News

SIUE alumna Christina Stamps has been recognized by the Illinois Education Association as an Outstanding Teacher. Stamps teaches sixth grade in Medora.

She earned a bachelor’s in elementary education from the SIUE School of Education, Health and Human Behavior in 1986.

Details on her recognition are available in The Alton Telegraph.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Center for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Research, Education and Outreach shared its Star Lab Inflatable Planetarium and astronomy expertise with 8^th grade students participating in the Edwardsville School District 7’s NASA Day on Friday, May 18.

NASA Day began with the special opportunity to host a NASA International Space Station Inflight Education Downlink at the ECUSD’s Liberty Middle School. Eighth grad...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Director of Retention and Student Success Kevin Thomas, EdD, has been selected as an Outstanding Advising Administrator Award winner by the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA): The Global Community for Academic Advising.

The organization also selected Thomas as a mentor for its 2018-20 Emerging Leaders Class. He is one of 10 selected internationally for this role in “engaging and inspiring diverse NACADA leaders.”

The Outstandin...

As a recently selected member of the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in Illinois (DFI) board, Venessa A. Brown, PhD, associate chancellor for the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, and chief diversity officer at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, will work to improve minority representation at colleges and universities in the state. 

Specifically, the mission of the DFI board is to “increase the number of minority ...

Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology, Edwardsville High School (EHS) students solved complex spatial problems and presented their findings to the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Geography and other interested faculty, students and administrators on Friday, May 4. 

From September 2017 through April 2018, approximately 30 students from EHS teacher Kevin Paur’s Advanced Placement Human Geography classes worked ...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Police Chief Kevin Schmoll will be honored for his minority hiring practices at the Edwardsville NAACP annual banquet at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 3 in the Morris University Center’s Meridian Ballroom.

Schmoll has implemented the University’s commitment to a diverse work force and an inclusive community by adding four officers of color to the department during the past two years. Schmoll started a mentoring program where he advises African America...

Lore’al Perkins, a senior at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS), has packed celery, carrots, broccoli and peppers, in an array of yellow, red and orange, into her glass mason jar. 

She is waiting patiently in line for the cucumbers, cranberries, sunflower seeds and spinach. “I think salad in a jar is a cool way to eat vegetables on the run,” said Perkins. 

Of the 25 participants, Perkins was one of 11 CHS students from...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville College of Arts and Sciences senior Sydni Rubio’s ultimate goal is to achieve a PhD and join a pediatric oncology research team. But, the Troy native knows she needs to take her academic journey one step at a time, gaining knowledge and research experience along the way, beginning as an undergraduate.

Rubio has received $3,000 from the Microscopy Society of America (MSA)’s Undergraduate Research Scholarship Program in support of her lab work...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering senior Eli Ball is strengthening his entrepreneurial skills and making important professional connections through his involvement in local business pitch competitions.

In April, Ball earned second place in SIUE’s “TheOther40” Business Plan Competition, earning $3,000. That same month, he competed in Saint Louis University’s Pitch & Catch Investor Pitch Deck Competition held at Busch Stadium.

“I am alw...

For the 24th consecutive semester, SIUE student-athletes recorded a cumulative grade point average higher than a 3.0.

“What began 12 years ago as a measure of future excellence has now become a standard of performance expectation,” said SIUE Director of Athletics Brad Hewitt, PhD.

The recently completed 2018 spring semester saw 71.6 percent of SIUE student-athletes finishing the semester with a GPA above 3.0. Forty-one student-athletes achieved a perfect 4.0. Seven of those were fr...

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville community is mourning the loss of junior School of Education, Health and Human Behavior student Kendall Douglas, who passed away early Monday, May 14 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. She was 20.

An O’Fallon, Mo. native, Douglas was an elementary education major in the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior, and a member of Delta Phi Epsilon sorority.

Visitation is 3-8 p.m. Saturday, May 19 at Hutchens-Stygar Funeral ...

SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook will deliver the Lewis and Clark Community College (L&C) commencement address at 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 16, on its Godfrey Campus.

Pembrook earned an associate’s degree from L&C in the ‘70s, and later earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education and piano performance at SIUE. He achieved a doctorate in music education from Florida State University.

“As a first-generation college student from a small rural community, Lewi...

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Graduate School and School of Nursing (SON) celebrated the graduation of nearly 45 doctoral students on Friday, May 4. The healthcare professionals completed the University’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program with specializations in nurse anesthesia, family nurse practitioner or post-master’s.

Just before graduating, the doctoral candidates presented their final practice projects on campus to a crowd of students, faculty, administ...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Dominic Dorsey, director of Disability Support Services, is being honored by The Empower Indy Inc. in conjunction with the Powerhouse Church of Indianapolis Inc., as one of its Champions of Community Engagement at the 2nd Annual EmPOWERment Black Tie Gala on Friday, May 18 at The Sheraton Hotel in Indianapolis.

The organization annually honors those who have committed their life’s mission to justice and the empowerment of the community. In...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Jessica DeSpain, PhD, associate professor and co-director of the IRIS Center, and Matt Johnson, STEM Center Instructional Designer will be featured in the 2018 STEM for All Video Showcase funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Now in its fourth year, the annual showcase will feature more than 200 innovative projects aimed at improving STEM learning and teaching, which have been funded by the NSF. DeSpain and Johnson will highlight the ...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has reached an academic partnership agreement with the University of Costa Rica (UCR). The new five-year partnership with UCR, coupled with the current faculty-led travel study programs through Central American Mission Programs (CAMP), provide new opportunities for collaborative engagement in fields like pharmacy, dental medicine, nursing and public health, among others.

SIUE will collaborate with UCR in research, teaching, short-term travel study, stud...

More than 50 Brownies, Juniors and parents from the Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSOFSI) learned about the benefits of biofuels, fermentation and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) during the “Fueling Fun” biofuels workshop at the NCERC at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

From fermentation in Amish Friendship Bread to a tour of the Center’s 24,000 pilot plant and a Shark Tank-style badging session, all of the workshops had a commo...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumna Tiffany Flint is being honored for her outstanding work as an educator who teaches, supports and empowers middle school students in Belleville.

Flint has received the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Outstanding Early Career Educator Merit Award and the Illinois Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (IACTE) Outstanding Beginning Teacher Award.

“It doesn’t feel like work if you love what you are doing every day,”...

Collin Van Meter, Informational Technological Services support associate at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, was elected to serve on the State Universities Retirement System (SURS) Board of Trustees by the System’s active members. 

Also elected was Steven Rock, current member of the SURS Board of Trustees and economics professor at Western Illinois University (WIU). John Engstrom, retired from Northern Illinois University, was elected to serve as an annuitant trustee. ...

