the person with their eyes closed to be able to spring the trap. 

“I appreciated that when I was close enough to the trap my partner gave me options on how I could execute the task,” said Stephanie Bargiel, UBSA STEM instructor, of her partner Nathan Smith, UBSA teaching assistant, a graduate student majoring in art therapy counseling. 

Other UBSA staff participating included teaching assistants Lizzie Kalous, a graduate student majoring in school psychology, and Lydia Durr, a graduate student majoring in art therapy counseling. 

Upward Bound Scholars Academy (UBSA) is a TRIO program federally funded by the U.S. Department of Education. UBSA serves Collinsville High School students, ages 14-19, from low-income families and from families in which neither parent holds a bachelor’s degree. The goal of Upward Bound is to increase the rate at which participants complete secondary education and enroll in and graduate from institutions of postsecondary education. 

Photos:
Contemplating their correct move are UBSA staff (left to right): Nathan Smith, Gregory Johnson, Stephanie Bargiel, Lizzie Kalous, Lydia Durr and Yvonne Hart. Not shown is Jennifer Yoder. 

(L-R) Smith directs Bargiel to her destination goal. Johnson (right) almost reaches his goal with the help of Kalous.

The Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) will celebrate its 46^th class of graduates during its commencement ceremony being held at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 5 in the First Community Arena at the Vadalabene Center on the Edwardsville campus. The SIU SDM will also honor its 2020 graduates during a special hooding ceremony being held at 1 p.m.

The Class of 2021 ceremony will honor 56 students with the conferral of their doctor of dental medicine degrees. The ceremony will celebrate 50 students from the traditional DMD program, as well as six graduates of the International Advanced Placement Program.

The SIU SDM Class of 2021 boasts a 100% first-time pass rate on the new Integrated National Board Dental Exam (INBDE). Students also performed remarkably well on their Clinical Board exams, another strong measure of the School’s outcomes.

“The Class of 2021 has endured the particular challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic affecting both their third and fourth year of dental clinical education,” said SIU SDM Dean Bruce Rotter, DMD. “Despite the additional obstacles they had to overcome and the new protocols to which they had to adapt amid the pandemic, these students effectively managed their patients and worked diligently toward fulfilling their graduation requirements. We look forward to honoring their tremendous achievements.”

Perry Tuneberg, DDS, will deliver the commencement address. He serves on the Commission on Dental Accreditation Standing Committee on International Accreditation and as a dental board examiner for the Central Regional Dental Testing Service. He works with numerous organizations and agencies to provide veteran’s oral health care and donated dental services.

Tuneberg is past president of the Illinois State Dental Society and a former trustee of the American Dental Association Board of Trustees. He is a recipient of the American Dental Association Presidential Citation for his efforts at the national level in expanding dental access for the underserved. In 2020, he received the Illinois State Dental Society Distinguished Member Award.

The SIU SDM commencement ceremony can be viewed live at siue.edu/tv.

Photo: Perry Tuneberg, DDS, will deliver the commencement address for the SIU School of Dental Medicine Class of 2021.

The final three St. Clair County and East St. Louis area caterers and foodpreneurs have been selected to move into the closing round of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s inaugural East St. Louis food industry business plan competition.

Numerous entrepreneurs expressed interest in the local competition, according to Jo Ann Di Maggio May, director of the Illinois SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE and Challenge coordinator, and Ali Vlahos, SIUE Learning Resource Center program coordinator.

The 2021 East St. Louis Café of Champions Challenge finalists include:

• Miss Jays Cafeteria, of Cahokia
• Susie Q’s Catering, of Swansea
• The Crab Trap, of Cahokia

“We’re extremely pleased with the level of interest in our first East St. Louis Café of Champions Challenge,” Di Maggio May said. “There has been a robust outpouring of enthusiasm about the Challenge from applicants, community leaders and our small business development partners.

“No matter the outcome, we encourage all the contestants that considered or entered the Challenge to access the SBDC’s wide menu of resources and expertise.”

