A passion of Michael E. Yancey, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville College of Arts and Sciences alumnus, which was to support and encourage young people, will continue. This legacy is being made possible because of his family’s contribution of $25,000 to establish the Michael E. Yancey Sphinx-man Scholarship, a diversity-focused endowment. 

In memory and honor of Michael, the fund will award an annual $1,000 scholarship to a sophomore with preferences given to Black and Native American applicants, according to Khalid Yancey, Michael’s brother. Michael earned his bachelor’s in mass communications in 1993 from SIUE, was a pioneer in helping launch SIUE’s Alumni Ambassador Program and was a prominent member in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., after pledging during his student days at SIUE. 

“Michael left a good mark,” said Yancey. “He loved working with young people. He wanted to help mold and build character in them. His fraternity was one significant way in which he helped young men.” 

The youngest of nine siblings, Michael was a born leader with natural intelligence. “He loved to organize,” explained Yancey. “He was also extremely smart. Because of high test scores while in elementary school, Michael was enrolled in Wade Elementary for the gifted and talented (in St. Louis).” 

Completing his secondary education, Michael spent several years in the workforce. His interest in communications led his search for higher education, which ended at SIUE, chronicled his niece, Telia Starks. 

“He wanted to attend a university that had a robust communications department, catered to older students and was close to home,” she said. “Michael found all of this and more at SIUE.” 

While at SIUE, Michael pledged the Iota Pi chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha in 1989, according to Starks, an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the sister sorority of Alpha Phi Alpha. Upon graduating from SIUE, Michael worked at several jobs including Merck & Co., one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. A job opportunity at the pharmaceutical company transferred him from St. Louis to Newark, Del. 

“Later, Michael landed his dream job as Greek Life program coordinator at the University of Delaware,” shared Starks. “The job allowed him to mentor and guide several hundred students who made up the Greek letter organizations on campus. It was an advantage that Michael was an active member of a fraternity.” 

While in Delaware, Michael would go on to hold numerous leadership positions within his fraternity. He led the Gamma Theta Lambda chapter in various capacities, including chapter president and membership intake director. Additionally, he served the Mid-Atlantic Association of Alpha Chapters (MAAC) as Area VII director for all Delaware chapters, and served as facilitator and trainer for the Eastern Region. 

“Michael was a pivotal and well-known figure in the University of Delaware, Xi Omicron chapter,” Starks noted. “He was an alumni advisor for almost 20 years and was credited for bringing more than 100 brothers into the fraternity chapter. 

“Michael was also instrumental in leading the initiation of an additional 150 brothers in the state of Delaware. He was recognized as Chapter Brother of the Year, received the William Young Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Xi Omicron Winds of Change Award, which was later renamed the Michael E. Yancey Winds of Change Award. Furthermore, Michael served faithfully as the president of the Gamma Theta Lambda Education Foundation, Inc., which is the charitable non-profit arm of the Wilmington Alumni chapter. His leadership brought a revival to the Foundation, which provides support for numerous high school students in their matriculation to college.” 

“Because of Michael’s life’s work of reaching out and helping young men through his fraternity,” Yancey noted, “the family thought it fitting to set up this memorial scholarship in his name.” 

Other criteria for the scholarship include:

• First-generation student
• A second-year student attending SIUE in pursuit of a four-year degree
• Have a GPA between 2.4 and 2.9
• Submit a 300-word biographical essay
• Three letters of reference, including one from a volunteer community service agency 

“At the Lovejoy Library, we are thankful for the Yancey family and their generous gift,” said Library and Information Services Dean Lis Pankl, PhD. “It is such a wonderful expression to honor Michael Yancey’s life by creating this new diversity scholarship that will help SIUE students for years to come.” 

The scholarship will be awarded for the first time in spring 2022. For more information and to donate, contact SIUE Director of Development Shane Taylor at staylaa@siue.edu or visit siue.edu/give-now/yancey. 

Photos:
SIUE has established a scholarship in the name of the late Michael E. Yancey, SIUE College of Arts and Sciences alumnus. 

Yancey (back row, left) is shown with members of SIUE’s Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is proud to introduce Elizabeth Toepher’s Lizzie Bob’s Bakery, located in Fairview Heights. Toepher has worked with the SBDC and Director Jo Ann Di Maggio May since 2016 to help maintain and expand her business.

Toepher started baking at age 12, drawing inspiration from ther Aunt Marilyn who owned The Pie Pantry in Belleville from the 1970’s to the late 1980’s.

In 2013, Toepher began selling her baked goods made from scratch at local farmers markets. Business was growing, so she sought assistance in the creation of a business plan. Three years later, she opened the doors to Lizzie Bob’s storefront.

Baked goods aren’t the only products this family-run bakery provides. The small business also began offering frozen meals, an idea spurred by the pandemic.

“We were able to pivot amid COVID-19, giving us a chance to begin catering and providing customers with prepared meals,” said Toepher.

During the pandemic, Toepher contacted the SBDC for additional assistance. Di Maggio May helped in applying for the Economic Impact Disaster Loan. The loan from the Small Business Administration (SBA) helped the owners pay monthly expenses, update marketing materials, and pay off business debts. Toepher also plans to use the financial assistance to invest in a food truck.

“Jo Ann has been great. She provided excellent service and has helped build our network,” said Toepher. “She is always quick to respond to any of my questions or concerns.”

Lizzie Bob’s Bakery makes “all life’s special occasions sweeter.” Customers can choose from pastries, frozen meals, ice cream, farm eggs, and local honey. Online orders are accepted, with 48-hours’ notice for instore pickup.

Plus, the bakery delivers! Lizzie Bob’s offers delivery to Fairview Heights, Swansea, Belleville and O’Fallon from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday-Friday.

To learn more about Lizzie Bob’s, visit lizziebobsbakery.com, or find them on Facebook and Instagram at LizzyBobsBakery.

The Illinois SBDC for the Metro East assists start-up ventures like Lizzie Bob’s Baker as well as existing businesses headquartered in the nine-county region of Calhoun, Jersey, Madison, Bond, Clinton, St. Clair, Washington, Monroe and Randolph. It is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and SIUE as a service to Illinois small businesses.

