Gregory Beyer, Professor and Director of Percussion Studies in the NIU School of Music and percussion alumni Ethan Martin and Noel Streacker were recently featured on PBS’ “Now Hear This.” The three are part of Arcomusical, made up of Beyer and NIU Percussion graduate students and alumni, whose mission is “to spread the joy of the Afro-Brazilian musical bow known as the berimbau through the development of innovative and excellent musical repertoire.”
The episode is titled “New American Voices” and features American composers inspired by their immigrant roots: Brazilian-born Sergio Assad and Indian-American Reena Esmail.
“Sergio Assad, one half of the famous Brazilian guitar duo, the Assad Brothers, lives in Chicago,” Beyer said. “He reached out to me to be involved with him in the episode and together we co-composed a work for classical guitar and three berimbaus that is premiered in the first segment. Working with Sergio was a delight. He is a consummate professional and a lovely and sensitive musician and human being. Making music with him for us was a joy and an honor. And co-composing the work was also delightful. I sent him an initial idea, he composed something for himself above what I wrote, and we continued ping-ponging the score back and forth until we were together happy with the final result. We hope to continue this collaboration in the near future.”
Beyer is featured twice in the episode. The first time at 26:25 when Martin and Streacker join Beyer and Assad. Beyer is featured again at 40:06 when he joins Assad and members of Gingarte Capoeira Chicago.
Arcomusical recently released their third album, Emigre and Exile, which has received a number of excellent reviews, including:
“Every so often an ensemble comes along that is dedicated to some sort of stylistic-meta-acoustical way of playing-listening. The berimbau ensembles are inspired, beautifully sonic and a major reason to listen. But also the compositional approaches are all worth your attention over and above the sonic wonder of it as an entirety. The music pulsates in engaging ways. Everything has a kind of tribal folk-avant forward momentum, an elementally riff-like tonality, with repetition ostinatos not at all formulaic. This is not an ordinary sort of album. It is uplifting and unusual. I recommend it if you are wanting something different, something off the well beaten path. Bravo.” – Grego Applegate, April 19, 2022, Gapplegate Classical-Modern Music Review
You can watch Arcomusical’s album release party, which was held at Chicago’s Constellation.
Date posted: May 17, 2022 | Author: Andrew Pemberton | Comments Off on School of Music’s Gregory Beyer and percussion alumni featured on PBS’s “Now Hear This”
Looking to add real-world program management experience to his résumé, accelerated MBA student Dylan Lonteen found an opportunity through the IGNITE program that piqued his interest.
“I had started out looking for part-time jobs on Indeed and found a position with the DeKalb County Community Gardens. It turned out that they didn’t have a need for that position, but they told me they were partnered with IGNITE. I was very interested in that, and after I interviewed, we got the ball rolling,” Lonteen said.
IGNITE is an internship program at the NIU College of Business that allows students to work paid internships with local businesses and nonprofit organizations. The student works for their organization, and the college subsidizes the student’s wages.
After a successful interview process, Lonteen joined DeKalb County Community Gardens (DCCG) as a program analyst and took charge of the GrowMobile project. GrowMobile is a joint initiative by DCCG, NIU, Volunteer Action Center, the DeKalb County Health Department, the DeKalb County Community Action Office, and Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Health and Wellness. GrowMobile is a mobile food pantry that delivers freshly grown produce to DeKalb County areas afflicted by food insecurity. Lonteen’s primary responsibility is overseeing the development of the program and drafting operating procedures to ensure its efficiency.
“When I started in this position, I was able to attend a couple of the GrowMobile’s distribution events. I took notes and benefited from some hands-on experience running those events. Then, I came back to our office and started writing up a step-by-step plan for others to follow to run that distribution,” Lonteen said. “I work collaboratively with the GrowMobile program director. Together, we set up that plan so that if someone fills in for her, they can do so without any prior knowledge.”
Lonteen, who played shortstop for NIU baseball, noted that the internship served as his first entry into the workforce.
“As a college athlete, I hadn’t really had an opportunity to work before now. My mom worked with nonprofits, and I grew up around them. That made the position with the Community Gardens really enticing for me. Plus, the position provides a firsthand look at things you don’t usually learn in a classroom, like company culture and how to communicate on the ground, in the moment. Everyone here has been great,” he added.