Nine individuals completed the entry process and five were invited to participate in the semifinal round.  The closing round of the Challenge will require the three finalists to present a taste testing pitch on Friday, June 4, Saturday, June 5 and Monday, June 7 to a select panel of judges. The order of the three winning dishes will be announced on June 7 following the pitch presentations.

First place is worth $2,000, second place is $1,500 and third place is $1,000. The competition’s prize money is thanks to the generosity of the National Development Council, First Bank and East St. Louis Center Foundation. The first-place winner also receives 12 months of rent and utility free space.

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 Illinois SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE at (618) 650-2929.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville continues to excel in the digital humanities, gaining national funding for its innovative, collaborative programming. The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has announced $24 million in grants for 225 humanities projects nationwide. SIUE’s project, CODES: Community-Oriented Digital Engagement Scholars, has received $100,000 in funding.

CODES is a three-year project that will implement a general education pathway that introduces underserved students to digital community engagement. It’s first cohort of scholars will begin in fall 2022.

The project is led by principal investigator (PI) Jessica DeSpain, PhD, professor in the Department of English Language and Literature and co-director of the SIUE Interdisciplinary Research and Informatics (IRIS) Center, and co-PI Connie Frey Spurlock, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Sociology and director of the SIUE Successful Communities Collaborative (SSCC).

Additional key SIUE personnel include Jessica Harris, PhD, vice chancellor for equity, diversity and inclusion, and Howard Rambsy, PhD, professor in the Department of English Language and Literature. CODES is a collaboration with Lewis and Clark Community College, whose team members are Jennifer Cine and Jill Lane.

“Designed for first-generation, Black, Latinx and/or Pell-eligible students, CODES aims to help students understand the integral role of the humanities in transdisciplinary problem solving at the earliest stages of their college careers,” DeSpain said.

DeSpain will handle most of the project’s curricular design and administration, while Frey Spurlock will focus on building community partnerships. CODES Scholars will work in small research teams that focus on a seemingly unsolvable problem, such as climate change or poverty’s manifestations across rural and urban environments.

“Embedded with community organizations, students will learn how to engage ethically and effectively in digital and face-to-face environments, a skill the humanities are uniquely equipped to address,” explained DeSpain. “Research team courses are designed to focus on the problem first and give students hands-on experience with essential 21^st century career skills, including creative problem-solving, collaboration, ethical literacy and adaptability.”

The CODES project blends and builds on multiple successful initiatives that make SIUE stand out regionally and nationally. The IRIS Center introduces more than 300 students to digital humanities methods through programming and classroom support each year. The SSCC pairs community organizations and municipalities with faculty and students to address environmental, social and economic needs.

Additionally, SIUE has been named a Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) Center by the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). By preparing college and high school students to work alongside community members, SIUE’s TRHT Center endeavors to establish authentic, trusting relationships for the upbuilding of sustainable communities where people of all backgrounds can thrive.

Complementary to this project, Lewis and Clark has implemented cohort-based programming grounded in high impact practices in its honors college, which are specifically designed for underserved students. The Honors College currently enrolls 22 students, but will add an additional 10 enrollees through the CODES partnership. By strengthening ties to SIUE, the CODES program will give honors students a four-year experience.

With its announcement, the NEH noted the diverse range of exemplary humanities projects receiving funding. The CODES project is among 26 grants, totaling $1.4 million, awarded within the NEH’s Humanities Connections category.

“NEH is proud to support these 225 new projects, which embody excellence, intellectual rigor, and a dedication to the pursuit of knowledge, even as our nation and the humanities community continue to face the challenges of the pandemic,” said NEH Acting Chairman Adam Wolfson. “We look forward to the contributions these projects will make to our understanding of ourselves and our society through exemplary humanities research, publications, documentary films, exhibitions and undergraduate programs.”

A full list of NEH grants awarded in April 2021 is available here.

Photo: (L-R) SIUE’s Jessica DeSpain, PhD, Connie Frey-Spurlock, PhD, Jessica Harris, PhD, and Howard Rambsy, PhD.

More than 300,000 children and families transition from Head Start programs to kindergarten every year, and thanks to Head Start training and support, children and families are more likely to experience school success in kindergarten and beyond. 