By aiding entrepreneurs and companies in defining their path to success, the SBDC network positively impacts the Metro East by strengthening the business community, creating and retaining new jobs and encouraging new investment. It enhances the region’s economic interests by providing one-stop assistance to individuals by means of counseling, training, research and advocacy for new ventures and existing small businesses. When appropriate, the SBDC strives to affiliate its ties to the region to support the goals and objectives of both the SIUE School of Business and the University at large.

To learn about the SBDC, contact the IL SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE at (618) 650-2929.

Photo: Lizzie Bob's Bakery

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s College of Arts and Sciences has announced a new accelerated combined degree option within the Departments of Political Science and Public Administration and Policy Analysis allowing students to earn both a bachelor’s in political science and a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) in just five academic years.

The partnership will create access for a wider array of students as well as allow them to save money on the cost of their education and achieve their career goals sooner.

“This collaboration provides a nice pathway for students who are interested in politics and want to work in government,” said Ken Moffett, PhD, chair and professor in the Department of Political Science. “Many of our students go on to public policy-related careers, and this partnership makes that career option easier to pursue.

“In addition, it reduces the educational costs for our students, many of whom take out student loans.  A combination of lower student loan balances with more rapid degree completion enables students to earn higher salaries sooner and to give back to our community.”

Students will jumpstart their graduate education by enrolling in two MPA courses within their undergraduate senior year. They will gain opportunities for career exploration and hands-on learning through internships with government institutions.  

“These academic and applied experiences will provide valuable opportunities to enhance the resume and skillsets of accelerated degree participants,” said Nancy Huyck, PhD, chair and professor in the Department of Public Administration and Policy Analysis. “Students will gain knowledge applicable to professional public administration and policy analysis while concurrently completing their bachelor’s in political science.”

The program will begin enrolling students in fall 2021. Once students have graduated with a bachelor’s in political science, they have the option to complete the MPA in 12-18 months in either a hybrid or fully-online format.

Photo: (L-R) Ken Moffett, PhD, chair and professor in the Department of Political Science, and Nancy Huyck, PhD, chair and professor in the Department of Public Administration and Policy Analysis.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville College of Arts and Sciences’ Bryan Jack, PhD, and Erik B. Alexander, PhD, associate professors in the Department of History, will be hosting a panel discussion entitled, “Changing Voting Rights in America,” at 1 p.m. Wednesday, August 11.

The event will be held in the Madison County Administration Building’s County Board Room. Moderators Jack and Alexander will lead a lively discussion on voting rights using specific examples in American history.

Democracy in America is based on the radical idea that power and decision-making are shared among the citizens of a nation. The problem, however, is that the framers of the U.S. Constitution did not define who was a citizen, who could vote or how they could exercise the right to vote. Historically, we have answered these questions in different ways over the course of many years. As a result, voter participation has expanded and contracted in different places in the U.S. at different times. For example, women were not given the right to vote in federal elections until 1920; although, here in Illinois, they were allowed to vote in select local elections more than a quarter of a century earlier on what were known as ‘little ballots.’

Jack specializes in African American history, St. Louis history and the American South. He has developed numerous SIUE courses on African American history. Alexander specializes in 19^th century U.S. history. His research currently focuses on political parties and political developments with a special interest in the intersection between social and political change, the coming of the Civil War and Reconstruction.

Although this program is a live event, it can also be accessed virtually via smart phone or computer at https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/535801845. Guests can also dial-in at (312) 757-3121 (access code: 535-801-845).

This program is hosted by the Madison County Historical Society and Madison County government who, with Illinois Humanities, brought the latest Smithsonian Museum on Main Street Exhibition to Madison County. “Voices and Votes: A History of Democracy in America” will remain on display in the Madison County Administration Building lobby from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday until August 20.

If additional information is needed regarding either the exhibition or the program, contact staff at the Madison County Archival Library at (618) 656-7569.

Photo: (L-R) SIUE Department of History’s Bryan Jack, PhD, associate professor, and Erik B. Alexander, PhD, associate professor.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville hosted Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on the Edwardsville campus Thursday, Aug. 5 for the signing of three pieces of legislation.

 With area legislators looking on, Pritzker signed House Bills 641, 155 and 310, all of which remove financial barriers that have previously prevented individuals from purchasing hygiene products. Specifically, HB 641 requires all Illinois public universities and community colleges to provide free feminine hygiene products in campus bathrooms.

“I’ve made it a top priority to ensure that our state is at the forefront of protecting women’s rights and women’s health - all the more important as attacks against reproductive rights surge across the nation,” said Pritzker. “Thanks to the three bills I’ll sign today, we’re reducing the burden of period poverty and making those very difficult personal choices a little bit rarer in Illinois. Because there’s nothing to be ashamed of in addressing health equity for a mother, a daughter or a sister. Once again, Illinois is demonstrating what it means to stand up for women’s health by protecting their dignity.”

SIUE’s Carolyn Compton, assistant director for community engagement in the Kimmel Student Involvement Center and director of the Cougar Cupboard, was among the guest speakers.

“Feminine Hygiene products are health products not luxury products,” shared Compton. “Serving students on campus through a food pantry, and watching individuals make choices between some of the most basic needs a person can have is hard. Being able to provide these products for free is a huge relief to our clients. We make sure clients know they can have as much of these products as often as they need them.”

Following the signing of legislation, Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville), Sen. Rachelle Aud Crowe (D-Glen Carbon), Rep. Barbara Hernandez (D-Aurora) and Sen. Christopher Belt (D-Swansea), participated in a tour of the Cougar Cupboard. They were also introduced to the Cougar Career Closet in the SIUE Career Development Center.

Photo:

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

SIUE’s Carolyn Compton offer area legislators a tour the Cougar Cupboard.

SIU System President Dan Mahony offered welcoming remarks.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has been nationally-recognized as a 2021-22 Military Friendly® School and among the Military Times Best for Vets: Colleges. The designations underscore the University’s commitment to successfully connect the military and civilian world through its Office of Military and Veteran Services.

“Recognition from these premier national rankings is a testament to the outstanding work being accomplished in the Office of Military and Veteran Services,” said director Kevin Wathen. “I want to thank and recognize the amazing staff in Enrollment Management and the Bursar’s Office, as well as the faculty who work diligently to support our military-connected students.”