Cubans’ strong sense of pride and resilience captivated Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Venessa A. Brown, PhD, associate chancellor for the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, and chief diversity officer. 

A trip to Cuba enthralled Brown so much that when she returned home, she documented her perspectives and experiences in A Promising Reality: Reflections on Race, Gender and Culture in Cuba. The book, co-edited by Brown and Menah Pratt-Clarke, was publ...

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Meridian Society’s annual Meridian Derby featured a beautiful spectacle of large, glamorous hats and fascinators as the philanthropic organization celebrated women’s leadership and investment in SIUE community-based projects.

The 7^th annual Meridian Derby was held Tuesday, May 8 at Fairmount Park Racetrack’s Top of the Turf in Collinsville. Approximately 250 attendees decked in derby attire enjoyed fellowship and a picturesque view...

Added to a growing list of poetry awards and accolades, incoming Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Assistant Professor Tiana Clark has won the prestigious Agnes Lynch Starett Prize for Poetry. 

The University of Pittsburgh Press (UPP) annually awards the prize to a gifted, burgeoning poet for his or her first full-length book of poetry.  

Clark, who will be part of SIUE’s new Master of Fine Arts program, won the award for her book, I Can’t Talk About the Tr...

An Alton team won the National Flagway Tournament sponsored by the Young People’s Project (YPP) for the second straight year Saturday, April 28 at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Student Fitness Center. The SIUE College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) hosted the second annual mathematics competition.  

The Alton Alge-bruhs had to go to sudden death overtime to defeat the Alton Taco Cats 25-24 for the title. The seven-team field included two Chicago entries along with teams f...

SIUE alumna Sherry Hausmann has been named president and chief executive officer of SolutionHealth.

Hausmann earned a bachelor’s in nursing from the SIUE School of Nursing in 1997. MarketWatch detailed her new leadership role in a press release posted Monday, May 7.

The nation is celebrating educators during Teacher Appreciation Week May 6-12. Among those applauding the wonderful, inspiring work of teachers are Spring 2018 graduates of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Education, Health and Human Behavior (SEHHB), who achieved a bachelor’s in early childhood, elementary, secondary or special education.

They each had a teacher growing up, or a cooperating teacher during their studies, who inspired them to be their best, offered a...

SIUE School of Engineering student Diego Piña will gain hands-on experience as a mechanical engineer through a competitive co-op position he secured at the Peoria Ameren gas plant. He will work at the plant from May through December.

The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis featured Piña’s academic journey and student involvement at SIUE, and detailed his co-op position in this article.

SIUE alumnus Mark Skertich has been named the 2018 Superintendent of Distinction by Kaskaskia Region of the Illinois Association of School Administrators.

Skertich is superintendent of Southwestern CUSD #9. He earned a master’s in education administration from SIUE in 2001.

Details on his notable achievement were posted Tuesday, May 1 in The RiverBender.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is participating in the Summer Food Service Program.

Meals will be provided to all SIUE East St. Louis Center Summer Program enrolled children 18 years of age and under free of charge. Acceptance and participation requirements for the program and all activities are the same for all regardless to race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service. 

Any person who believes that...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville geography major Charles “Chuck” L. Pelo received the Illinois Geographical Society (IGS) Four-Year College Outstanding Senior Geographer Award at the IGS Annual Meeting, hosted by SIUE Friday-Saturday, April 27-28.

Pelo turned to SIUE after being displaced from his job as a steelmaking production supervisor in 2016. He had worked at Granite City Steel for 19 years.

He returned to SIUE with federal funding from the Trade Adjustment Assi...

It is a Facebook following that Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students worked hard for and are proud of, because they educated and aroused interest in recycling among many Godfrey residents. 

“Facebook is a great way to reach a large amount of people,” said Abbigayle Riedisser, a senior public health major. “We had initially wanted to reach 50 people, but when our project ended, we had 151 Facebook followers on the Greener Godfrey page. 

The students&#82...

2018 Spring Commencement Ceremony Videos 

May 4 - 10 am | 2 pm | 6:30 pm
May 5 - 8:30 am | 12:30 pm | 2:30 pm | 5 pm

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Chancellor Randy Pembrook oversaw the 2018 Spring Commencement exercises Friday and Saturday, May 4-5 for 2,091 eligible graduates. All the ceremonies are available on siue.edu/tv.

Pembrook saluted the graduates for their community service and commitment to shaping a c...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Chancellor Randy Pembrook is overseeing the 2018 Spring Commencement exercises today for 2,091 eligible graduates. The fourth of seven exercises began this morning in the Vadalabene Center on campus. All the ceremonies are streamed live on siue.edu/tv.

The exercises began Friday morning with School of Business students receiving their undergraduate degrees. Brian Watson, who earned a bachelor’s in business economics and finance, was the student ...

The positive impact that Southern Illinois University Edwardsville enjoys in the region and, in increasing measure, across the country, is due to its esteemed alumni. This weekend, SIUE hosts its second annual Golden Graduation Reunion to celebrate and welcome back to campus those who graduated 50 years or more years ago from the University. 

Approximately 33 Golden Graduates and their guests will take part in the weekend that includes an honoree reception, campus bus tour and commencement...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Department of Teaching and Learning is offering a new three-credit online summer course “Teaching Lincoln, K-12,” in collaboration with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield. Teachers and graduate students from across the country can plan their own trip anytime this summer and enroll in the course that spans July 2-August 4.

“Teachers or other individuals at the graduate level interested in teaching...

The unique academic backgrounds of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students Laura Quinonez-Lara and Lindsey Loyd will surely set them apart from others in the ever-evolving job market, upon achieving their degrees on Friday, May 4.

Quinonez-Lara and Loyd are the first to achieve a master’s in integrative studies through the SIUE Graduate School, the only such interdisciplinary program in the St. Louis metropolitan region. Through the program, they each blended their interests to...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students in Zachary Schaefer’s, PhD, Spring 2018 organizational communication course learned first-hand the mutually beneficial outcomes that can be achieved through high impact community engagement practices as encouraged by Chancellor Randy Pembrook.

For their Senior Assignment, the 28 students were tasked with completing a service learning project where they served as consultants for a local organization. Six teams contributed more than 350 ser...

Abdolreza Osouli, PhD, associate professor in the SIUE School of Engineering’s Department of Civil Engineering, was the featured researcher in the May 2018 Illinois Center for Transportation’s Principal Investigator Spotlight. Read the article here.

From Lolita fashion to robotic prosthetics, sexual assault prevention to chemical risk exposure, and fair trade to race relations within sacred harp music, a wide array of research and creative activities were featured during Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Undergraduate Scholars Showcase.