“From an organization’s perspective, a big part of being involved with IGNITE is the ability to have an intern for a year-long engagement. What’s very enticing for us is being able to work with graduate students like Dylan,” said Associate Director Jackie DiNatale. “Dylan’s impact has been great. He has been very open and flexible. Before he came here, we didn’t have many procedures put together for these programs. I had an idea, a framework for what we wanted. Dylan listened, gave us some great feedback and we worked together to put some solid operating procedures in place.”
Lonteen is currently in the process of completing his work on the GrowMobile procedures and will begin work shortly at DCCG’s Walnut Grove Vocational Farm where he will create similar operating plans for the farm’s program offerings.
“In my IGNITE internship, I’ve met a lot of new people and I’ve had a lot of hands-on experience,” Lonteen said. “I didn’t realize at first just how many volunteers DCCG gets. I hadn’t experienced a food distribution event before. When I’d go to distribution events, we often had 25 to 30 volunteers here to help. We also had cars lined up, full of people who needed our help. It was truly eye-opening for me to see just how much of an impact DCCG has on the local community. All I could think about was how incredible it was.”
Date posted: May 16, 2022 | Author: Andrew Pemberton | Comments Off on NIU IGNITE intern Dylan Lonteen grows from opportunities with DCCA
Michael Brady’s motivation appeared when he was in sixth-grade – in the form of a male teacher.
For Jocelynne Escontrias, the role models in those School District U-46classrooms shared her culture: “It was just great to see people lead by example in that way,” she said. “I just want to give back and be that representation for students.”
Jennifer Tovar also credits her teachers at Huff Elementary School.
“I just loved the way that they made me feel welcome in their classrooms, and they really inspired me to become a teacher,” she said. “I want to be like them to inspire other kids and to educate them as well.”
Danielle Lauritzen, meanwhile, appreciated the support she received from district speech-language pathologists and physical therapists. She thought it would lead her to a career in nursing, but a part-time job pointed her instead to teaching.
“Working in a little-kid daycare, I found that I really loved working with young people, and I ended up realizing that I really love seeing them grow and change and learn things,” she said. “Being able to see that change and growth was key for me in wanting to be an educator.”
No matter the reasons for pursuing NIU’s B.S.Ed. in Elementary Education with Bilingual/ESL endorsement, these four and their 16 classmates in the second PLEDGE cohort at Elgin Community College all are about to achieve their dreams to teach.
Graduating Saturday, May 14, with Brady, Escontrias, Lauritzen and Tovar are Mayra Carachure, Yolanda Chavez, Daisy Cintora, Alexie Corral, Alexandra Graham, Allison Hill, Karen Monraga, Nancy Mayen, Daniella Mejia, Lupe Moreno, Emily Neuman, Lisette Pena, Ana Dominguez Quevedo, Cassidy Sell, Yoseline Temores and Leslie Villa.
The 20 students gathered May 6 in the Elgin Community College Dining Room with family, friends, professors, academic advisors, clinical supervisors and administrators to celebrate those bachelor’s degrees and the bright futures that await them this fall.
Laurie Elish-Piper, dean of the NIU College of Education, told the audience that the PLEDGE (Partnering to Lead and Empower District-Grown Educators) collaboration is mutually beneficial for both institutions and the broader community amid the Illinois teacher shortage and the need to supply classrooms with a culturally diverse workforce.
Laurie Elish-Piper and David Sam
“Everyone is trying to figure out what we can do to prepare the teachers that we need for our schools today, and everyone’s saying, ‘It’s so complicated. How can we solve this problem?’ Well, I would argue that it’s not that complicated at all,” Elish-Piper said.
“It’s really a matter of coming together as partners and thinking about how to leverage community resources and support to be able to grow teachers who are from the community and who want to teach and live and work in the community,” she added. “That’s exactly what we’re doing here today. This is a model that works.”
David Sam, president of Elgin Community College, congratulated the students who started and completed their higher education on his campus through the PLEDGE model.
Teachers, Sam said, were the people who made the greatest impression on his life.
“You are entering this profession whereby you are going to impact the lives of so many people for years to come, and you may not get to see the impact on these students,” Sam said. “That’s OK. I can assure you that you are making those impacts.”
LAUNCHED IN THE FALL OF 2019, the PLEDGE program at ECC already has achieved something extraordinary: a 100% graduation rate. Every student who started has finished, including last year’s first cohort of 15, and the same feat is expected from the current third cohort of 18.
Tammy Scheibe, clinical supervisor in the NIU Department of Curriculum and Instruction, presents gifts to Lupe Moreno.