In 2021, Military and Veteran Services opened the Military and Veteran Resource Center (MAVRC) in the Morris University Center on the Edwardsville campus. The MAVRC is a space where military-connected students can congregate, receive information on benefits and resources, and study.

Additionally, in 2020, Military and Veteran Services developed its Green Zoom program, a military culture awareness training module for faculty and staff. It launched in spring 2021 with nearly 40 faculty and staff participants.

In support of the University’s value of inclusion, Military and Veteran Services created “From Uniform to University,” a panel discussion series highlighting diverse identities and issues within military service. This fall, it also will launch a mentoring program, book club and special population affinity groups.

Institutions earning the 2021-22 Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,200 schools participated in the 2021-22 survey with 747 earning the designation. Methodology, criteria and weightings were determined by Viqtory with input from the Military Friendly® Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community. The complete can be found at militaryfriendly.com.

 Military Times Best for Vets: Colleges is the largest and most comprehensive rankings of schools for military service members and veterans, helping them make important decisions about their education. Official rankings are developed based on results from an annual survey, which are analyzed along with public data about colleges and universities obtained from the Department of Education and Department of Veterans Affairs. The 2021 rankings are available at colleges.militarytimes.com.

About Military Friendly® Schools:

The Military Friendly® Schools list is created each year based on extensive research using public data sources for more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans, and responses to the proprietary, data-driven Military Friendly® Schools survey from participating institutions. The survey questions, methodology, criteria and weighting were developed with the assistance of an independent research firm and an advisory council of educators and employers. The survey is administered for free and is open to all postsecondary schools that wish to participate. Criteria for consideration can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com.

About Best for Vets: Colleges:

Each year, the Military Times Best for Vets: Colleges survey is sent to colleges and universities across the nation asking about their programs for veterans. The survey results are then analyzed, along with public data about colleges and universities obtained from the Department of Education and Department of Veterans Affairs, and turned into an official ranking. For 10 years, Military Times Best for Vets: Colleges has been a top resource for veterans to help with their education decisions.

Photo: SIUE has been named a 2021-22 Military Friendly® School.

Gourmet popcorn, delicious ice cream and a plethora of Italian ice flavors are available at Sweet Cravings, an old-fashioned, small town shop in Fairview Heights.

Owner Vickie Fair has worked with the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Director Jo Ann Di Maggio May since March 2019 to achieve her business goals.

In that time, the SBDC has assisted Fair by finalizing her business plan, pursuing financing options, sharing grant information and providing additional support as needed. The SBDC even used an opportunity under an SIUE U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant to provide logo design, packaging assistance and UPC code help. 

After Sweet Craving’s grand opening in August 2020 in the midst of the pandemic, Fair ran into another difficult situation. Due to bursting pipes causing water damage to the floors, Fair’s business was temporarily closed for 6 weeks.

However, Fair did not let the pandemic get in the way of her business success. In her search for financial assistance, she contacted the SBDC. Di Maggio May assisted Fair with the application process for the well-known Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) offered to help assist small businesses. It was a lengthy and detailed process which eventually paid off.

Fair realized that the passion and energy that she put into her business was not worth giving up and is thankful to have made it through such a crucial time.

“The SBDC has been there to help me along my journey. Marti (last name here) and Jo Ann helped tremendously with the loan application process,” said Fair.

“Miss Vickie is a hard worker and highly motivated business owner,” said Di Maggio May. “It is great to see her perseverance through such adversity, and it has been an honor assisting her. I look forward to working with Miss Vickie for a long time.” 

As she continues to work on improvements to Sweet Craving’s storefront, Fair’s goal is to serve as a place in the community that can bring back memories for those who used to walk to the corner store to buy ice cream. She hopes Sweet Cravings will be a place where community members can make new memories.

Sweet Cravings is located at 706 Lincoln Hwy. in Fairview Heights. The store is open from 12-6 p.m. on Sunday, 3-7 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 12-7 p.m. on Saturday.

For more information, contact Sweet Cravings at 618-589-9045 or sweetcravings4all@gmail.com, and find them on Facebook and Instagram at @sweetcravings4all.

The Illinois SBDC for the Metro East assists start-up ventures like Sweet Cravings as well as existing businesses headquartered in the nine-county region of Calhoun, Jersey, Madison, Bond, Clinton, St. Clair, Washington, Monroe and Randolph. It is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and SIUE as a service to Illinois small businesses.

By aiding entrepreneurs and companies in defining their path to success, the SBDC network positively impacts the Metro East by strengthening the business community, creating and retaining new jobs and encouraging new investment. It enhances the region’s economic interests by providing one-stop assistance to individuals by means of counseling, training, research and advocacy for new ventures and existing small businesses. When appropriate, the SBDC strives to affiliate its ties to the region to support the goals and objectives of both the SIUE School of Business and the University at large.

To learn about the SBDC, contact the IL SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE at (618) 650-2929.

Photo: Sweet Cravings.

Against the backdrop of a misunderstood and miscalculated public image and steady, salacious media coverage, is a city that boasts talented and hard-working residents, strong community ties, and a way of life that is full of grit, creativity and enjoyment. 

This positive, encouraging and largely unrecognized truth is becoming known thanks to the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) Campus Center. TRHT has completed the first installment of its initiative known as East St. Louis stories or e-stories, according to Connie Frey Spurlock, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Sociology and TRHT director.  

“East St. Louis is a great city, which has produced successful people who now live and work around the world,” said Frey Spurlock. “It was important to have people from East St. Louis be responsible for writing and framing this overlooked narrative.” 

Ky’lik Rich, a sophomore majoring in political science at the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, and Carlton King, a sophomore majoring in business administration at Fontbonne University in St. Louis, worked as summer interns with TRHT. 

“Ky’lik and Carlton have been involved in the TRHT e-stories initiative, specifically working on the social media aspect which involves our Facebook page,” continued Frey Spurlock. “In order to create that content, they spent a lot of time reviewing interviews with our storytellers that were collected by SIUE sociology and Black Theatre Workshop students. They have also been posting information about businesses around town.” 