These facts and figures are behind the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Head Start/Early Head Start program conducting its first in-person 2021 SIUE Head Start Kindergarten Readiness Camp (KRC), according to Adrienne Kaesberg, instructional services coordinator. 

KRC will be offered from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday, June 7-Wednesday, June 30 at Bluffview, Cahokia and Jackie Joyner-Kersee Head Start Centers. “The Camp is for children, ages four and five, who will be in kindergarten for the 2021-22 school year,” said Lisa Tate, assistant program director/center operations. 

“We want to support a smooth, successful transition for children into kindergarten,” explained Kaesberg. “The in-person Kindergarten Readiness Camp will allow for social interaction, hands-on learning and more to prepare preschoolers for success.” 

Other KRC coordinators include Denise Brown, health services, Shameka Brown, special services, and Alina Schnietz, family services. 

KRC is aligned with KIDS: Kindergarten Individual Developmental Survey, an observational assessment tool developed to assist teachers and parents to better understand the readiness of children upon kindergarten entrance, noted Kaesberg. KRC’s lesson plans incorporate the KIDS standards in the areas of language/literacy, cognitive/math, and its approaches to learning and social-emotional development. In addition, outdoor gross motor skills have been selected to support increasing children’s executive functioning skills. 

Illinois State Board of Education State Readiness Measures include:

• Curiosity and initiative in learning
• Self-control of feelings and behavior
• Engagement and persistence 

“Kindergarten readiness might best be understood not as a single goal but as a process,” added Kaesberg. It provides experiences and an environment that prepare students to learn. The SIUE Head Start Kindergarten Readiness camp will provide such experiences.” 

In helping parents, camp team members will provide them with kindergarten enrollment and health requirements, and an increased understanding of the expectations of school districts. Information will also be shared about what parents can do at home to continue to support their child’s growth and development. 

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.  

Photo:
SIUE Head Start Kindergarten Readiness committee members from left to right: Shameka Brown, Adrienne Kaesberg, Denise Brown and Alina Schnietz.

Coworkers are circled around a twist of five colorful chords, working together and trying to come to an agreement as to which rope is connected to the other four. 

Consensus Circle was one of the activities that Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center Collinsville’s Upward Bound Scholars Academy (UBSA) program staff participated in during team building exercises held Friday, May 28 in the Multipurpose Room at the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus (ESLHEC). The workshop was provided by Wyman Center of Eureka, Mo., with facilitator Terrance Brown. 

“We plan to build relationships and learn techniques we can use when our students arrive,” said UBSA Program Director Yvonne Hart. “We are a predominantly new staff, and this is our first time working together. The Wyman Center will guide us through various activities that we can use with our students during the summer and academic year.” 

“We are finishing up our second week of training. In our first week, we were virtual,” she continued. “We completed trainings of mandated reporting, CPR, suicide prevention, first-aid, and workshops on developing relationships with youth. We started this week with a discussion on how to create positive classroom environments, announced summer class assignments for lesson planning, and today will end with team building activities that will help us get to know each other better, in order to build a stronger bond before the students get here.” 

UBSA Summer Academy runs from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday, June 7-Friday, July 16 in Peck Hall on the Edwardsville campus. 

After more than 10 minutes in the Consensus Circle, the UBSA staff decided upon one rope – the green one. They were wrong. It was the brown chord. 

“How do you turn a negative into a positive? That is one question and perspective you can offer students,” said Brown. “And how many people ever decided to go along with a group decision, only to find out they made a wrong choice in the end?” 

“We can reinforce that we all did come to one agreement,” said UBSA Counselor Gregory Johnson. 

“We can also emphasize that sometimes our decisions may  be wrong,” explained Jennifer Yoder, instructor in the SIUE Department of English Language and Literature. 

In another team building activity, participants were paired off. One person had to navigate the other (who kept their eyes closed) to a nearby triggered mousetrap. The objective was for the person with their eyes closed to be able to spring the trap. 