Such success is partially a result of creating an ECC-to-NIU College of Education path that is accessible, affordable and designed specifically to meet and support the needs of place-bound, working adults with family responsibilities.
NIU degrees in Early Childhood Education now have been added to the program, combining with Elementary Education to put dozens of future teachers in the pipeline.
Graduates will take jobs in the Elgin area to provide children with empathetic teachers who bring a lifelong familiarity and understanding of the community and its families.
“Before this partnership, a lot of students only wished that they could be elementary teachers because of their previous commitments, family commitments, jobs, funds, time,” said Elizabeth Herrera, an academic advisor at ECC. “We’ve been able to make that dream come true.”
Elish-Piper told the audience how the dream began.
“Lisa Freeman, the president of Northern Illinois University, oftentimes says that relationships are resources, and as I look at this remarkable partnership, it’s built on relationships,” she said.
“About six years ago, I walked into work and I had an idea: I thought, ‘What if we took our Teacher Education program to the campus of Elgin Community College?’ because I had heard that there were tons of amazing students here who would complete their associate degrees but then had difficulty figuring out a successful pathway to get their bachelor’s degrees and professional educator licensure,” she added.
“So I did what I always do. I thought, ‘Who do I know that can help us do this? Who can partner with us on this?’ And so I picked up the telephone and I called Dr. Parul Raval, who I knew from her doctoral program at Northern Illinois University. She answered the phone, and she said, ‘I think it’s a good idea.’
An apple for the teacher: Clinical supervisor Randi White presents gifts to Karen Monraga.
THE 2022 GRADUATES WOULD agree.
Brady currently works for UPS in Palatine, where he is a classroom facilitator for new hires and a lead trainer. Income from that job allows him to pay for college, he said, and offers a tuition reimbursement benefit as well.
Michael Brady
Palatine is also near Elgin and home.
“I did not have to change my lifestyle to pursue this. I didn’t have to live in DeKalb. I just had to stay right here, and nothing really had to change,” Brady said. “It was a pretty easy transition from ECC to NIU.”
NIU Department of Curriculum and Instruction coursework offered immediate applications at UPS, such as the importance of positive reinforcement and explaining concepts in detail.
He also gained valuable knowledge and preparation for the fifth- or sixth-grade classrooms where he plans to teach.
“During that time period, kids are going through a lot of things, and I want to help nurture kids during those transition times,” said Brady, who student-taught at Heritage Elementary School in Streamwood.
“I got the most out of the social-emotional learning content,” he added. “It’s not something that is really talked about when you look at the profession; what you might be going through within the classroom, what they kids might be going through in their own lives. We were able to look at things from a cultural lens – a familial lens – and it prepared me for this career with things that I otherwise wouldn’t have.”
Jocelynne Escontrias
Escontrias said she is excited to begin teaching and grateful for the ability to do so.
“I come from a place where I would seek rides all the time, so I was really struggling to find my way,” Escontrias said. “ ‘How am I going to get out of community college and find a university that’s close? How am I going to do any of that when it’s not possible because I’m sharing a car, or I need to ask for a ride?’ And this wonderful opportunity came up. Dr. Raval mentioned it, I applied, and I was so lucky to get in.”
Her student-teaching with fifth-graders at Highland Elementary School taught her patience, slang and even TikTok. It also proved to her that her NIU curriculum “blends so flawlessly” into practice and “just feels so natural over time.”
She appreciated the support of faculty who were always happy to answer her questions without judgement – and of her family.
“I’m first-generation,” she said. “Growing up, they didn’t expect me to go after high school, even though I was a good student. But I was really determined, and they supported me, and I’m really thankful that I can make them proud.”
TOVAR ALSO IS A first-generation college student who is happy to set a positive example for her brother, Brian.
Jennifer Tovar
PLEDGE came “at the right time,” she said, relieving her concerns about commuting or living away from home.
Meanwhile, she added, her preparation “was amazing” as was her cooperating teacher at Garfield Elementary School.
“I learned that classroom management is very important at the beginning of the year for any new teacher as well as having a routine,” Tovar said. “I loved working with the kids. I built a relationship with them, and I’m going to miss them a lot because it’s my first year. I just bonded with them so well, and I hope I have that next year as well.”
For Lauritzen, benefits of PLEDGE included the “cohort of folks who really made the experience collaborative” and the group chat that kept those classmates connected electronically.