“We looked at businesses to show something positive about the city,” said Rich. “We want people who don’t live here to look for these businesses when they come. We also want to show people who do live here, but travel elsewhere, that there are good things in their own backyard.” 

“Tiny’s Place got a lot of shares,” added King, “and she commented with a ‘thank you.’” 

To help illuminate some of East St. Louis’ successes and history, a Trivia Tuesday was included, according to Frey Spurlock. The question was posted in the morning and the answer was given that afternoon. 

A sample question was: “What East St. Louis Senior High School alum was selected in the first round of the NBA draft by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2000?” The answer? “Darius Lavar Miles was the third overall pick.” 

“I want people to know that my city is not filled with thugs, gangsters or people who do not know how to conduct themselves,” shared King. “We are like diamonds in the rough. If people shine the light on us, if they spend some time here, they will see there is a different side to East St. Louis than what the media portrays. There is more to us than these 89 Blocks.” 

“We can accomplish anything,” interjected Rich. “I love my city. I love the culture here. Everyone is smart, intelligent and funny, and we stick together. We have so much to offer.” 

At the close of their internship, King and Rich spoke of their appreciation for the experience, East St. Louis School District’s GEAR UP Program and for working with Frey Spurlock. 

“Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect,” recalled King “This is what our GEAR UP counselors said we needed to do for an internship. I learned a lot from Ms. Connie. I learned professionalism, how to work in corporate spaces, how to work with others and how to collaborate as a team.” 

“Ms. Connie has a degree in sociology, and she has a good perspective,” said Rich. “I want to start a podcast, and she has given me great talking points. She also puts you in a position to be a winner. She has put me in rooms with people who can help to me, who I can learn from and who can provide me with opportunities.” 

“It means a lot knowing that there is someone who is not from the same city, same background or same race, and they can be so concerned,” added King. “She cares about our city. She welcomed us, and let us know that not everyone feels badly towards us or our city.” 

Weekly e-stories, featuring such notable East St. Louis natives and residents as Eugene B. Redmond, Reginald Petty, Edna Patterson-Petty, Lorenzo Savage, Lydia Jackson and Darryl Cherry, will be posted on TRHT’s Facebook page on Monday, Aug. 16. A total of 22 e-stories have been collected to date.

      The nearly 20 businesses that the interns highlighted on social media this summer included:

• Big Mama’s BBQ Express, 5900 St. Clair Ave.
• Boyhood Home of Jazz Legend Miles Davis, 1701 Kansas Ave.
• Burger World, 105 N. 42^nd
• Denese’s Place, 218 Collinsville Ave.
• East St. Louis Monitor, 1501 State St.
• Flyers Dine & Go Market, 4705 State St.
• Hudlin & Co., 518 Missouri Ave.
• Joe-man Chicken Shack, 3800 St. Clair Ave.
• Katherine Dunham Museum, 1005 Pennsylvania Ave.
• Nash Funeral Home, 144 N. 16^th
• Officer Funeral Home, 2114 Missouri Ave.
• Personal Touch Boutique, 1958 State St.
• Sandy’s Bar BQ, 327 S, 15^th
• Sherry’s J. Homestyle Cooking, 4815 Bunkum Rd.
• Skate City, 2200 East Broadway
• Smokey D’s BBQ & Fish, 3801 St. Clair Ave.
• State Street McDonalds, 588 N. 24^th
• Taystee Burger, 2700 State St.
• Tiny’s Place Chicken and Seafood, 818 St. Louis Ave.

Photo:
L-R: Carlton King and Ky’lik Rich, both of East St. Louis, and Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) Center Director Connie Frey Spurlock, PhD. King and Rich were TRHT interns this summer who created and distributed positive information about East St. Louis on social media, including a story about Lorenzo Savage, as seen in the background. Savage is the executive director of the I Am EStL the Foundation.

Through a project led by The Ohio State University College of Engineering, Jie Dong, PhD, an assistant professor at the Department of Chemistry at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and director of fermentation at the NCERC at SIUE, is part of a team of researchers who received a $1.6 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) to produced advanced biofuel. The funding will be used to develop engineered microbial consortia for the production of biobutanol, an advanced and efficient biofuel, from renewable biomass with higher product yields and zero carbon dioxide emissions.

“We are excited about Dr. Dong’s future work with this team of collaborators to produce biobutanol utilizing a novel method with negative or net-zero carbon emissions,” said NCERC Executive Director John Caupert. “NCERC has played an important role in biobutanol research for many years through work with our clients in the private sector, and I’m happy to see this research continue with researchers from top engineering universities.”

Dong’s collaborators include Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Professor Shang-Tian Yang, the project’s principal investigator, and Ting Lu, PhD, from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The project team will develop a novel fermentation process by combining three bacterial species and an electrochemically-reduced formate to maximize carbon conversion and butanol production with zero or negative carbon dioxide emissions. Butanol is generally used as an industrial solvent, but can also be blended with gasoline and used in engines of light-duty vehicles. Biobutanol is produced from fermentation of the same feedstocks as ethanol – corn, sugar beets and other types of biomass.

“Biofuel is a powerful tool in the clean energy toolkit that has immense potential to power our ships and airlines with zero carbon emissions,” said Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “DOE is investing in research to reduce emissions and maximize the availability of efficient biofuel as we strive to reach President Biden’s net-zero carbon goals.”

The NCERC at SIUE is a nationally recognized research center dedicated to the development and commercialization of biofuels, specialty chemicals and other renewable compounds. The Center’s fully functional dry grind pilot plant and laboratories are equipped with advanced biofuels capabilities including corn fractionation, pretreatment, and a fermentation suite with 5, 30, 150 and 1500L scale-up. Facilities are staffed by industry veterans with more than 100 years of collective experience in fermentation and biofuels production. This knowledgeable team has the flexibility and expertise to design and carry out projects in any region of the advanced biofuels or specialty chemicals space. For more information, contact Jackie Pohlman at jpohlman@ethanolresearch.com or visit ethanolresearch.com.

A ribbon cutting ceremony held Monday, Aug. 9 marked the grand opening of the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine’s state-of-the-art Advanced Care Clinic (ACC).

The ACC is a significant milestone along the SIU SDM’s journey in continuously advancing the education of its students and the care it provides to the community.