“I appreciated that when I was close enough to the trap my partner gave me options on how I could execute the task,” said Stephanie Bargiel, UBSA STEM instructor, of her partner Nathan Smith, UBSA teaching assistant, a graduate student majoring in art therapy counseling. 

Other UBSA staff participating included teaching assistants Lizzie Kalous, a graduate student majoring in school psychology, and Lydia Durr, a graduate student majoring in art therapy counseling. 

Upward Bound Scholars Academy (UBSA) is a TRIO program federally funded by the U.S. Department of Education. UBSA serves Collinsville High School students, ages 14-19, from low-income families and from families in which neither parent holds a bachelor’s degree. The goal of Upward Bound is to increase the rate at which participants complete secondary education and enroll in and graduate from institutions of postsecondary education. 

Photos:
Contemplating their correct move are UBSA staff (left to right): Nathan Smith, Gregory Johnson, Stephanie Bargiel, Lizzie Kalous, Lydia Durr and Yvonne Hart. Not shown is Jennifer Yoder. 

(L-R) Smith directs Bargiel to her destination goal. Johnson (right) almost reaches his goal with the help of Kalous.

Miss Jay’s Cafeteria, of Cahokia, has been awarded first place in Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s inaugural East St. Louis food industry business plan competition, the Café of Champions Challenge.

Miss Jay’s Cafeteria representatives Cynthia Richardson, Jere Richardson and Shay Jones edged out the other finalists during the final round of competition which included a taste testing pitch. The first-place prize includes $2,000 and 12-months of rent and utility free space on the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus.

“We are thrilled to have named Miss Jay’s Cafeteria the winner of this exciting, inaugural competition,” said Jo Ann Di Maggio May, director of the Illinois SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE. “The Challenge was met with vigorous enthusiasm from participants, community leaders and our small business development partners.”

“Miss Jay’s Cafeteria stood out to the judges and the SBDC because of their professionalism and dedication,” she added. “The ladies are highly-prepared and have extensive experience in the food industry. Their passion was evident in their presentation and plating, and we are excited to assist and support them as they begin this next phase of their business journey.

The second-place finisher was Susie Q’s Catering, earning a $1,500 prize. Third place and $1,000 went to The Crab Trap. Prize money was made possible by the National Development Council, First Bank and East St. Louis Center Foundation.

Numerous entrepreneurs expressed interest in the local competition, with nine individuals competing. SIUE Learning Resource Center Program Coordinator Ali Vlahos served as the Challenge coordinator.

“We encourage all contestants who considered or entered this competition to access the SBDC’s wide menu of resources and expertise,” concluded Di Maggio May.

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 Illinois SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE at (618) 650-2929.

Photos: (L-R) SIUE East St. Louis Café of Champions Challenge winners Cynthia Richardson, Jere Richardson and Shay Jones, of Miss Jay’s Cafeteria.

(L-R) Café of Champions finalists Martinae Binford of The Crab Trap (3^rd place); Cynthia Richardson, Jere Richardson and Shay Jones of Miss Jay’s Cafeteria (1^st place); and Andrea Ramsey and Arthur Ramsey Jr. of Susie Q’s Catering (2^nd place).

Two Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students agree that the summer semester is a great time to pursue educational goals, thanks to their SIUE Staff Senate Summer Scholarships. 

“I’m thankful to my parents, especially my mom, for helping me obtain this scholarship and for being supportive throughout my academic journey,” said Abigail Ermer, a senior majoring in Art and Design with a concentration in textiles and psychology minor. “I am grateful for this scholarship, because it allowed me to enroll in the summer semester, which will help me graduate on time and make my course load lighter during my final semesters.” Ermer is the daughter of Robin Ermer, an office support specialist in the Kimmel Student Involvement Center. 

“I would like to thank the University Staff Senate Scholarship committee for making these awards possible,” said Kinzi Johnson, a junior majoring in psychology and minoring in pre-law. “This award enabled me to cover the cost of the summer classes I am taking, which are necessary to obtain my undergraduate degree.” Johnson is the son of Deirdre Johnson, a library operations associate in Lovejoy Library. 