Her NIU coursework provided “the backbones of what I need to know,” she said, including the rationale behind teaching concepts and how to turn theory into practice for effective instruction.
She especially appreciated content related to English Language Learners and “being able to work with diverse populations of students: I’m fortunate to be in Elgin, which is filled with people from different backgrounds and different races. It’s nice to be in U-46.”
Danielle Lauritzen
Lauritzen plans to teach in the upper grades of elementary school.
“The conversations you can have with them are pretty interesting because they have some grasp of what the world really looks like, and sometimes you can take those ideas they have and mold them or include them within your work as a teacher,” she said.
At the same time, she has learned, it’s important to examine data about students to better understand their strengths and struggles. It’s important to set high expectations – a growth mindset of trying and learning – and to accompany that with support.
“Being able to use those factors was very important to my cooperating teacher, and that’s something she made as a big emphasis on me,” Lauritzen said. “You need to use what the kids have under their belts before you can even think about what you bring to the table.”
Date posted: May 16, 2022 | Author: Andrew Pemberton | Comments Off on Ready to teach: Second PLEDGE cohort celebrates ECC-NIU education degrees
Rachel Wozniak counts Research Rookies among her best experiences at NIU.
Rachel Wozniak
The Maple Park native graduated this spring with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a jumpstart on her career, thanks in part to Research Rookies.
Like all Huskies who take part in the unique program, Wozniak was able to work alongside a faculty mentor to conduct a small-scale research or artistry project.
“I joined Research Rookies to get the experience of conducting research in its entirety and strengthen my skills in analyzing data,” said Wozniak, who worked with Melissa Clucas Walter, Ph.D., an assistant professor in Family and Consumer Sciences. “I have met some of my best friends through this program, and I have gained so much confidence about doing research on my own.”
Applications for the 2022-23 year are currently being accepted and have a priority deadline of June 1, 2022, and a final deadline of Aug. 15, 2022. Those who take part receive a $500 stipend upon completion of the program.
Faculty and staff are asked to spread the word, and incoming and current undergraduate students are encouraged to pursue the opportunity.
Faculty also can express interest in becoming a Research Rookie mentor through a Faculty Mentor Interest Form. As mentors, faculty guide undergraduate students who are brand new to research through the research or artistry process by providing learning resources and necessary tools to be able to successfully assist with an existing research project.
“Faculty mentors are the heart of the Research Rookies program, providing students with guidance and real world experience properly conducting research within their respective field,” said Destiny McDonald, acting director of the Office of Student Engagement and Experiential Learning, which oversees Research Rookies.
As a public research institution, NIU emphasizes hands-on learning guided by professors who are active researchers in their own fields. Research Rookies plays a pivotal role in that mission.
Alexis Sibley
Participants spend the fall semester taking part in research exploration activities, then transition to undergraduate research assistants in the spring semester, assisting faculty members on research projects. They also create and present an academic poster on their research findings at the Conference on Undergraduate Research and Engagement.
The experience gained is invaluable.
“Through undergraduate research experiences such as Research Rookies, students gain many important professional skills that employers are looking for in new graduates, such as collaboration, problem solving and effective communication,” McDonald said.
Some Research Rookies, like Wozniak, used the program to explore a career in research before committing to a graduate program. For others, the program deepens their knowledge of a career field, while building a professional network.
“I joined Research Rookies because I wanted research experience with a professional who has background in eye care, since that is the field I’m aiming to go into,” said Alexis Sibley, a Joliet native majoring in Health Sciences.
“This experience has taught me how to use equipment I never would’ve known even existed, as well as the true, messy process that is research,” Sibley said.
Date posted: May 16, 2022 | Author: Andrew Pemberton | Comments Off on Ready, set, research! Undergraduates encouraged to apply for Research Rookies
When it comes to higher education finances, there isn’t much that James Cofer hasn’t seen.
James Cofer will act as interim vice president for Administration and Finance and Chief Financial Officer until the position is filled, likely later this year.
During his career, Cofer, 72, has been the president of two universities (University of Louisiana at Monroe and Missouri State University); was the chief financial officer at Murray State; and at various times oversaw the fiscal affairs for the statewide university systems in Arkansas, Georgia and Mississippi. His résumé also includes four years as the chief fiscal officer for the State of Mississippi.