“This clinic represents a major push in the advancement of our postdoctoral training programs,” said SIU SDM Dean Bruce Rotter, DMD. “The building also provides improved facilities for our students. But the foremost reason for the existence of this facility lies in the operating arena. In past years, it has been difficult, if not impossible, to provide appropriate access to treatment for the many children who had special treatment needs and required general anesthesia for their care. This facility will allow our faculty, staff and graduate students to significantly increase the number of patients who will have access to this necessary healthcare.”

Several legislators and area leaders were in attendance for the occasion, including, but not limited to Sen. Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon), Rep. Amy Elik (R-Fosterburg), Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville), Alton Mayor David Goins, Alton Memorial Hospital Vice President Brad Goacher, SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook and SIU System President Dan Mahony.

 “We’ve seen the effects of the pandemic on people trying to get dental care, and that makes the Advanced Care Clinic’s opening especially timely, so that we can all move forward and provide that critical care,” said Mahony. “I’m proud of your commitment to the community, our region and state. You’re known throughout the state and nation as a quality care provider, and it’s makes me personally proud to represent this area and represent all of you. Keep up the good work SIU School of Dental Medicine. I’m confident you will continue to make people happy and healthy going forward.”

“This is an exciting time for the School of Dental Medicine and the City of Alton,” Mahony added. “This facility obviously does a lot for our students, faculty and staff through the experiences they’ll have and the learning that will happen here. It’s not only about what happens from an educational standpoint, but also the impact that we have on the communities that surround us. Many of the goals in our System’s Strategic Plan can be checked off by this facility as far as improving the quality of education, community impact, infrastructure, and opportunities for faculty and staff. We’re excited about what this will do for the people of the region by providing low-cost care to people who need it most.”

Rotter extended his gratitude to Delta Dental of Illinois and the Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation for their generous financial support in making the ACC possible.

“On behalf of our board of directors and staff, we want to say congratulations and share our excitement for this project,” said Lora Vitek, executive director of Delta Dental Illinois Foundation. “Our mission is to improve the health and oral health of Illinois residents, and the foundation’s mission focuses on the care of children. The SIU School of Dental Medicine’s Advanced Care Clinic is a huge project, and has a tremendous impact on the community by giving children more of the care they need.”

Rotter also extended his appreciation to general contractor Poettker Construction Co., which led the project, with contributions from a host of supporting construction service providers. Additionally, he noted the many internal contributors who played a significant role in the building’s completion, giving special thanks to technical services, facilities management, and Ken Holbert, associate dean and executive director for administration, finance and operations.

Following remarks and the official ribbon cutting, SIU SDM residents and staff provided tours of the innovative clinical space, which features a medical operating suite with general anesthesia capabilities. The operating suite includes two surgery operating rooms, enabling SIU SDM residents, faculty and staff to offer more comprehensive, predictable and safe treatment, particularly for children and patients with special dental care needs.

The ACC also includes an additional 16 patient care stations that are equipped to serve a comprehensive range of dental needs through existing, expanded and new postdoctoral programs at SIU SDM. The lower level of the new building houses a new student lounge featuring workstations, ping pong and pool tables and lockers.

Photos: A ribbon cutting ceremony marked the grand opening of the Advanced Care Clinic at the SIU School of Dental Medicine in Alton. (L-R) Rep. Amy Elik, Sen. Rachelle Crowe, SIU System President Dan Mahony, Lora Vitek with Delta Dental Illinois (DDIL) Foundation, SIU SDM Dean Bruce Rotter, Frank Maggie, DDIL board member, Alton Mayor David Goins, Rep. Katie Stuart, SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook.

SIU SDM residents and staff provide a tour of the innovative clinical space.

The Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) celebrated the start of the fall 2021 semester during its annual Welcome Fair held Thursday, Aug. 12 in the newly opened Advanced Care Clinic building, which also features a student lounge, workout facility and student lockers.

SIU SDM students were treated to boxed lunches, games and t-shirts. They also had the opportunity to learn about available student support resources while visiting with Edwardsville campus representatives from Campus Recreation, Health Service, Counseling Services, Student Affairs and the Police Department.

“I’m excited to start this journey,” first year student Skylar Freeman, of Flora, shared. “I was nervous coming in, but everyone has welcomed me with open arms, and I’ve already started to learn the basics of dentistry. As first years, we’re excited to be in this beautiful space. The student lounge gives us a great place to get to know each other, hang out and do homework.”

“Our students go to school Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., and spend a lot of time in our simulation lab and clinic,” explained Angela Pritchett, SIU SDM Director of admissions and student services. “Our newly reopened student lounge has computers, a ping pong table, and a pool table for students to unwind and relax during their breaks. We also gave our first and second-year students a new locker space, allowing them more room for storing and organizing their equipment.”

During the Welcome Event, SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook and Alton Mayor David Goins handed out free Oreo and Cookie Dough Blizzards® from Dairy Queen.

“This campus is a jewel for our community,” said Goins, an Alton native. “It was once one of our best kept secrets, but is no longer a secret due to its popularity and status as one of the best dental schools in the state and country. We’re proud to have this school in Alton, and I’m proud to be a part of this event while meeting the students.”

As students enjoyed the free refreshments, they expressed excitement for the year ahead.

“It feels good to be a fourth-year student,” shared Chino Erokwu, of Cleveland. “This new space is beautiful. It’s important to have a space like this, as we missed out on it last year due to COVID. We can finally gather and get to know each other better once more.”

“I’m excited to get started with the new year in a space like this,” added third-year Mohammad Doulea, of Oak Lawn. “COVID had an impact on us all, and we weren’t able to gather in a space like this. I’m looking forward to being back here fulltime.”

“As first years, we utilize this facility more than anyone else,” added Shara Harkless, of St. Louis. “We all get together in the student lounge for our online courses and spend lunchtime down here. I’m loving my time at SIU SDM so far.”

Photos: SIU SDM fourth-year students (L-R) Anastasia Kozal and Miranda Richards enjoy a sweet treat in the new student lounge on campus.

Alton Mayor David Goins offers greetings and a free Dairy Queen Blizzard® to second-year student Courtney Chapman.

SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook greets first-year SIU SDM student Shara Harkless during the Welcome Event on the Alton campus.