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

• Be a son, daughter, grandchild, spouse or civil union partner of a presently employed or retired civil service (excluding non-status) or professional staff employee (excluding appointments of less than 50% and term appointments of less than six months) of SIUE.
• Meet admissions requirements of undergraduate requirements at SIUE and be enrolled for the fall 20201 semester
• Applicants with fewer than 12 earned college semester hours must have an ACT composite of 19 or above (unless exempt because of SIUE’s admission standards)
• Applicants with more than 12 earned college semester hours must have at least a college GPA of 2.5 

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

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

Photos:
(L-R): SIUE Staff Senate Summer Scholarship winner Abigail Ermer, a senior majoring in Art and Design with a concentration in textiles, is congratulated by her mother, Robin Ermer, an office support specialist in the Kimmel Student Involvement Center. 

(L-R): SIUE Staff Senate Summer Scholarship winner Kinzi Johnson, a junior majoring in psychology, is shown with his mother Deirdre Johnson, a library ops associate in Lovejoy Library.

SIUE alumnus Scott Slemer is the new public works director for the Village of Glen Carbon. Slemer earned a bachelor’s of civil engineering from SIUE in 1998. 

He will be sworn in at the June 8^th trustee board meeting. Details on Slemer’s appointment and professional background are available in the Edwardsville Intelligencer.

The Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) conferred doctor of dental medicine (DMD) degrees on 56 students comprising the Class of 2021 during its commencement ceremony held Saturday, June 5 at the First Community Arena at the Vadalabene Center on the Edwardsville campus.

“Doctors of the Class of 2021, I understand that this has been a most unusual time for both your education and entry into your profession,” SIU SDM Dean Bruce Rotter, DMD, MS, shared, “but you are bright and ambitious, with great minds and great hearts. Don’t lose sight of that. Celebrate your accomplishments, celebrate your new profession, but mostly celebrate each other and those close to you.”

The Class of 2021 was honored for its 100% first-time pass rate on the new Integrated National Board Dental Exam (INBDE). Students also performed remarkably well on their Clinical Board exams, another strong measure of the School’s outcomes. 

Perry Tuneberg, DDS, delivered the commencement address. Also in attendance were distinguished guests SIU System President Dan Mahony and SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook. They wished graduates great success in the next chapter of their journey, and encouraged them to remain connected and take pride in the institution’s bright future.

The SIU SDM also honored its Class of 2020 with a special hooding ceremony that afternoon. Rotter acknowledged the hard work and accomplishments of those who earned their degrees in the thick of a pandemic. 

“You are a special group of people,” he said. “You put in many hard hours, and distinguished yourselves through your academic achievements, quality dental care, community outreach and service efforts. You also demonstrated your resolve and resiliency, as we all stepped into and negotiated the unknown realm of pandemic.”

Rotter concluded both ceremonies by asking graduates to remember five important things:

• Always strive to perform the best dentistry possible, and to continue a lifelong pursuit of knowledge and excellence
• Treat both your patients and your staff with the utmost respect
• Maintain a moral compass, striving to do what is right
• Maintain a social conscience, share your expertise with those less fortunate who may need your help
• Return the love and support to your family and friends, which they have already given to you through their sacrifices in helping you reach your goals

Recordings of both the 10 a.m. Class of 2021 ceremony and the 1 p.m. Class of 2020 hooding ceremony are available at siue.edu/tv.

Photos: Doctoral of Dental Medicine degrees were conferred on the SIU SDM Class of 2021 during their commencement ceremony held June 5.

The SIU SDM Class of 2020 was celebrated during a special in-person hooding ceremony held June 5.

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing (SON) and Spoon River College (SRC) have agreed to offer an accelerated path to a bachelor’s in nursing (BSN) that would allow students to complete their general education courses at SRC, earning an associate’s in nursing, then complete their baccalaureate nursing coursework online through SIUE.

Students can take classes at SRC and begin a job in their profession, while working online to obtain their BS from SIUE.