The event, held Thursday, April 26 in the Morris University Center, highlighted the depth and variety of learning experiences offered through SIUE’s Senior Assignment and Undergraduate...

The Illinois Metro East Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is looking forward to hosting a workshop on Advancing the Development of Minority Entrepreneurship (ADME) from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 22. The First Bank at 4387 N. Illinois St. in Swansea hosts the event.

The workshop is open to all entrepreneurs in the community and will focus on a variety of topics designed to instruct new business start-ups, as well as individuals who have an inter...

Regardless of the age you choose to pursue a degree, specifically one in nursing, it’s not easy. But, what you gain in return for your nursing efforts is worth more than money can buy.

This is the wisdom shared by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing senior Terry Wooten, of Godfrey. On Friday, May 4, the 61-year-old will walk across SIUE’s commencement stage and celebrate having earned a bachelor’s in nursing.

“When people ask me whether nursing s...

The exhibit opening of “Katherine Dunham: A Life of Dance, Activism and Anthropology” was held Friday, April 27 at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center (ESLC). The renowned dancer, anthropologist, and social activist founded the Performing Arts Training Center (PATC) at the ESLC in 1967 and adopted the City of East St. Louis as her second home around the same time. 

While Dunham’s name is not foreign in East St. Louis, where the Katherine Du...

For Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy (SOP) graduates seeking to advance their educations and healthcare careers, pharmacy residency programs provide one such avenue.

The SIUE SOP has a strong history of successfully matching graduates with residency positions, this year landing in the top 10 percent of schools across the nation. This year, 84 percent of SOP graduates pursuing residencies obtained a match, exceeding the national average of 66 percent.

“Our succ...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s unique Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (URCA) program is celebrating the extraordinary work of faculty mentors and students through four awards.

The URCA program encourages, supports and enables students to participate in research and creative activities at the undergraduate level. URCA Associates work one-on-one with faculty mentors to lead their own research projects or creative activities. URCA Assistants work on faculty-led sc...

SIUE’s Corey Ragsdale, PhD, an assistant professor in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Anthropology, shared his expertise on forensic anthropology in a Belleville News Democrat article posted Friday, April 27.  

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville senior Ashley Farthing can’t imagine a future doing anything but teaching. She’ll walk across the stage to receive her bachelor’s in elementary education during commencement on Saturday, May 5, knowing a classroom of first graders eagerly await her fall 2018 arrival.

Farthing has secured a teaching position at Lincoln Elementary in her hometown of Marion. Her journey at SIUE has featured solid academic coursework, experiential learning...

Rhythmic and melodious talent was on display at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis After School Performing Arts Program Spring Recital on Wednesday, April 25 at Dunham Hall Theater. Approximately 25 students, ages 6-17, performed before a crowd of family and friends. 

“Being back on this stage holds a special place in my heart, because I am an SIUE music alum,” said SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook, as he welcomed the audience. “But tonight, I am Mary ...

A carved ivory chess set, circa 1960 from Vietnam; an early 20^th century Mahjong set of carved and painted bone and bamboo tiles in a hand carved box from China; and clay marbles from the Mississippian period were among the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville University Museum’s artifacts displayed at Meridian Village in Glen Carbon on Tuesday, April 24.

Residents had the opportunity to experience a portion of the museum’s impressive collection as part of a collaborative commu...

While working at The Gardens at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts from the Metro East learned that taking care of the Earth can be a tedious job, but they did not mind. More than 110 scouts, troop leaders and parents participated in Alpha Phi Omega’s Scout Sustainability Day at The Gardens on Saturday, April 21, one day before Earth Day. 

“We raked, picked up pine cones and spiky ‘gumballs’ that were taking over grassy areas,&#822...

More than 30 high school students from across the region developed their own computer program during the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering’s (SOE) WeCode event on Saturday, April 21.

Hosted by the SOE Department of Computer Science, participants from Edwardsville, Greenfield, Alton, Jerseyville, Waterloo, O’Fallon, Carrollton, Belleville and more learned computer programming through collaborative problem solving and building. About half of the students ...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students, who are dyslexic or have difficulty reading, should not have to wait for others to read to them. This reasoning prompted Dominic Dorsey II, director of Disability Support Services (DSS), to introduce a new resource to better help students take their exams. 

“The C-Pen Exam Reader audibly reads the words when the pen is scanned across the paper,” Dorsey said. “The pen works in either direction for those who are right-hand...

SIUE School of Nursing students are giving back to the East St. Louis and Brooklyn communities by helping plant gardens that offer convenient access to healthy foods.

KMOV featured the students’ work in a news story that aired Tuesday, April 24.

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Education, Health and Human Behavior (SEHHB) spotlighted student achievement and recognized generous donor support during its annual Honors Celebration on Saturday, April 21 in the Morris University Center.

Nearly $23,000 in scholarships and awards were presented, more than doubling last year’s total. More than 60 students studying in the Departments of Teaching and Learning, Applied Health, Educational Leadership, and Psychology wer...

The Gardens at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s sold-out “Grow the Gardens” event successfully raised nearly $12,000 to support its continued efforts of growth and sustainability on Friday, April 13 at the Wildey Theatre.

The event’s 150 guests included SIUE campus community members, The Gardens at SIUE volunteers, community leaders and garden visitors. They enjoyed an evening of education from Marian Smithson, chair of The Gardens at SIUE Advisory Board and S...

Being a good leader is not about power and position, but it is having the energy, charisma and character to convince people to do the right thing, make healthy choices and do their best, said Southern Illinois University Edwardsville sophomore Christopher Cole Egland. Egland was one of several honored at the University’s 28^th Annual Kimmel Leadership Awards on Monday, April 23 in the Morris University Center Meridian Ballroom. 

The annual celebration recognizes outstanding students, ...

SIUE Athletics mourns the passing of Tim Tighe, a member of SIUE's inaugural soccer team, and a 2015 SIUE Athletics Hall of Fame inductee. Tighe passed away April 20, at age 71, following a lengthy battle with cancer.

“Tim was a great man who taught us all how to live a life of joy and giving,” SIUE men’s soccer Head Coach Mario Sanchez said. “We are grateful to have had Tim involved in men’s soccer and SIUE Athletics.”

In 1997, Tighe, and his wife Lynn esta...

Three Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumni are among the St. Louis Business Journal’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Year awardees.

According to the BizJournal, the awards recognize “financial professionals in the St. Louis region for outstanding performance in their roles as corporate financial stewards.”

The SIUE alumni include:

• Steven Mandeville earned a master’s in accountancy from the Graduate School in 2006. Mandeville is vice president for fi...

Five Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering (SIUE SOE) students received scholarships at the annual American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) St. Louis Chapter’s awards ceremony on Monday, April 16 at the Missouri Vineyards restaurant at St. Louis Lambert International Airport.