The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is officially part of the Illinois Community Navigator Program through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). The affiliation raises awareness for federal and state grant and loan programs, especially in the underserved business community. 

Targeted businesses include women, minority and rural veteran-owned businesses who may find it challenging to access resources, or are simply unaware of the resources available. Using a hub and spoke model, Illinois DCEO is bringing together community organizations from across the state and the spokes will implement grassroot efforts to engage with small businesses. 

The SBDC has six partners to assist in these efforts and cover the 9-county region in southwest Illinois. These partners include: The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis-St. Clair County Division, Monroe County Economic Development Corp., National Development Council (NDC), Metro East Business Incubator (MEBI), Jersey County Business Association (JCBA) and Hoyleton Youth and Family Services (Puentes). The nine counties covered are Madison, St. Clair, Monroe, Bond, Clinton, Jersey, Calhoun, Washington and Randolph.

On Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021, the Illinois Back to Business (B2B) Program portal opens. Administered by the DCEO, the B2B program is a $250 million grant program to support the continued recovery of small businesses across Illinois. The first in a series of economic recovery programs set to launch by the administration, B2B will offer small businesses access to funds that can help offset losses due to COVID-19, bring back workers and take continued steps to rebuild amid the fallout from the pandemic. The program builds on last year’s Business Interruption Grant program, which provided $580 million to small businesses and childcare providers across the state.

To learn more about the Community Navigator Initiative and for assistance with the B2B Program, contact the SBDC at 618-650-2929 or sbdcedw@gmail.com. The office will provide support or a connection with one of the partners for further assistance.

This project is supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SLT-3381 awarded to the State of Illinois by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville continues to excel in library and information science, gaining national funding for its innovative, collaborative programming. SIUE’s Diverse Librarianship Career Training and Education Program has received $249,999 in funding as part of the Institute for Museum and Library Services’ (IMLS) $22.7 million investment in U.S. library initiatives.

In collaboration with East St. Louis Senior High School, the Diverse Librarianship Career Training and Education Program is a two-year project that will develop a career training program that introduces 10 high school seniors to careers in librarianship. The first cohort of high school seniors is scheduled to begin this fall.

The project is led by Library and Information Services (LIS) staff, including principal investigator (PI) Tammie Busch, MLS, assistant professor and catalog and metadata librarian, and co-PIs: Lora Del Rio, MSLIS, associate professor, research and teaching coordinator, and humanities librarian; Elizabeth Kamper, MLIS, assistant professor and information literacy librarian; Shelly McDavid, MLS, assistant professor, access and library spaces coordinator, and STEM librarian; and Simone Williams, MLIS, assistant professor and diversity and engagement librarian.

An additional key staff member is Denice Adkins, PhD, MLS, professor at the School of Information Science and Learning Technologies at the University of Missouri, and co-editor of Journal of Education for Library and Information Science. Adkins will serve as project evaluator.

The project team, joined by staff at partner institutions including the East St. Louis Learning Resource Center, Edwardsville Public Library, St. Louis Public Library, Missouri Historical Society, and State Historical Society of Missouri, will recruit, mentor, educate and train students from diverse and underrepresented communities. This project will disseminate a toolkit for libraries and cultural institutions to support the recruitment, training and retention of diverse librarians.

“I am grateful to be leading a team of brilliant, innovative librarians,” shared Busch. “The success of our proposal is due to our collaborative approach. We will recruit high school seniors through the East St. Louis School District 189 Career Technical Education (CTE) program, which is part of a national initiative to provide skills-based, hands-on training to high school students. These students will attend school for part of their day, then leave to go work on-site at libraries and cultural institutions.

“I participated in Collinsville High School’s CTE program. While I didn’t work in a library, the people I worked with mentored me and encouraged me to go to college. I hope our program will have a meaningful impact on the students we recruit, train and mentor.”

While serving as a mentor, Busch will guide project goals and initiatives to develop a sustainable toolkit for promoting librarianship to underrepresented students.

Del Rio will use her expertise to assist with cohort recruiting, communications and marketing of the project, serve as a mentor to cohort students, and develop and disseminate the toolkit.

Kamper will use her expertise in adult education and librarianship to mentor students and build curriculum components for this project while utilizing her experience as an ALA student-to-staff participant to support the project’s culminating experiences and conference attendance.

McDavid will be responsible for communication with the project evaluator, coordinating data collection and analysis, as well as serve as a mentor to cohort students and develop and disseminate a toolkit.

In addition to serving as a mentor, Williams will be responsible for communicating with community partners, creating and disseminating curriculum, and providing oversight of diversity, equity and inclusion goals.

“Our project is a call to action in response to the serious lack of diverse representation in library and information science professions,” explained Busch. “IMLS identified this in its forum report, Positioning Library and Information Science Graduate Programs for 21st Century Practice. We are excited to be partnering with regional institutions and especially the East St. Louis School District 189 CTE Program. Our goal is to have a broad, lasting impact on diversity in the library profession.”

The award process was competitive, as IMLS noted receiving 127 preliminary proposals before inviting 71 to submit full proposals. The Diverse Librarianship Career Training and Education Program is among 39 projects, totaling $10,465,420, awarded in The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program.

“These grants and awards are examples of the many ways in which libraries and library workers collaborate across sectors, disciplines, and communities to foster a more inclusive and informed society,” said Cyndee Landrum, deputy director of the IMLS Office of Library Services.

A full list of IMLS Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program grants awarded in July 2021 is available here.

Photo: (L-R) Library and Information Services (LIS) staff, Tammie Busch, MLS, assistant professor and catalog and metadata librarian, Simone Williams, MLIS, assistant professor and diversity and engagement librarian, Lora Del Rio, MSLIS, associate professor, research and teaching coordinator, and humanities librarian; Elizabeth Kamper, MLIS, assistant professor and information literacy librarian; and Shelly McDavid, MLS, assistant professor, access and library spaces coordinator, and STEM librarian.

Although masks covered their faces, smiles shone through and excitement was evident as Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) students walked down a red carpet on their first day of school, Monday, Aug. 16. Also showing exuberance were CHS staff who held welcome signs and cheered for their students. 