The SON accelerated registered nurse to Bachelor of Science (RN to BS) in nursing option is offered in a flexible, entirely online format to accommodate the needs of working registered nurses (RNs). The program format consists of eight-week courses, and can be completed in one year (three semesters) if most of the general education requirements are met at the time of admission. A student’s academic progression plan is customized to meet their individual needs. Those interested in attaining an RN to MSN or DNP may apply for accelerated graduate nursing options.

 “The SIUE School of Nursing is enthusiastic about this long-term partnership with Spoon River College,” said Sheri Compton-McBride, DNP, RN, assistant professor, and director of the SON RN/BS Nursing Program and Contract Management. “In all of our partnerships, we are dedicated to positively impacting access to nursing education and growth within the nursing profession, as well as contributing to a diverse, productive nursing workforce. Together, we will work with students to provide a seamless transition to obtain their bachelor’s degree, and for those interested, access to graduate nursing program options.”

For more information, contact SRC at 309-647-4645 or src.edu/academics/career/Pages/nursing or visit siue.edu/nursing/academic-programs.

About SRC

Spoon River College provides innovative learning opportunities that enhance the quality of life in the communities it serves. SRC strengthens its communities by providing a broad range of educational programs, cultural activities, and economic development opportunities in an environment dedicated to success.

Photo: SIUE’s Sheri Compton-McBride, DNP, RN, assistant professor, and director of the School of Nursing RN/BS Nursing Program and Contract Management.

It will soon be impossible to tell what is real and what is fake. To help provide insight into an alarming media trend, the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Business is the academic host for the International Telecommunications Society (ITS) webinar “Deepfakes: The Coming Infocalypse with Nina Schick” at 9 a.m. (CT) Tuesday, June 29.

Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) mean that by scanning images of a person, a powerful learning system can create new video images, and place them in scenarios and situations which never actually happened. When combined with powerful voice AI, the results are utterly convincing. So-called “deep fakes” take the manipulation of people to new levels. This crisis of misinformation has been dubbed the “Infocalypse.”

In this presentation, Nina Schick will reveal shocking examples of deep fakery and explain the dangerous political consequences of the Infocalypse, both in terms of national security and what it means for public trust in politics. She will also examine what it means for individuals, and what we need to do to prepare and protect ourselves.

Schick is an author, advisor and speaker, specializing in how technology is transforming geopolitics and society. She helps organizations and businesses understand and navigate the exponential technological changes of our age.

Schick is an expert in synthetic media, cybersecurity and the geopolitics of technology. She has advised global leaders, private companies, government agencies and NGOs. She has been published in the MIT Tech Review, The Times, UnHerd and TIME. 

Registration is required at eventbrite.ca/e/deepfakes-the-coming-infocalypse-with-nina-schick-registration-155837898349. The event is free to SIUE faculty and staff.

SIUE co-sponsors with corporate host TELUS Communications.

Photo: Author and technology expert Nina Schick.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing’s (SON) Healthcare and Nursing Administration (HCNA) program has been ranked 5^th nationally by registerednursing.org, a nursing advocacy organization.

The SON’s HCNA program prepares nurses for entry into management positions in healthcare organizations, and refines the skills of experienced nurse managers to mentor them for executive-level positions. The online program includes 315 practicum hours.

“Student knowledge in the HCNA program expands from experiential learning enhanced by educators who practice in the role,” said SON Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs Andy Griffin, PhD, CRNA, APRN. “Besides teaching for SIUE, primary HCNA faculty members such as Dr. Teri Dudley, Dr. Shelley Harris and Dr. Maria Ballard also hold positions as nursing leaders with healthcare facilities in our region. Their experience is key to making our program a great option for future nursing leaders.” 

Registerednursing.org assessed nursing administration programs on several factors which represent how well a program supports students during school, towards licensure and beyond. Its data sources were The Integrated Postsecondary Education Date System (IPEDS), National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) and the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). Review the methodology at registerednursing.org/rankings-methodology.

According to registerednursing.org, nurses interested in leadership or management positions benefit from earning a master's in nursing administration. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the median pay for those in medical and health services management is $104,280 per year as of 2020, which makes the master’s degree in nursing administration a lucrative choice. Additionally, the BLS also reports that the job outlook for those in this field is expected to grow 32% by the year 2029, which is considered much faster than average.