Seniors Nino Giganti, of Springfield, Eric Melosi, of Highland, Neil Ritz, of Effingham, and Daniel Smalley, of Tremont, along with Teaching Assis...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s longest running annual event on campus, Springfest, featured a week of fun traditions, entertainment and activities April 16-20. The 2018 theme was “Stranger Things.”

“Every year I look forward to Springfest,” said junior mass communications major Mollie Thompson. “There’s always so many different events that everyone can get involved in. It highlights our diverse community as we all have fun together.&#8221...

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing (SON) celebrated generous donor support and outstanding student achievement at its 11^th Annual Scholarship Luncheon held Thursday, April 19 in the Morris University Center.

More than $31,000 in annual and endowed scholarships was presented to 32 student recipients. During the luncheon, SON Dean Laura Bernaix, PhD, RN, expressed her gratitude for donor contributions and highlighted the School’s dynamic growth and advancement.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Angela Campbell, of Westfield, is the recipient of an American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Foundation Merit Scholarship valued at $2,000.  

Campbell received the MTT Entrepreneurial Scholarship awarded to currently employed learners who are working toward their advanced degrees. The AHIMA Foundation offers annual merit scholarships to currently enrolled outstanding undergraduates in health information technology a...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville faculty member Alicia Alexander and alumna Stephanie Elliot were among the 2018 Alton YWCA Women of Distinction honorees who were recognized at the 28^th annual Women of Distinction dinner on Thursday, April 19.

The event honors women who “through their boundless commitment to the community through their service to others and through their compassionate leadership, help improve the quality of life for everyone in their communities.”

Alexande...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s University Housing will participate in Denim Day at noon Wednesday, April 25 at the Cougar Statue in front of the Morris University Center.

The Denim Day campaign, coordinated by Peace Over Violence, has been taking place for the past 19 years and is held in honor of Sexual Violence Awareness Month.

The Denim Day campaign was originally triggered by an Italian Supreme Court ruling, where a rape conviction was overturned. Justices believed that ...

With a $20,934 grant from the College of Arts and Sciences’ (CAS) Target Funding Initiative (TFI) program, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Department of Geography is getting much-needed technological upgrades in its geospatial technology laboratory.

The department teaches 15 distinct geospatial technology courses in the lab to nearly 280 students annually. It will combine its $6,000 equipment budget with the TFI grant to purchase 25 new Dell computer towers.

“Our ...

Polynesian Breeze owner Michele Goldsmith has been working with the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville since last summer to prepare and perfect her business. Goldsmith will soon open Polynesian Breeze in Collinsville and introduce Polynesian culture to the area with treats such as shave ice.

The Polynesian Breeze idea first came from an experience Goldsmith had when getting ice cream from an ice cream truck. Her husb...

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering (SOE) hosted Changshu Institute of Technology (CIT) on Friday, April 20, as the institutions seek to establish faculty and student exchange programs.

SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook greeted the visiting delegation and engaged in working meetings to establish a formal partnership agreement along with representatives from International Affairs, the School of Engineering, International Admissions and the English as a Second Languag...

SIUE School of Pharmacy (SOP) year three students marked their transition toward becoming pharmacists at the School’s Pinning Ceremony, held Thursday, April 19 in the Meridian Ballroom.

Pins were presented to 79 students, signifying their transition to Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences.

It concluded with the students reciting the Oath of a Pharmacist, in which they promise to devote themselves to a lifetime of service through the profession of pharmacy.

Photo: SIUE School of Pharma...

For some Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Department of Theater and Dance students, they can study, broaden and perfect their performing arts skills while seeing the world. The Friends of Theater and Dance (FOTAD) would like to increase the number of students doing so. 

To that end, FOTAD will host a trivia night at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 28 at The American Legion, 190 S. Main St. in Glen Carbon. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. 

The cost for trivia night is $10 per person, with...

Approximately 244 students in the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) were honored for their outstanding achievements during CAS’ annual Honors Day program held Sunday, April 15 on campus.

CAS Honors Day is the largest single celebration of student achievement held annually, outside of commencement. This year, nearly 300 awards and scholarships were presented from 22 departments and programs.

“The students we honor today have successfully...

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville College of Arts and Sciences’ second International Studies Day held Thursday, April 12, featured distinguished international and regional leaders who spoke on issues impacting our region, global career opportunities, and international advocacy.

The event’s keynote speaker was Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury, a career diplomat with the United Nations and an inspirational champion for sustainable peace and development. He spoke on &#822...

Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) Research Day keynote speaker Parish P. Sedghizadeh, DDS, MS, QME, shared his outward passion for dentistry and excitement for research with a room full of faculty, staff and students on Tuesday, April 10. He presented on biofilm microbiology, biofilm-mediated diseases and biofilm-related problems.

“Right now, we believe that over 90 percent of infectious diseases treated in the developing world are biofilm-mediated diseas...

The Illinois Metro East Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will host a workshop on Advancing the Development of Minority Entrepreneurship (ADME) in May. This workshop is open to all entrepreneurs in the community and will focus on a variety of general topics that are designed to instruct new business start-ups as well as individuals who have an interest in entrepreneurship.

The topics will include:

• Business Planning
• Business Entity Formatio...

The systems analysis and design course taught by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Connie Barber, PhD, is not your average college class. Instead of just listening to someone lecture while they jot down helpful notes, students in this computer management and information systems (CMIS) program course have the added element of gamification. View a video of the course here.

“One random team gets 150 XP (experience points) and the entire class must call me the system master,...

The artistic creations of students from the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Early Childhood Center (ECC) are on display at the 8^th Annual Children’s Art Exhibit this week. The public is invited to admire the children’s creative works in the Morris University Center Meeting Room A through noon on Friday, April 27.

The exhibit is in connection with the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) Week of the Young Child. The purpose of the Week of...

For homeschooling mother Mindy Jefferson, hearing screenings are not readily available for her family. That’s why Mindy, her four kids, mother and nephew traveled from Alhambra to take advantage of free hearing screenings being offered by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville speech-language pathology graduate student clinicians.

“We had not had our hearing checked in quite a while, so we loved this service,” Jefferson said after her kids, ages 7-12 were screened.

“...

Whenever Southern Illinois University Edwardsville junior Sadie Spears eats out, she always requests that they hold the straw. That is because she carries a reusable one with her. 

Spears, SIUE Student Government vice president-elect, was one of several students who conducted the #EndPlasticPollution ball drop game on Monday, April 16 as part of SIUE’s involvement in Earth Week. 

Monday’s green activity gave participants the opportunity to learn about environmental proble...