“This is one of the best days ever at Charter High School,” said CHS Director Gina Jeffries, EdD, “because we are able to welcome our students after being out on remote and/or blended learning for one year and five months.” 

After walking the red carpet, CHS students filed into the Multipurpose Room in Building D of the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus to a rousing greeting that began orientation on their first day of school. 

“Good morning, we are super blessed that you are here today,” exclaimed Jeffries. “We know that this is going to be an amazing school year. We look forward to serving up the best education in the Charter High School way, which is excellence every day for every single student.” 

“I am looking forward to being successful this year,” said CHS senior Kai Byrth. “I am glad to be back at school, in-person. I’ve attended Charter High School for the past three years, and it has been awesome.” 

CHS freshman Alexus Williams admits she is a little scared about starting school, but still expects good things. “I am looking forward to a better education at the Charter High School,” she said. “I only know my cousin who attends here, but I hope to make friends.” 

CHS team members who participated in the welcome and orientation included: Liza Cummings, PhD; Mildred Fort, Marquita Holton, Agathe Ilungam, Ron Irving, Hope Jordan, Carolyn Kribs, Edith Laktzian, Greg Laktzian, Bridget Nelson, Colin Neumeyer, Stephanie Newton, Pamela Saffore, Johnathan Tate, Anna Turner and Aaron Vance. 

CHS has enrolled its limit of 120 students this year and has a waiting list, according to Jeffries. 

The SIUE Charter High School is a school-of-choice for families in the East St. Louis School District 189. The mission of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School is to prepare students who are career- and college-ready upon graduation. To achieve this mission, the school and its staff will positively impact the educational and economic lives of East St. Louis, Illinois youth through individualized instruction in core academic subjects, exploration of career interests and aptitudes, assistance in realizing students’ talents, high academic goals, and expectations that graduates will become competitive employees for the 21st century.  

The SIUE School of Education, Health and Human Behavior prepares students in a wide range of fields including public health, exercise science, nutrition, instructional technology, psychology, speech-language pathology and audiology, educational administration, and teaching. Faculty members engage in leading-edge research, which enhances teaching and enriches the educational experience. The School supports the community through on-campus clinics, outreach to children and families, and a focused commitment to enhancing individual lives across the region.  

Photos:
SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School eagerly greeted students to the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 16.

Scientists and researchers worldwide have been working diligently to develop effective and affordable vaccines to combat COVID-19. The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy’s (SOP) leading experts are not only administering vaccines, but also contributing to research and development that may help treat COVID-19 symptoms orally and prevent hospitalization.

As part of the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) InVitro Assessment for Antimicrobial Activity Program, SOP researchers have developed small, novel compounds to be screened for anti-COVID activity. This advancement is of particular importance as currently there are no Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved small molecules that are highly effective for the treatment of the virus.

“Discovery of a new orally active drug against COVID-19, and potentially other viral infections, would be a huge leap forward in infections disease medicine,” noted Joe Schober, PhD, professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

“While reading a recent publication about results from a large screen aimed at the discovery of potential drugs to treat COVID-19, I realized that some of the drugs showing activity against COVID-19 were closely related to the compounds made here in the SOP,” he explained. “The NIH program is an excellent resource for researchers wishing to contribute to the anti-virus discovery field, but who may not have the proper biosafety level required for testing.”

The compounds being studied by the SOP target Sigma receptors found throughout the body, meaning this research has the potential to have a broad therapeutic effect in many areas of medicine.

SOP Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences faculty Michael Crider, PhD, chair and associate dean, and William Neumann, PhD, retired professor, have previously synthesized compounds with high affinity for Sigma receptors. Currently, these compounds are being tested for anti-cancer activity in collaboration with the Simmons Cancer Institute at the SIU School of Medicine.

Schober’s finding prompted the SOP to closely examine and select eight of the previously developed compounds to test for anti-COVID activity through the NIH program, which provides testing free of charge for researchers.

“Pharmacy undergraduate and graduate students will join this effort to optimize the lead compounds and investigate cellular and molecular mechanisms,” Schober said. “The hope is that the optimized compounds could be further advanced to pre-clinical and clinical trials, and eventually gain FDA approval.”

Photo: SOP Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences faculty (L-R) Michael Crider, PhD, chair and associate dean, and William Neumann, PhD, retired professor.

A couple thousand books have been patiently waiting in a back room of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Learning Resource Center (LRC) for their new homes. The time is approaching when many of them will be transferred to Little Libraries located throughout East St. Louis, according to outgoing LRC Director Rebecca Harper, an SIUE alumnae. 

“Little Libraries are a wonderful thing,” said Harper, of Edwardsville. “They are everywhere in Edwardsville, and I thought it would be great to bring them to the East St. Louis area.”

More specifically, Harper thought it would be a perfect fit for SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start centers. After working as LRC’s director for the past four years, Harper is set to leave SIUE on Aug. 31. She will return to the classroom to teach science at a private middle school in Alton. Harper is a certified teacher for K-9 and a certified librarian for K-12. She earned a bachelor’s in elementary education from SIUE in 2001. 

The idea of erecting Little Libraries throughout the St. Clair County Head Start service area started more than a year ago when Harper and a former LRC coordinator brainstormed the idea. After receiving encouragement and direction from SIUE supporters such as former SIUE East St. Louis Center Assistant Director Tiffany Caguitla and Vice Chancellor for University Advancement Rachel Stack, Harper and her team embarked on their mission to help spread literacy – free of charge. 

Harper’s first step was to ask for book donations, which led her to social media. 

“At first, I wanted to start out small with one or two libraries because the pandemic had just started,” shared Harper. “I put a request for book donations on my Facebook page and on LRC’s Facebook page, and the donations just started pouring in. We also received books from SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start teachers, who were clearing out their inventory. We have received more than 2,000 books.” 

Because of the tremendous number of books and her work with Head Start, Harper expanded the number of libraries to eight, in order to have one outside of the seven centers: Belleville, Bluffview, Cahokia, Discovery Center, Helen Davis, JJK and Lovejoy, and the Lessie Bates collaboration. Previously, the librarian had routinely provided literacy lessons at Discovery Center, Helen Davis, Cahokia and JJK. 