Like nursing education, nursing administration programs are highly sought after by higher education institutions to fulfill the severe leadership shortage necessary for a growing nursing profession in the coming years. COVID-19 and future healthcare crises will test nursing leadership’s resolve to curb the pandemic while catering to professional growth on the front line and beyond.

Registerednursing.org’s mission is to promote excellence in nursing by enabling future and current nurses with the education and employment resources they need to succeed.

For more information regarding the SIUE SON HCNA program, contact saander@siue.edu.

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts program has begun its summer camp 2021. 

“The City of Champions” is the theme of the summer program for children ages 6-17 years old. Classes include piano, guitar, violin, African drumming, keyboards, hip-hop, ballet, Dunham Technique, West African, jazz, chorus, arts and crafts, and more. 

Performing Arts instructors include Gerald Williams, Esau Toombs, Mary Jo Pembrook, PhD, Phil Ring, Ta’Shayla Montgomery and Cecillia Villegas. 

Summer camp includes lunch served daily, free field trips, free T-shirts and daily enrichment classes. 

“We are going to have a fantastic summer,” said Performing Arts Director Homer Simmons. “Our students are eager to learn from our highly skilled instructors, and more importantly, to have fun.” 

Students can still participate. Sessions run from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday through July 16. To enroll, click on the register link. 

The summer session will conclude with a free concert and dance performance at 6 p.m. Friday, July 16 at the East St. Louis Senior High School auditorium, 4901 State St. 

The SIUE East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts has a long, rich history. The legendary dancer, anthropologist, and social activist Katherine Dunham founded the Center for Performing Arts at the SIUE East St. Louis Center in 1964. At its peak in the 1990s, the East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts provided year-round instruction to more than 1,000 youth and became a training ground for professional artists of all disciplines. For decades, the East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts provided performing arts classes to students and community members to develop local talent and to cultivate a love of the arts. Classes often culminated in musical and theatrical productions. 

Photos:
Students in the SIUE East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts perform in a previous concert and dance performance.

During a time of lockdown, uncertainty and fear, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Kathryn Carter returned to an early love in order to help build on the sense of community, offer encouragement and discuss preventative health measures. 

The livecast “Friday Night Live with Kat Carter” that began in May 2020 earned Carter the NAACP Edwardsville Branch’s Community Service Award, which she received during its 56^th Freedom Fund Gala on Sunday, June 6. Carter is an anatomy instructor in the Department of Growth, Development and Structure at the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) in Alton and an SIUE Black Faculty Staff Association (BFSA) incoming board member. 

“I worked for more than 15 years in radio broadcasting. I left my radio career and returned to school to complete my education in biological sciences,” explained Carter.  “Although I currently teach, I have never lost my love for radio. I just didn’t know how science and radio would come together. Last year because of the pandemic, I did a Facebook Live birthday party. It turned out to be a great success, and it rekindled my passion for radio. 

“The COVID pandemic has saturated the atmosphere with fear of the unknown and depression. Many families have suffered financial deficits, such as the loss of jobs and homes. Some people have lost loved ones. I began thinking, ‘What can I do to help and encourage people?’ This inspired me to create this show.” 

“Friday Night Live’s” purpose is to inform, innovate and inspire viewers. The platform is designed to uplift, heal and encourage the audience in a positive atmosphere. 

“The livecast includes an encouragement corner, live music performances, community business spotlights, and a “Preventative Measures” segment,” said Carter. “This segment features medical professionals covering topics such as the COVID-19 vaccine, diabetes and sexual assault awareness, just to name a few. I have always believed that it’s important to care and encourage people not to give up or lose hope, especially now with the heartaches produced by COVID-19.” 

According to NAACP Edwardsville President Walter D. Williams, the award criteria included: community outreach, effectiveness in addressing equity and diversity issues, be of good standing within the community, viewed as a role model in personal and professional life, and the ability to communicate the values of the NAACP. 