Put simply, a telepresence robot being created at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville functions like “walking Skype.” And, while the end goal is simplicity for users in a classroom setting, the critical thinking, and technological design and development involved in its creation are complex.

The Wailian Education Group, now WeEducation Group, Inc., supported the robot research and development with private funding totaling $56,304. SIUE School of Engineering’s Mingshao Zha...

Sometimes when Ester McNeil wakes up, she can hear her son’s measured notes coming from the living room on a piano identified, donated and delivered by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville staff and students. 

“I was surprised to learn that we were getting a piano, and I was excited for him,” said the Cahokia native regarding her 14-year-old son Camaron Johnson, a piano student in the SIUE East St. Louis After School Performing Arts Program. “I was grateful to ...

Rolla Regional Robotics, of St. James, Mo., captured its third consecutive championship at the 2018 annual Greater St. Louis Botball Tournament on Saturday, April 14 at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Fourteen teams competed in the Morris University Center’s Meridian Ballroom before a crowd of more than 200 throughout the day.

This year’s theme was agricultural robotic applications in the Coachella Valley of California. Key game elements included date palms and a t...

In a new musical tradition that displays orchestra as at its best, the combined orchestras of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Southern Illinois University Carbondale will spotlight internationally acclaimed concert violinist Rachel Barton Pine. The performance will be at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 23 in Dunham Hall Theater. 

Michael Mishra, professor of music and director of Orchestral Studies at SIUE, and Edward Benyas, music director of the SIUC Symphony Orchestra, will conduc...

In 2017, Tara and Jacob Lowry established a partnership with Karen McGarvey and David Wiegand to expand their business with a new brand, The Wealthcare Group, offering services in navigating through insurance benefits and financial planning for the Riverbend area. They know that investments, insurance and employee benefits can be complex. Their teams of advisors are here to assist each client in fulfilling their specific needs.

The Wealthcare Group reached out to the Illinois Metro East Small B...

The Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees today approved contracts to provide infrastructure improvements for the Edwardsville campus and support marketing efforts to sustain undergraduate and graduate student recruitment during its regularly scheduled meeting on the Carbondale campus. The board also approved contracts for supplies and dental lab services for the SIU School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) in Alton.

Beginning with Phase I of the Student Success Center renovation, the board...

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Department of Theater and Dance in partnership with award-winning playwright and librettist E.M. Lewis will present her new play, The Great Divide, opening at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 18 in the Katherine Dunham Hall Theater. The show will also be on stage at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, April 19-21 and at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 22. 

The production is directed by department chair Chuck Harper and performed by SIUE performance students within the...

The International Trade Center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (ITC at SIUE) welcomes existing and future exporters to participate in “Discover Mexico,” a four-day trade mission to Mexico from Monday-Thursday, July 23-26.

The Southwest Illinois Trade and Investment Council (SWITIC) will lead the trade mission with the full support of the ITC at SIUE, the Office of Trade and Investment of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the U.S. Departme...

One of the most critical issues of our time will be highlighted from Monday-Saturday, April 16-21, according to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Connie Frey Spurlock, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Sociology. SIUE will join the worldwide observance of Earth Week with informational, enlightening and fun activities leading up to Earth Day on Sunday, April 22. 

 “We’ve worked intentionally to make sure we have a range of events that appeal to b...

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Office of the Provost announced that Sandra Weissinger, PhD, is the recipient of the annual Teaching Excellence Award for tenure-track faculty. It is the most prestigious teaching award for an SIUE faculty member. Three additional faculty members were saluted for their teaching skills and accomplishments with Teaching Distinction Awards, and seven more received Teaching Recognition Awards.

Weissinger, PhD, is an assistant professor of sociology and ...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s School of Engineering (SOE) celebrated the outstanding achievements of students and faculty, and recognized generous donor support during its annual Honors Day program held Sunday, April 8.

The program honored 60 students receiving scholarships worth $63,850. It also celebrated the School’s 290 Fall 2017 Dean’s List recipients, and acknowledged faculty members for outstanding teaching, research and service.

“I am proud to lead...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville faculty, staff and student volunteers provided expert knowledge, confidence-boosting encouragement and inspiring advice to 32 of the 54 students from St. Clair County participating in the NAACP’s East St. Louis ACT-SO (Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological, Scientific Olympics) program.

Known as the “Olympics of the Mind,” ACT-SO is a yearlong achievement program designed to recruit, stimulate and encourage high academic and cultural ...

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering’s Department of Computer Science invites Illinois and Missouri high school students to participate in its unique WeCode event on Saturday, April 21. The educational experience aims to introduce computer programming concepts through collaborative problem solving and building.

WeCode will be held from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 21 in the Engineering Building on campus. Applications may be submitted via wecode.cs.s...

Civil engineering major Dylan Mueth, of Waterloo, captured first place for his Mueth Produce concept in Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s eighth annual “TheOther40” Business Plan Competition. The School of Business hosted the competition and held its final pitch event Monday, April 9 at SIUE’s Morris University Center.

“TheOther40” competition offers SIUE students the opportunity to take a business idea through stages needed to launch a product or s...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Mark Hildebrandt, PhD, associate professor of geography in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) has been selected as a candidate to the prestigious Fulbright Specialist roster of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and the Institute of International Education’s Council. For International Exchange of Scholars.

The Fulbright Specialist Program (FSP) sends faculty and professionals from the Unite...

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Graduate School has presented Johanna Schmitz, PhD, with the 2018-2020 Hoppe Research Professor Award. Schmitz, a professor of theater history in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), is being recognized for her contributions to her field of study.

The Hoppe Research Professor Award recognizes and supports faculty members whose research or creative activities have the promise of making significant contributions to their fields of studies. The awar...

Hard work is something that Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 2018 Student Employee of the Year said she learned, practices and relishes. 

“I want to do my best job, and I enjoy helping people,” said Morgan Strom, accounts receivable clerk in the Bursar’s Office and a senior majoring in psychology. “I’m also flexible and dependable.” 

Strom was surprised at work Monday, April 9 with the news. The award is an honor given by the Office of Stu...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Morris University Center was abuzz on Wednesday, April 4 as some of the University’s finest research and creative activities were showcased during the Graduate School Spring Symposium.

The annual event celebrates the research efforts and accomplishments of students and faculty, featuring research poster displays, creative exhibits and oral presentations. It began with a presentation by 2016-18 Hoppe Research Award recipient Jeremy Jewell, ...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s industrial-organizational (I/O) psychology master’s program ranks among the top five in the nation for overall program quality, according to an objective study published by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology.

SIUE’s I/O psychology program, housed in the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior (SEHHB), was tabbed fourth in the national ranking that concentrated on master’s-level programs and applied ...