The next project question, as to who would build the libraries, took a pleasant, collaborative turn. “The Girl Scout troop that meets at Greater New Hope Baptist Church in East St. Louis built the Little Libraries,” explained Harper. “Gwendolyn Childs heads up the Girl Scout troop. Gwen’s husband, who is in construction, directed the junior high school girls in building the libraries. We were able to buy the supplies needed through monies given to us by the SIUE Foundation.” 

The Little Libraries were completed Thursday, July 15, and SIUE Facilities Management at the ESLC is expected to install them sometime soon. 

“The libraries are for children and adults,” said Harper. “People can take a book or bring a book, and each individual Head Start center will be responsible to populate its library, which will eventually end up populating on its own.” 

“It is a great thing to be able to put a book in a hand, whether it’s brand new, gently used, or about to fall apart, and have a child read it or senior citizen excited to give it or get it.” 

The SIUE East St. Louis Learning Resource Center (LRC) is organized as a full-service public library focusing on youth and adult community outreach, programs and collections. The library also contributes to the success of higher education opportunities and career development provided by the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus (ESLHEC). The LRC supports the diverse range of students and public patrons on the ESLHEC, and encourages them to succeed and learn new skills provided by the LRC community collection and programs. 

Photo courtesy by Rebecca Harper:
SIUE East St. Louis Learning Resource Center (LRC) collaborated with University and community partners to furnish, build and install eight Little Libraries at SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start centers.

L-R: Displaying their finished products are LRC Program Assistant Danayka Saavedra Berrocal, girl scouts Natalie Crockett, Bailey Beverly,  J'Ani Humphrey D'Nyah Jefferson, girl scout volunteer Stephine Conner and LRC Director Rebecca Harper. 

SIUE Facilities Management staff help load up completed Little Libraries. 

Excitement and anxiousness abounded with best wishes and farewells exchanged by students, parents, faculty and staff at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, as the first of two Move-In Days for first-year students took place Wednesday, Aug. 18.

Approximately 1,200 first-year students will move into their new home at either Bluff, Prairie or Woodland Hall on the SIUE campus this week. Overall, more than 2,500 residents will live on the Edwardsville campus during the fall semester.

“I don’t know anybody here, but I’m hoping to meet lifelong friends. I’m glad to be here,” said Gavin Rose, a freshman construction management major from Chicago.

“I fell in love with the campus when I came for a tour,” added Bailie Rabideau, a freshman exercise science major from Watseka. “I wanted to live on campus, so I could get the feel of college life.” 

“Move-in has gone smoothly,” noted Travarr Rudd, of Mt. Vernon, who was moving his son Quani into his residence hall. “It’s his first year, so we’re a little apprehensive about that, but he’ll do great. I’m excited.”

University Housing Director Mallory Sidarous was thrilled for the opportunity to welcome students to campus. University Housing, as well as numerous campus wide volunteers ensured students and their guests enjoyed a streamlined and upbeat move-in process.

“We have a lot of campus volunteers, as well as student volunteers, our Movers and Shakers, here to help,” Sidarous noted. “Our first-year students will go from moving in throughout Wednesday and Thursday to taking part in the SIUE Experience.”

The SIUE Experience offers engaging opportunities for students to learn more about the SIUE community, academic and co-curricular expectations and ways to get involved and shape their college experience. For more information, visit siue.edu/experience.

Fall 2021 classes begin on Monday, Aug. 23. 

Photo: A first-year student takes a selfie with her parents during Move In Day.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is among the Top 10 Best Online Colleges in Illinois, according to College Choice, a ranking and review online publication.

SIUE was tabbed ninth out of 23 universities in the state. Rankings were based predominantly on academic quality, as well as return on investment.

“SIUE recognizes the unique challenges facing online learners and continues to work across the institution to remove barriers and ensure a quality educational experience for our virtual students,” said SIUE Director of Online and Educational Outreach Mary Ettling. “We are working to grow programs for undergraduates, graduates and certificate earners, as well as considering expansion of virtual commencement and other student engagement opportunities for those who don’t attend in person.”

Details on each of SIUE’s online degree programs can be found at siue.edu/online/degrees-programs.

Among the top programs highlighted by College Choice were the School of Nursing’s accelerated RN to BS, master’s in nursing – healthcare and nursing administration, and doctor of nursing practice.

The statewide ranking emphasized SIUE’s convenient, asynchronous eight-week and 16-week formats that offer flexibility for working professionals and others with busy schedules. College Choice also praised SIUE’s Online Student Services desk, which provides academic advising, tutoring, and writing and career services. Around-the-clock technical support is also available.

Photo: SIUE Director of Online and Educational Outreach Mary Ettling.

Looking for high-quality, affordable dental care? SIU Dental Associates is now accepting patients in Edwardsville.

Run by the SIU School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) and staffed by its clinical faculty, SIUDA is located on the SIU Edwardsville campus at 195 University Park Dr.

Open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, SIUDA accepts all community clients, including SIUE students, faculty and staff.

SIUDA offers a wide variety of services, including preventative, restorative and implant dentistry. Specialists are also available in endodontics, pediatric dentistry, oral surgery, periodontics, implants and oral pathology.

SDM Dean Bruce Rotter, DMD, a 1982 alumnus, helped launch SIUDA to provide support to dental faculty and the SIUE community by placing a dental clinic on campus.

“Intramural faculty practice is an integral part of most dental schools in the country,” shared Rotter. “The SDM did not offer this opportunity, and I believe that it made faculty recruitment and retention more difficult. We have very talented faculty, and this practice gives them another opportunity to utilize these talents.”

Regular preventive care is essential to SIUDA’s treatment philosophy. Along with regular visits, SIUDA offers bridges, fillings, crowns, dentures, x-rays and more.

“SIU Dental Associates is the culmination of several years of behind-the-scenes planning and hard work,” said Bret Gruender, DMD, FAGD, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Clinical Dentistry. “Our patients can expect to be treated at SIUDA as in any other private practice. The distinct benefits of SIUDA to the SIUE community include the convenience of an on-campus location, as well as the opportunity for patients to be treated by experienced SDM faculty dentists and dental specialists.”

For more information or to make an appointment, visit siue.edu/dental/siu-dental-associates.

Photo: SIU Dental Associates is now accepting patients in Edwardsville.