“Ms. Carter is passionate, authentic and believes in what she is doing,” said Williams. “Because Ms. Carter is authentic and well-received by her audience, she has a platform where she can enlighten, inspire and encourage her audience to do the ‘right things’ for themselves and others. When I listen to the program, it’s like I’m sitting on my grandma’s lap being taught something that will help me, educate me and keep me out of trouble.   

“Ms. Carter is successful because of her grasp of the subject matter. She is an expert in many areas. She has several thousand views, and her following is a testament to her genuineness as a person.” 

Photo:
Kathryn Carter, anatomy instructor in the Department of Growth, Development and Structure at SIU School of Dental Medicine in Alton and SIUE Black Faculty Staff Association incoming board member, won the NAACP Edwardsville’s Community Service Award.

Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) Dean Bruce Rotter, DMD, MS, announced his retirement today, effective December 2021. Rotter was named SDM dean in Nov. 2012 after serving as interim dean for more than a year.

An SIU SDM Class of 1982 alumnus, Rotter joined the SDM as a faculty member in 1993. He brought a unique perspective to the dean’s position, fully participating in the SDM’s progress as a student, faculty member and administrator.

“On behalf of SIUE and the SIU School of Dental Medicine, I want to thank Dean Rotter for nearly 30 years of service,” said Chancellor Randy Pembrook. “Bruce has an incredibly informed perspective having been a part of SDM as a student, faculty member and long-serving administrator. In particular, I want to commend Dean Rotter and the School for their dedication to the community as evidenced by their free clinics for Veterans and the Give Kids a Smile Program which annually provide more than $100,000 of free dental service to valued constituencies, as well as their work at the WE CARE Clinic in East St. Louis. We wish Bruce and his wife, Cindy, best wishes as they plan for retirement in 2022.”

Rotter was SDM associate dean for academic affairs for six years prior to serving as interim dean. He joined the SDM faculty as an assistant professor in 1993, was named associate professor in 1997 and professor in 2009. During that time, Rotter created and administered one of the first implant fellowship training programs in the country. That program led to the creation of a freestanding implant clinic, which he designed, helped develop and directed.

Highlights of Rotter’s distinguished career include:

• Three times led the School through reaccreditation from the Council on Dental Accreditation.
• Jan. 2021, Appointed Cornell Thomas, DDS, as SDM chief diversity officer and director of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) to increase concentration on diversity, equity, inclusion and well-being.
• Nov. 2020, was elected vice chair of the Commission of Dental Accreditation (CODA), the national programmatic accrediting agency for dental and dental-related education programs at the post-secondary level.
• Nov. 2020, launched SDM clinical endodontic training graduate program.
• April 2019, SDM received a $2 million grant from the Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation (ILCHF). The SDM is building a medical operating suite with general anesthesia capabilities for children with special dental care needs within a new Advanced Care Patient Clinic. 
• Feb. 2017, SDM showcased its renovated clinic in University Park on the Edwardsville campus, expanding the scope of the SDM’s available care, providing that care to a greater demographic and esnuring an even higher level of training to SDM students.
• March 2014, SDM’s new and expanded presence in Alton earned an Award of Achievement from Pride, Incorporated, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to community beautification. The award recognized the construction of the School’s Multidisciplinary Simulation Laboratory and adjacent space, an 18,000-square-foot, $9.5 million project.

Throughout his academic career, Rotter continued to be active in the private practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery in order to maintain his knowledge and skills while bringing that experience to the academic setting. He has worked with Southern Illinois Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ltd., in Belleville and Glen Carbon since 2002 until his appointment as dean. He also has served the Veteran's Administration Medical Center in St. Louis as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and/or consultant since 1994.

A member of 15 dental professional associations, Rotter has been elected to fellowship by the American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists, and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

Rotter has been associated with more than a dozen hospitals throughout his career including affiliations with St. Anthony’s Medical Center in Alton, Belleville Memorial Hospital, Healthsouth Surgical Center in Belleville and the Veteran's Administration Medical Center in St. Louis.

Photo: SIU SDM Dean Bruce Rotter, DMD, MS, is retiring effective Dec. 2021.