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy (SOP) celebrated the accomplishments of faculty and students during its annual Scholarship and Awards Ceremony held Thursday, April 5.

More than 35 students were honored with 25 scholarships and awards. Student Representative Council President Nikolina Golob, a third-year pharmacy student from St. Louis, served as the master of ceremonies.

“We gather to celebrate the hard work and professional commitment of these outstandin...

Nearly four years ago, when 11-year-old Edwardsville native Rain Jennings told his mother he wanted to learn how to do ventriloquism, the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center (ESLC) staff member did not think he would end up on Steve Harvey’s “Little Big Shots” or NBC’s “Show Me St. Louis.” 

Rain’s pre-recorded ventriloquism act will appear on “Little Big Shots” at 7 p.m. Sunday, April 8, according to his moth...

The Office of Graduate Admissions launched a new diversity recruitment initiative in hopes of introducing qualified students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) and McNair Scholars to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. 

Nearly 40 students participated in the HBCU Campus Visit on Wednesday and Thursday, April 4-5. The program was a multi-phased initiative focused on building relationships with HBCUs located in states n...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Brianne Guilford, PhD, has been recognized with the Graduate School’s 2018-19 Vaughnie Lindsay New Investigator Award for significant research contributions to her field, respective school and department, and SIUE as a whole.

Guilford is an assistant professor in the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior’s (SEHHB) Department of Applied Health and the exercise physiology graduate program director. Chancellor Randy Pembrook pr...

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville College of Arts and Sciences’ International Studies program will host its second International Studies Day from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, April 12 in the Morris University Center’s Meridian Ballroom.

The event is free and open to the public. It will feature prominent guests from such international and regional organizations as the United Nations, the World Affairs Council of St. Louis, the International Institute of St. Louis and the Counc...

Senator William “Bill” Haine (D-Alton) is being honored with Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Distinguished Service Award. SIUE will present the award during the University’s Spring 2018 Commencement to the life-long Alton resident, who has proudly served Madison County, the state of Illinois and the United States.

“Sen. Haine has been an enthusiastic advocate for both SIUE and the SIU School of Dental Medicine in Alton,” SIUE Chancellor Randy Pemb...

Talking, listening, understanding and connecting across seemingly wide chasms of race and color, sexual orientation, religion, class and socio-economic status, among other things, are taking shape at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with the help of the Sustained Dialogue (SD) Campus Network. 

“Sustained Dialogue seeks to transform relationships for the better through meaningful dialogue by creating a space for students to convey and exchange not just their opinions about co...

What is “hairism” and how do you counteract it? Makesha Harris, academic advisor at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, helped enlighten a group of people during her presentation, “#BlackHairMatters: Demystifying the Stereotypes of Black Hair, One Strand at a Time.” 

The Black Studies Program at SIUE sponsored Harris’s talk on Wednesday, March 28 in Lovejoy Library’s Friends Corner. 

 “A black woman’s hairstyling choices may...

Approximately 60 young girls in Alton, Collinsville, Madison and Venice are learning the value of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through an interactive after-school urban gardening program. The future leaders are gaining hands-on experience solving real-world problems.

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Center for STEM Research, Education and Outreach is providing the programming, in partnership with the Madison County Housing Authority (MCHA) and the Mannie ...

In pursuit of a career as a mediator in the conflict resolution path, Red Bud’s Mattie Malone chose to pursue a bachelor’s in international studies from the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville College of Arts and Sciences. As a result, Malone has been competitively selected to represent the Council on Foreign Relations, St. Louis Committee, at the Young Leaders Congress being held June 13-16 in Washington, D.C.

Malone’s fascination with geography and the globe combined...

The City of Brighton invites local and regional business owners and entrepreneurs to meet the staff of the Illinois Metro East Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville to participate in one-on-one counseling sessions. The event runs from 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Friday, April 13 at the Brighton City Hall, located at 206 S. Main Street in Brighton.

Metro East SBDC Director Jo Ann Di Maggio May finds these open house events as an effective way to connect with ...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Gregory Fields, PhD, professor in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Philosophy, has joined a prestigious group of tenured faculty members, achieving the University’s highest academic rank of Distinguished Research Professor.

The distinction is awarded in recognition of significant contributions to research and creative activities. Fields is an active teacher-scholar whose work aims to help prevent the loss and neglect o...

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Police Department began staffing the SIU School of Dental Medicine (SDM) in Alton with one patrol officer on duty 24 hours per day on a daily basis effective Monday, April 2. The SIUE Police Department will have a sub-post located in Building 271 at the SDM. 

“The SIUE Police Department strives to provide the highest quality police service to keep our students, faculty, staff and guests safe,” said Chief Kevin Schmoll. “W...

Thirteen aspiring math and science educators are 2018 Noyce Scholars at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The undergraduates are participating in the Noyce Math and Science Scholarship Program’s enhanced curriculum and engaging in professional learning communities.

“Noyce scholars are empowered to be leaders in their field, influencing, facilitating and inspiring the next generation of scientists, mathematicians, educators and critical thinkers,” said Jessica Krim, Ed...

The Center for Spirituality and Sustainability will honor Sheila Voss and the Rev. Traci Blackmon at its 15th annual Leadership Awards Dinner on Saturday, April 14, at 7 p.m. in the LeClaire Room on the N. O. Nelson Campus of Lewis and Clark Community College in Edwardsville.

The Center annually bestows awards for Spirituality Leadership and Leadership in Sustainability. These awards reflect the Center’s mission to “promote humanity’s sacred connection to the Earth and each ot...

The world of digital marketing is expanding and changing every day. However, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students can employ the tested methods of good interpersonal skills, a strong work ethic and a creative approach to land jobs in digital marketing, according to Brooke Huntley, director of Cox Analytics at Cox Media Group in Atlanta. 

Huntley was a featured speaker during SIUE’s Mass Communications Week on Tuesday, March 27.  Huntley spoke about “How to Ge...

Josh Colclasure and Sammie Williams have been friends since childhood. They have always talked about starting a business together and finally had the chance to put their idea for bar and restaurant draft line cleaning services to the test in the Metro East Start-Up Challenge (MESC).

The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) introduced the competition in 2014. The Start-Up Challenge engages multiple sponsors and b...

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Early Childhood Center (ECC) has earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)—the world’s largest organization working on behalf of young children.