As of May 2, Cofer, is putting all of that accrued experience to work on behalf of NIU. He is serving as interim vice president for Administration and Finance and Chief Financial Officer, taking over for the departed Sarah Chinniah. He will fill the role until the position is filled, likely by late this year.
With his tenure expected to be brief, Cofer said that he expects few changes to the university’s financial processes. “My job is to keep folks working on what they do best and to coach as much as possible. I want to make sure that when the permanent CFO gets here, it is an easy transition.”
However, he will work to move forward projects that are underway, such as improvements to travel vouchers, ongoing initiatives with DoIT and helping to shape the multiyear budgeting process. “I think that is something that is very exciting. It is going to take a lot of strategic thinking,” he said.
Cofer had been retired for the last five years, most of which he and his wife of 52 years, Deborah, spent living abroad. Their son-in-law, who is in the military, was stationed in Germany, so it was a chance to live “on the continent” and be close to their daughter and grandchildren. The couple returned when COVID struck, and Cofer watched in wonder at the impact the virus had on higher education nationwide.
He found his opportunity at NIU through The Registry, which specializes in helping universities find interim placements.
“I was busy enjoying life, but it felt like it was time for me to get back into the swing of things,” he said. “I was attracted to NIU because it is large enough to be interesting and it has good leadership.”
Date posted: May 12, 2022 | Author: Andrew Pemberton | Comments Off on Interim CFO James Cofer brings decades of experience to the job
Bob and Lois Self have made a commitment to establish the Dr. Lois Self Fund in the Center for the Study of Women, Gender, and Sexuality, supporting faculty and students in their educational, research and artistry pursuits. The fund pays tribute to the significant contributions Lois made to the Women’s Studies Program, which later evolved into the Center.
Lois Self teaching a WOMS class in Reavis 103 conference room.
“The Center provides an empowering environment and a vibrant teaching and learning community for students and faculty on campus who engage in research and activism related to gender and sexuality,” Center director Jessica Reyman said. “There is so much the Center will be able to do with the Dr. Lois Self Fund to support our innovative programs through student scholarships, faculty research fellowships, guest speakers, and community partnerships.”
Collectively, Bob and Lois Self served NIU and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for nearly 80 years. Both of their careers were defined in the research, teaching, and administrative roles they took on, always with a concern for the students and colleagues they interacted with.
“Lois was instrumental in the establishment of the Women’s Studies programs at NIU. The courses and program developed under Lois’s vision and leadership were foundational to the formation of the Center for the Study of Women, Gender, and Sexuality as a thriving interdisciplinary academic community,” said Reyman. “At a key moment in NIU’s history, Lois propelled Women’s Studies forward with the development of new courses, the hiring of a full-time Women’s Studies director, and through campus-wide initiatives such as the Multicultural Curriculum Transformation Institute.”
If you are interested in supporting the Dr. Lois Self Fund for the Study of Women, Gender and Sexuality, contact Laura Knight, senior director of advancement – College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, or visit https://foundation.myniu.com/give.
Date posted: May 12, 2022 | Author: Andrew Pemberton | Comments Off on NIU emeriti couple continue their legacy of supporting students and faculty with gift
More than 1,300 visitors were present to see the showcase of the Senior Design program, which is a course for senior-level engineering and engineering technology students. The students form teams and embark on a capstone project that applies what they’ve learned throughout their education at NIU. The program provides a real-world learning experience that provides them with the chance to see how engineers operate in the workplace.
Team 46 poses with Dean Donald Peterson.
First place in the interdisciplinary teams was Team 46, whose project was titled “Feedback, Control, and Photo Elasticity Measurement System for Multiaxial Loading Devices.” Team and the members included Tony Bucaro, Ben Lynam, and Pablo Pozo.
Second place went to Team 7 members Matt Fisher, Vladimir Shynkarenka and Jared Smith for their project “Instrumented Maximum Voluntary Contraction System for Biomechanical Experiments Involving Electromyography Measurements.“
Team 7 poses with Dean Donald Peterson.
The third-place winners were Team 25, Levee Callahan, Cade Larson, and Tyler McCleery, for their project, “Design of a Sustainable Refrigeration System using Thermo-acoustics.”
The winning project in the Industrial and Systems Engineering Department was sponsored by Americold. The project title was titled “Dock Optimization Project at Americold featuring ASRS and Conventional Frozen Food Storage.” The team members were Mitchell Jones and Garret McCann. The Engineering Technology team winners were Jeffrey Russell and Merritt Walker for their project, “Wearable Sensor Array.”
