College of Arts and Sciences News

Dr. Bryan M. Jack’s New Book, Southern History on Screen: Race & Rights, 1976-2016
Fulbright Specialist Dr. Mark Hildebrandt and Air Quality Monitoring
Graduate Student Alex Bailey Awarded $25,000 Commission
Stitching Together A Century of American Handwork with Erin Vigneau-Dimick
Alicia Alexander, PhD, Honored by Governor J.B Pritzker
Alumni Association News and Events
SIUE Cougar Athletics
Personal and Professional Development Opportunities

Dr. Bryan M. Jack’s New Book, Southern History on Screen: Race & Rights, 1976-2016

Southern History on Screen: Race and Rights, 1976-2016

Bryan M. Jack, PhD, associate professor of historical studies, whose area of specialty encompasses African American history and the American South, recently edited and published a book entitled, Southern History on Screen: Race and Rights, 1976-2016. The book is the first of its kind, using race as a primary lens for viewing critical perspectives on Hollywood’s relationships between historical films, Southern history, identity and the portrayal of Jim Crow–era segregation. Published in 2018, the book consists of 10 essays written by experts from around the world and focuses on how the South and African Americans have been depicted throughout popular culture.

Learn more about Jack's book. 

Fulbright Specialist Dr. Mark Hildebrandt and Air Quality Monitoring

Fulbright Specialist Mark Hildebrandt

Associate professor in the Department of Geography, Mark Hildebrandt, PhD, was recently hosted by the National University of Science and Technology in Islamabad, Pakistan. In 2018, Hildebrandt was selected for the prestigious Fulbright Specialist Program, a competitive award of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The program sponsors faculty and professionals who are working on projects that promote exchanges between people of the United States and citizens of other countries.

While in Islamabad, Hildebrandt worked on initiating an air quality monitoring program. At present, there are no known air quality monitoring networks there and according to the World Health Organization, Pakistan has some of the worst air quality in the world, reaching dangerous levels in recent years. Pakistan is a geographic area in desperate need for air quality monitoring and Hildebrandt has been spearheading this project to change all of that. The monitoring station would bring scientific data to the table that could eventually be made available to the public, undoubtedly shifting the dynamic between citizens and the government about Pakistan’s ongoing public health emergency.

Learn more about Hildebrandt's work in Pakistan. 

Graduate Student Alex Bailey Awarded $25,000 Commission

Graduate Student Alex Bailey

Alex Bailey completed her Master of Fine Arts in ceramics this past spring. Before completion of her degree, she was offered a two-month residency at the Caetani Cultural Centre in Vernon, British Columbia. Scaling up in size and significance, she was also recently commissioned by the University of Southern Indiana for $25,000 to create a large-scale installation which she will begin production of this summer. The sculpture will be made of clay and located outside of the The McCutchan Art Center/Pace Galleries near a body of water called Reflection Lake.

Learn more about Bailey's work. 

Stitching Together A Century of American Handwork with Erin Vigneau-Dimick

Handwork of Erin Vigneau-Dimick

University Museum Executive Curator, Erin Vigneau-Dimick, and artist and staff member, Mandy Pedigo have been busy stitching together an exhibit spanning a century of American handwork. The exhibit, entitled Pieced, included an assemblage of quilts from 1860-1960 and was recently on display at The Edwardsville Arts Center. With the exhibit, Vigneau-Dimick and Pedigo sought to highlight women’s work, which can often be overlooked as an art form. The exhibit closed out with a quilt show-and-tell, inviting people of the community to bring their handmade and heirloom quilts to the gallery and share stories with each other.

Read more about the art form and exhibit. 

Alicia Alexander, PhD, Honored by Governor J.B Pritzker

Dr. Alicia Alexander

Governor J.B. Pritzker recently hosted a Women’s History Month celebration at the Capitol. The celebration honored the work of women leaders across the state. Among the state’s important leaders, Pritzker honored Alicia Alexander, PhD, professor in the Department of Applied Communication Studies. Alexander was recognized for her work as a professor and for her non-profit work with Support the Girls. The goal of the non-profit is to collect and distribute essential items including bras, underwear and menstrual hygiene products. Alexander launched the Edwardsville affiliate in May 2016 and has since donated more than 10,000 bras, 2,500 pairs of new underwear and over 185,000 feminine hygiene products to more than 50 organizations and resource fairs.

Learn more about Alexander's recognition.

Alumni Association News and Events

Stay updated and informed by connecting with the SIUE Alumni Association. 

SIUE Convocation Parade

  • Help us welcome the Class of 2023! We'll cheer for the freshman class as they walk from the VC to the MUC! Stay for a brief social with the deans and faculty.
  • Park and meet at Birger Hall on Friday, Aug. 16 at 11:30 a.m.
  • No cost to attend, but registration is strongly encouraged.

Alumni Happy Hours in Collinsville and Chicago
Thursday, Aug. 22, 5-7 p.m. 

Lovejoy Library's Dr. Gordon Bush Exhibit

  • Celebrate one of SIUE's distinguished 1970 and 1971 alumni and former mayor of East St. Louis. A photographic installation depicting his many accomplishments will be unveiled.
  • Light hors d'oeuvres will be served and complimentary parking is available in Lot A.
  • Please RSVP by September 2 to Laura Scaturro at lscatur@siue.edu or 618-650-2172.

Alumni Hall of Fame Dinner

  • Join us in celebrating eight extraordinary SIUE alumni at the annual Alumni Hall of Fame reception, dinner, and ceremony, "A Night Among The Stars."
  • Friday, Sept. 27, 5:30–9 p.m., Meridian Ballroom, MUC
  • Complimentary valet parking in Lot C.
  • Tickets: $50 per person. Get your tickets today!

Cougars Unleashed Homecoming Run and Pancake Breakfast

  • Saturday, Sept. 28, 9 a.m. at Birger Hall
  • 10K: $40, 5K: $30, 1 mile: $5 (alumni receive a $5 discount)
  • Proceeds benefit deserving students through SIUE Alumni Association scholarships.
  • Register today!

The Cougar Fan Zone

  • Enjoy food, drinks, live music, games and activities for the kids. Stay and cheer on Men's Soccer as they face Central Arkansas.
  • Saturday, Sept. 28, 4-7 p.m.
  • No cost to attend, but pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

A Night In The Stacks: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Mississippi River Festival (MRF)

  • Saturday, Oct. 19, 6 p.m. in Lovejoy Library, 1st Floor. Parking available in Lot A.
  • Join us for a commemorative reception to honor this historical festival. 
  • Enjoy hors d'oeuvres and a buffet dinner provided by LoRusso's, live music from the MRF era by the Ralph Butler Band, display of MRF memorabilia and an auction.
  • Tickets: $65/person; $480/table of 8. Call 618-650-2760 for tickets.

SIUE Cougar Athletics

Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Brad Hewitt Retires

2019 Red and Black Benefit 
A record number of guests attended this year's benefit. See event photos here.

Personal and Professional Development Opportunities

Check out the Educational Outreach website to view our new offerings on the personal and professional development side for the summer semester. New course offerings include Spanish for Healthcare Professionals, Achieving Wellness in Everyday Life, Open Introduction to Golf and Introduction to Beekeeping. New Professional Development offerings include Social Work: Critical Incident Debriefing and Computational Thinking in the K-12 Classroom. Sign up to receive a copy of our catalog by emailing outreach@siue.edu.