NAEYC Accreditation is a rigorous and transformative quality-improvement system that uses a set of 10 research-based standards to collaborate with early education programs to recognize and drive quality-improvement in high quality early learni...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Chancellor Randy Pembrook, PhD, introduced Central American Mission Projects (CAMP) to SIUE during 2017 as an active element of his focus on community service and the University’s mission to shape a changing world. During Spring Break 2018, a group of more than 30 students, faculty and staff from SIUE’s Schools of Nursing, Pharmacy, and Education, Health and Human Behavior upheld the University’s mission, arriving in Costa Rica on Satur...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center’s (ESLC) Veterans Upward Bound program will join more than 30 organizations to host the Spring 2018 St. Louis Regional Area Homeless Veterans Stand Down from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 21 at 1521 Market St. in St. Louis. 

“The purpose of the Stand Down event is to provide resources for veterans who are in need,” according to Calvin Yancey, ESLC Veterans Upward Bound program director and Stand Down committe...

Sixty-four-year-old Larry Haney of East St. Louis wants to keep a watchful eye on the numbers that affect his health and learn better ways of improving it. He joined about 20 others recently at a Success And Continuing Knowledge (S.A.C.K.) Lunch and Learn Program at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Learning Resource Center. 

Margie Nahass, registered nurse, physician assistant, and health educator and advocate for the Christian Activity Center in East St. Louis,...

Natural curiosity and the pursuit of new knowledge were featured at the regional Science and Engineering Research Challenge (SERC) hosted by the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Center for STEM Research, Education and Outreach on Saturday, March 24.

Approximately 200 local 5-12^th grade students filled the Meridian Ballroom to showcase their abilities and present to volunteer judges their research projects that ranged in topic from memory studies and emergency response drones to remedia...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Business alumna Betsy Hall Collins is a shining example of how a driven, hard-working student can flourish in the corporate world.

The 33-year-old exuded a bright personality, unwavering perseverance and a passion for helping others as the featured speaker at the School’s Executive Power Speaker Series breakfast held Tuesday, March 27.

“I wanted to be different than my peers, because I knew I had something to contribute. I swung f...

The Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine’s (SIU SDM) Alexandra Nash has been appointed as an editorial board contributing editor by the American Student Dental Association (ASDA) for 2018-19. Nash received the appointment at the January meeting of the ASDA Board of Trustees.

“I am thankful for this appointment, and look forward to representing both my class and school on a national level,” said Nash, a Lebanon native.

Nash was elected in August 2017 to a fou...

“The day I quit learning is the day I need to retire,” said Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumna Kelly Carpenter, EdD, emphasizing her strong belief in the value of continued learning.

She’s proven that commitment by completing her master’s in special education in 1998, specialist degree in educational administration in 2015 and doctorate in education leadership in 2017, all from SIUE. While soaking in new knowledge and strengthening her leadership skills, sh...

Their job was to keep America strong and safe. Now, for the first time, the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center has a program whose mission is to help veterans. 

“Our Veterans Upward Bound Program is going to help the men and women who put their country’s needs ahead of themselves,” said Calvin Yancey, program director and retired U.S. Army Lieut. Col. 

The program will serve 125 adults in St. Clair, Madison and Monroe counties in Illinoi...

If you ask Francesca Barbieri what her career aspirations are, she’ll answer with a heartfelt, “to teach children with disabilities and give them hope for a bright future.” To achieve that worthy goal, the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville senior is pursuing a bachelor’s in special education with a minor in Spanish.

“I want to be the person that changes a student’s life, by not only helping him or her succeed as a student, but also giving him or her h...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville summer session 2018 offers a quality education that features flexibility and convenience. Nearly 1,000 courses are available, with more online options than ever.

Register now and enjoy summer at SIUE!

A variety of introductory general education and required upper-division classes are offered during summer session. Most courses meet for five weeks or less, and classes begin Monday, May 7.

“Summer session provides students an important opportunity...

High school jazz ensembles throughout the region will swing their way onto the campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville to participate in the 4^th Annual St. Louis Jazz Club Essentially Ellington Festival, a day of performances and workshops on Friday, March 30. The concluding concert at 7:30 p.m. in the Dunham Hall Theater is open to the public and will feature participating bands, clinicians and The SIUE Concert Jazz Band.

Co-sponsored by New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Center and ...

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy (SOP) will engage 5^th and 6^th grade students in discussions about prescription drug abuse and the associated dangers during a free overnight education event.

“Locked in to Stay Out” will take place from 8 p.m. Saturday, April 21 until 7:30 a.m. Sunday, April 22 in SIUE’s Vadalabene Center. Registration is available through Tuesday, April 10 at siue.edu/pharmacy/events.

“Research shows grade school students...

In addition to their regular class schedules, many East St. Louis Senior High School students are making time to attend a course that will help them better prepare for college. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center’s (ESLC) Upward Bound Scholars Academy is a new program that for the first time brings college instruction to students during class hours. 

“College is a little scary. I don’t know what to expect,” said 15-year-old Taylor Ackins,...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy (SOP) Dean Gireesh Gupchup, PhD, will step down effective June 30, 2018 for family reasons. He will continue as an SOP faculty member to assist in the School’s continued success.

“While the School of Pharmacy is in an extremely strong position, I have carefully reflected on my challenging personal circumstances and the demands of the dean’s position, and have made a career decision to provide more flexibility for my ...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s newly formed food sustainability consortium is bringing together multiple independent initiatives to maximize student impact by better coordinating sustainability access and education. The consortium is supported, in part, by a $14,224 SIUE Excellence in Undergraduate Education (EUE) grant.

“The food sustainability consortium will dismantle knowledge silos and foster cross-disciplinary collaborations involving both academics and student af...

The Gardens at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville invites the public to “Grow the Gardens” from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, April 13 at The Wildey Theatre located at 252 N. Main Street in Edwardsville.

The fundraiser event promises an evening of networking, food and engaging entertainment from The Dueling Pianos, featuring Mike Sonderegger and Cam Brown. Attendees will enjoy heavy appetizers from Wang Gang, and a cash bar will be available.

Tickets are $50 per person and include ...

Sitting in a circle in a nondescript classroom, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) students are introduced to Aunt Ester, Citizen Barlow and the City of Bones. 

The 16 students are reading scenes from the famous playwright August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean under the direction and animation of Kathryn Bentley, associate professor in the Department of Theater and Dance, and artistic director of SIUE’s Black Theater Workshop (BTW).&#1...

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing (SIUE SON) and BJC HealthCare today announced a new academic opportunity for BJC HealthCare nurses, offering two online Master of Science nursing degrees (MS) and a post-master’s doctor of nursing practice (DNP) beginning immediately.

Under the agreement, online Master of Science-Nurse Educator and Master of Science-Health Care and Nursing Administration programs will be available to BJC HealthCare nurses throughout its netwo...

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Business recognized record donor support with scholarships worth more than $200,000 during its 14^th Annual Scholarships and Awards Program held Wednesday, March 21.