Dean Donald Peterson poses with Team 26.
“The senior design program is a high point in our students’ education. They apply the knowledge they acquired in the classroom to bring together concepts, theories, and construct a prototype or process,” said Dean Donald Peterson, Ph.D. of NIU’s CEET. “It gives them the chance to hit the ground running on the job. Senior design projects are often viewed as a student’s first professional achievement,” he said.
ISYE 1 team and Dean Donald Peterson.
The senior design program is made possible by clients and sponsors, who present student teams with challenges faced by their organizations. CEET is c
Date posted: May 12, 2022 | Author: Andrew Pemberton | Comments Off on Innovation and technology win on Senior Design Day 2022
Brooke Benford is majoring in biomedical engineering, but on April 15, she showed off her culinary skills. Along with fellow John Henrik Clarke Honor Society members Britiany Wilson, Imani Jones, Jacy Rogers, Nina Tackett, Kianna Graves and Daija Hammonds, the NIU junior spent the afternoon cooking on campus so that others could enjoy a delicious meal.
Founded in 2002 by NIU African-American students, the society aims to recognize those with high academic standards and an ongoing commitment to community service. As community service chair, Benford works to provide volunteering opportunities for its members, and this month, they made a meal for homeless individuals.
“Events like this are important because it is a chance to give back to our community,” Benford said. “I believe a community is a team that should work together in order to thrive; we must help one another out to ensure that no one has to struggle.”
Benford contacted Hope Haven, a DeKalb County center that provides housing, meals and life skills for homeless individuals and families preparing for re-housing.
“Originally our plan was to cook the meals right there at the shelter, but due to COVID-19 restrictions we couldn’t do that,” Benford said. “They said we could drop off food as well, so we used the Wirtz Food Lab to prepare everything instead.”
The delicious meal, featuring spaghetti, chicken Alfredo, salad, garlic bread and cookies, was made fresh and dropped off at Hope Haven.
“I hope that the residents of Hope Haven enjoyed a delicious meal for the night and for at least one day did not have to worry about having to find food to put on their plate,” Benford said. “No one should go hungry, and if there is one thing that we can do to move towards that goal then we will do it.”
Benford said the students were grateful to campus partners in the College of Health and Human Sciences who helped make this possible.
NIU’s annual undergraduate research symposium and professional development conference attracted 122 student participants and included 100 formal presentations of faculty-mentored undergraduate research, artistry and engagement projects.
The research symposium was held on Tuesday, April 26. Using posters and exhibits, students from all colleges showcased projects they are completing or have completed as part of a capstone or senior project, community engagement project or course, independent study or funded research and artistry program.
Student projects highlighted their work on such topics as filmmaking, obesity, food insecurities, engineering processes, worker stress, autophagy in brain cells, use of novel biomarkers, literacy in personal finance and interventions for students with disabilities.
In 2021, CURE became the new name for Undergraduate Research and Artistry Day (URAD) and the Community Engagement Showcase (CES). The 2020 and 2021 events were held virtually.
“There’s a special energy you feel from the students and attendees that you just don’t get from a virtual setting,” she added. “We were proud to be able to expand CURE by offering free virtual professional development sessions for undergraduate students, replicating the experience that one would have if they participated in a conference within their field.”
Department of History Chair Valerie Garver is seeing the fruits of a fellowship that allowed her to spend all of last fall’s semester collaborating with other medieval historians in Germany.
Chair of NIU’s Department of History, Valerie Garver. Photo credit: Ute von Figura, University of Heidelberg
The fellowships enable intensive, long-term project-based collaboration between researchers from German and foreign institutions. Mercator Fellows remain in contact with the project team members once their research stay is over.
Garver’s research cluster included about 70 scientists from 18 different disciplines. The scholars work to illuminate premodern cultures by examining texts that are written on inscribed artifacts such as pillars, tombstones, statues, parchment and scrolls. Garver has specialized expertise in text on early medieval textiles.
In addition to delivering two talks while at the center, Garver produced a research article currently under review on the control exerted by early medieval queens over the production and use of textiles, which gave them political influence. She also worked on a new book that is near completion and focuses on early medieval textiles, clothing and society in the Carolingian world (725 to 925 CE).
Garver visited a number of German historic sites which were important during the early Middle Ages as well, including the monasteries of Corvey and Lorsch, the medieval towns of Bamberg and Paderborn, and remnants of the imperial palace built by Charlemagne in Ingelheim.
“The fellowship benefitted both my research and teaching,” Garver says.
“At NIU, I’m the only medieval historian. While at the University of Heidelberg, I met upwards of 40 medievalists. That kind of interaction is really enriching and allowed me to learn more about different aspects of the Middle Ages. The prolonged exposure to these specialists also will improve my courses, because it gives me new material from world experts to teach in my NIU classes.”
Garver’s research seeks to answer related questions concerning the history of women, gender, childhood and family and the historical and interdisciplinary study of material culture. In addition to her nearly completed book, she has another book project underway on early medieval childhood. This study will investigate children and ideas concerning children through the methodological lenses of gender studies and material culture studies.
In addition to the Mercator Fellowship, Garver’s research has been supported by membership in the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey; a Bonnie Wheeler Fellowship; a Solmsen Postdoctoral Fellowship; the Fulbright Program; a Franklin Research Grant from the American Philosophical Society; and a Research Project Grant from the Pasold Research Fund.
Date posted: May 9, 2022 | Author: Andrew Pemberton | Comments Off on Prestigious fellowship provides NIU’s resident medieval expert with immersive experience in Germany
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White will receive an honorary degree from Northern Illinois University during the Graduate School commencement ceremony on Friday, May 13, 2022.
White’s long résumé includes 33 years as a teacher and administrator in the Chicago Public Schools, military duty as a paratrooper in the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division and the Illinois National Guard and Reserve, seven years of professional baseball with the Chicago Cubs organization and, of course, the world-famous Jesse White Tumbling Team.
The secretary will receive his distinction during the Graduate School commencement, scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday, May 13, at the Convocation Center.
“NIU considers the awarding of honorary doctorates a privilege, and it is most certainly a privilege to recognize Secretary Jesse White in this way,” NIU President Dr. Lisa C. Freeman says.
“His legacy of selfless public service, his unwavering devotion to the people of Illinois, and his success at encouraging positive life outcomes for youth from marginalized communities, are unparalleled,” Freeman adds. “As he closes this long chapter of elected office, I know that Secretary White’s legacy will continue to inspire dedication to public service and commitment to advancing Illinois’ bright future.”
Under White’s more than two decades of leadership of the Secretary of State’s Office – the largest and most diverse of its kind in the country – Illinois has become a national leader in road safety through strengthening DUI laws, reforming the licensing process for truck operators and overhauling guidelines for teen drivers.
As a result of his initiatives since 1998, traffic fatalities have tumbled by 50% in terms of drunk-driving deaths and by 74% in terms of teen driving deaths.
He also is credited with significantly improving customers service by adopting new technology along with modernizing and streamlining operations that include licensing drivers; maintaining driver records; issuing state ID cards, vehicle license plates and titles; registering corporations; and administering the Organ/Tissue Donor Program.
Born in 1934 in downstate Alton, White in 1957 earned his bachelor’s degree from Alabama State College (now Alabama State University), where he was a two-sport athlete earning all-conference honors in baseball and basketball.
Returning home to Illinois, he founded the internationally known Jesse White Tumbling Team in 1959 to provide a positive alternative for children residing in public housing in and around Chicago.
Since its inception, more than 18,500 young men and women have performed with the team as White and other adults help to set them on a path to success while staying away from gangs, drugs, alcohol and smoking.
Wright, who nominated White for the honorary doctorate, calls him “a real-life Captain America.”
“I am a big Jesse White fan,” Wright says. “His impact, character, service and longevity are truly incredible.”
That “longevity” has made White the state’s longest-serving (and first Black) secretary of state – a record that has been growing daily since May 30, 2014, when he reached that distinction following landslide victories in 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014. He was elected to his sixth term in 2018.
White started his political career as an Illinois General Assembly legislator in 1976, serving the most culturally, economically and racially diverse district in the state. In 1992, he was elected to his first of two terms as Cook County Recorder of Deeds.
NIU is not alone in saluting White.
He is a member of the Illinois High School & College Driver Education Association Hall of Fame, the Chicago Public Basketball Leagues Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the Alabama State University Sports Hall of Fame.
The Chicago Park District named its Jesse White Community Center and Field House in acknowledgement of his contributions to the community. The City of Chicago designated Division Street as Jesse White Way. Hazel Crest School District 152-1/2 is home to the Jesse C. White Learning Academy.