Awards were presented to approximately 100 students pursuing degrees in accounting, business administration, computer management and information systems, economics and finance, and marketing.

School of Business Interim Dean Tim Schoenecker, PhD, welcomed sponsors, faculty, adm...

More sports. More play time. More fun. The increase in activity will be the result of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s new turf fields at the Outdoor Recreation Complex on campus. 

SIUE displayed its weather resistant fields during an open house on Tuesday, March 20. 

“The new fields will allow more opportunities for participation by our students, because the turf is more tolerant to usage in any season as opposed to natural grass that might be dormant or too w...

While they may not be prominently known, seen or heard, these exceptional women are making Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and the region better in the area of diversity and inclusion. Seventeen women were honored on Wednesday, March 21 at SIUE’s Fourth Annual Phenomenal Women’s Luncheon in the Morris University Center. 

“During Women’s History Month, this is an opportunity to recognize the hidden figures at SIUE, and the work they are doing behind the sce...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Native American Studies program, the University Museum, and the Edwardsville Arts Center (EAC) welcome internationally renowned Urban Iroquois photographer Jeff Thomas to Edwardsville for a series of events, including an exhibit entitled “Birdman Rising: Conversations beyond Colonialism.”

On Wednesday, March 21, a showing of the documentary Shooting Indians: A Journey with Jeffrey Thomas (1997) will be held at 6 p.m. in SIUE’s ...

It takes a lot people linking resources together to help people close in on their dreams. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center’s (ESLC) Vera Jones is one of such dream catcher, as she provides coaching, resources and referrals to people transitioning into education and employment. 

Jones, a career counselor with the ESLC Metro East Accelerated Training & Career Hub (MATCH), was named a 2018 Tribute to Success honoree by Connections to Success. Tribute to Su...

Prospective students are invited to explore the possibilities of an advanced degree at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Graduate Admissions Spring Open House from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, April 11 in the Morris University Center’s Meeting Room A.

According to the Council for Graduate Schools, an advanced degree can:

• Influence how fast and far you can advance in your career
• Increase your earnings and the amount of responsibility you assume
• Enhance decision-making respons...

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Business hosted representatives from Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW) in Heidenheim, Germany, on Monday, March 19.

DHBW guests met with SIUE faculty, staff and administrators to discuss a formal partnership agreement that would facilitate student and faculty exchanges, special short-term academic programs, and collaborative academic and research projects.

“Through international partnerships, both domestic a...

As the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Softball team takes the field for its first home game of the season versus Illinois on Wednesday, March 21, its biggest fan and newest recruit will be there cheering.

In early February, Karlie Maine, a six-year-old from Alhambra, signed a National Letter of Intent with the Cougars, coordinated by Team IMPACT after having battled myriad medical issues.

Since then, she’s visited the team at practice and has been working on her own softball...

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Department of Mass Communications will continue its tradition of inviting top industry professionals to share pioneering research and discuss the evolving media landscape during Mass Communications Week being held Monday-Thursday, March 26-29 in the Morris University Center. This year’s theme is “Swiping Right on Media Convergence.”

“The goal of Mass Communications Week is to introduce our students to cutting-edge topics, a...

The Illinois Metro East Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is collaborating with The Alternative Board (TAB) and SCORE of Southwest Illinois to present the High Impact Knowledge workshop series from 9 a.m.-noon Friday, April 6. The event takes place in the SIUE Morris University Center, and brings local business resources to support area entrepreneurs and small business owners.

The workshop will include a number of topics:

• Business Plan 101 ...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Campus Recreation is hosting an Open House from 6-7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 20 at its new turf fields at the Outdoor Recreation Complex on campus.

SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Jeffrey Waple will be in attendance. Various activities will be on display such as Quidditch, soccer, flag football and ultimate Frisbee. Campus Recreation will also sponsor promotional items, food and open recreation activities for student...

Students who have not declared or decided on a major may feel pressure or anxiety about not having chosen a path, according to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Office of Academic Advising’s Maureen Bell-Werner. And, at least two-thirds of students change their majors at least once during their collegiate studies.

Bell-Werner has spent her professional career supporting those students as they explore the opportunities available to them and determine which academic programs best fi...

Diana Nastasia, PhD, Faculty Fellow at the NCERC at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, presented research on gender and the media at the 62^nd session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) of the United Nations (UN) on Wednesday, March 14 in New York City.

At SIUE, Nastasia works on the project management team of the Building Illinois’ Bioeconomy Consortium, a U.S. Department of Labor grant having SIUE as its lead institution. The consortium provides educational programs l...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville nontraditional student Danielle Smith is gaining invaluable research experience as an undergraduate in the College of Arts and Sciences.

She has received $500 from the Illinois Groundwater Association (IGA) in support of her important work studying the groundwater, waste water treatment plants and soil in and around Madison and St. Clair Counties.

The Collinsville native is pursuing a bachelor’s in chemistry with a specialization in forensic chem...

Whip out your dancing shoes and boogie through the ‘70’s during the second annual Decades Dash hosted by the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Morris University Center (MUC)!

The 5K run through campus begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 24. Entry fees are $15 for SIUE students, $25 for SIUE faculty, staff and alumni, and $35 for the general public. Register now at decadesdash.com.

“We are thankful for the tremendous support we received during our inaugural Decades Das...

The SIUE Student Fitness Center is featured in Campus Rec Magazine March/April 2018 edition. Writer Bobby Dyer focused on the weight room expansion project, which was opened to students in spring 2016. Read the story “Rec Center, Times Two” at campusrecmag.com. Director Keith Becherer is quoted extensively throughout the piece.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Black Theater Workshop’s (BTW) first ever reunion, “Sankofa: Reclaiming Our Time,” will be a time for dance, learning and celebration. The event will run from Friday-Sunday, March 16-18 at SIUE’s Metcalf Theater. 

“Current SIUE BTW members and alumni will perform original pieces that celebrate the spirit of Sankofa-fetching from the past that which is good and bringing it to the present to evoke positive change,”...

Mike Marchal, president of Holland Construction Services, is the recipient of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s 2018 Construction Leadership Institute (CLI) Alumni Leadership Award. The ceremony was Friday, March 9 as a part of the CLI Alumni Day and Graduation celebration.

Program Co-director’s Chris Gordon, PhD, associate dean of the SIUE School of Engineering, and Kristine Jarden, director of Executive Education in the SIUE School of Business, presented the award.

The ...

With the permission of school administrators, approximately 30 students from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) assembled at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 14 to memorialize the 17 victims of the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. 

CHS senior student leaders organized a balloon memorial and moment of silence from 10-10:17 a.m. at the Of the River Mounds and Bridges stainless steel statue on the East St. Louis...