But NIU’s honorary doctorate is White’s first.
“Secretary White has announced that he will retire from public life in 2023 at the end of his current term,” Wright says. “This is a perfect opportunity for us at NIU to recognize and celebrate all that he has accomplished and given to Illinois.”
Date posted: May 9, 2022 | Author: Andrew Pemberton | Comments Off on NIU to award honorary doctorate to Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White
The Graduate School celebrated the outstanding accomplishments of NIU’s graduate students Tuesday, April 26, 2022. These students were nominated for recognition by their academic departments, are fellowship recipients, or are dissertation and thesis prize winners. Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistants were recognized by the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning.
The following are recipients of the 2021-2022 awards:
Outstanding Graduate Student Award
Saudamini Agarwal – Counseling and Higher Education
Abby Baumbach – Family and Consumer Sciences
Hannah Conklin – Communication
Jessica Copperthite – Art and Design
Alex Craver – History
Antonio Del Valle – Biological Sciences
Austin (AJ) Dick – Physics
Sharazazi Dyson – Counseling and Higher Education
Matthew Etherington – Art and Design
Ali Faghani – Mechanical Engineering
Nick Florian – Political Science
Karleen Gernady – Public Administration
Elzbieta Iwaniuk – Chemistry and Biochemistry
Mariela Jasso – Counseling and Higher Education
Chris Johnson – Kinesiology and Physical Education
Sophia Jurkovic – Interdisciplinary Health Professions
Kacy Kane – Statistics and Actuarial Science
Karisa Kuipers – Kinesiology and Physical Education
Madison Long – Sociology
Colice McHenry – Marketing
Lixing Miao – Philosophy
Noah Neiber – History
Daniel Ortega – Economics
Kevin Parker – Chemistry and Biochemistry
Kathie-Lee Petsch – Allied Health and Communicative Disorders
Nicholas Phan – Art and Design
Brittany Price – Earth, Atmosphere and Environment
Yoonsun Pyun – Psychology
Ethan Rahman – Economics
Dylan Rambow – Mathematical Sciences
Juan Pablo Ramirez-Quiroz – Art and Design
Jonathan Regnery – Mathematical Sciences
Logan Riffle – Psychology
Anthony Salazar – English
Valronica Scales – Counseling and Higher Education
Stephanie Schmidt – Educational Technology, Research and Assessment
Payal Shah – Accountancy
Sharif Shahadat – Educational Technology, Research and Assessment
Yaxiong Shao – Earth, Atmosphere and Environment
Laurie Spencer – Biological Sciences
Hector Uriostegui – Allied Health and Communicative Disorders
Yunlong Wang – Electrical Engineering
Jennifer Waters – Health and Human Sciences
Izaiah Webb – Kinesiology and Physical Education
Beth Weltzer – Accountancy
Rachael Yoder – Theatre and Dance
Anna Zapolska – Political Science
Dissertation Completion Fellowship
LeNie A. Adolphson – History
Erick Amick – Health and Human Sciences
Hannah Baker – Health and Human Sciences
Nosheen Gul – Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations
Murshed Jahan – Economics
Benjamin Laman-Maharg – Psychology
Xun Li – Chemistry and Biochemistry
Kevin Parker – Chemistry and Biochemistry
Lei Tong – Political Science
Jennifer Waters – Health and Human Sciences
Carter G. Woodson Fellowship
Diana Robinson – Psychology
Anthony Salazar – English
Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in Illinois Fellowship
Iddrisu Bachokun Abdul Razak – Physics
Eric Junco – Curriculum and Instruction
Susana Das Neves – Counseling and Higher Education
Sharazazi Dyson – Counseling and Higher Education
Sherry Franklin – Curriculum and Instruction
DaShae Rodriguez-Harris – Psychology
Outstanding Dissertation Award
Xinyu “Judy” Hu – Psychology (Health Sciences and STEM)
JoAnn LoSavio – History (Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences and Education)
Outstanding Thesis Award
Sarah Fleck – Mechanical Engineering (Health Sciences and STEM)
Maw Maw Tun – English (Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences and Education)
Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award
Sylvie Mae Baldwin – Theatre and Dance
Jackie Cooney – Earth, Atmosphere and Environment
Natalie Low – Psychology
Elizabeth Taylor – Biological Sciences
Date posted: May 5, 2022 | Author: Andrew Pemberton | Comments Off on Outstanding graduate students honored
