College Of Arts And Sciences - Siue

New ProgramsCriminal Justice PolicyMaster’s Program CelebratesInaugural Graduating ClassThe SIUE Department of Criminal Justice Studies celebrated theinaugural graduating class of its criminal justice policy master’sprogram in December 2019.“We established this program to give students the opportunity tofurther their studies of criminal justice policy specifically,” said KevinCannon, PhD, associate professor and department chair. “We believethe program will help students improve their prospects for promotionand leadership positions in criminal justice agencies.”The program, which launched in fall 2018, provides students with astrong foundation in criminal justice theory and methods, while alsoteaching them about innovative initiatives and focus areas.“I would recommend this program to others in my field,” said CourtneyJarrell, BS criminal justice studies ’18, MS criminal justice policy ’19.“The faculty is fantastic, you can move at your own pace, and youcan earn a master’s, which may help you move up in your departmentwithin a year or two.”Student TransferProcess StreamlinedPathway Programs allow students tofollow a specific curriculum whileattending community college in order toefficiently progress toward completion ofa bachelor’s degree when they transfer toSIUE. CAS began offering the followingPathway Programs this fall:Southwestern Illinois College Applied Communication Studies Political ScienceLewis and Clark Community College Criminal Justice Studies Political ScienceLearn more at siue.edu/pathway.Online Degree Completion ProgramsCAS launched three fully online undergraduate degree completionprograms in the fall of 2020 designed to serve students who havesome college experience but have not earned a degree: Applied Communication Studies–Public Relations Track Criminal Justice Studies Integrative Studies–Emphasis on Leadership in OrganizationsLearn more at siue.edu/degree-completion.5

GivingEnduring Value of ScholarshipsDuring its virtual 2020 Honors Day program, the College of Artsand Sciences celebrated the record 289 students who received335 scholarships and awards. These scholarships not only rewardstudent achievement, but they also bridge the gap for studentswith financial need. During the next five years, CAS seeks toincrease scholarship opportunities across all disciplines to meetthe changing needs of our students.“Our students receive awards and scholarships ranging from 100 to 5,000. For some students, the money is a deal maker because withoutit, they’d either have to drop out or accumulate debt.”Musonda Kapatamoyo, PhDAssociate Professor and Chair, Department of Mass Communications“This award has reignited my determination and ambition tosucceed in the end of my college career. It will also help meachieve future success in my career field to serve others.”Dalia HassanBS Chemistry ’20Dr. Emil Jason Memorial Award in Chemistry“Our students work with marginalized populations, and many ofour students have experienced their own financial challenges orother sources of stress. The scholarships they receive help them tomeet their needs in order to successfully complete their degrees.”Jill Schreiber, PhDAssociate Professor and Chair, Department of Social Work6To learn moreabout creating a scholarshipfor College of Arts and Sciencesstudents, contact Kyle Moore,director of development.

“This scholarship helps to alleviatesome of the financial burden andthe worry about if I can affordanother semester or not. Every littlebit helps, and had things workedout differently, this scholarshipcould have been the defining factorin allowing me to continue myacademic career.”Hope KriskoSophomore, Anthropology and FrenchMikkilineni Family Scholarship for theCollege of Arts and Sciences“Not only is this scholarship aluxury to have, but it is also amotivating factor for me to be thebest individual and musician Ican be because I know there arepeople who are supporting me.”Daniel DayJunior, Jazz PerformanceSt. Louis Jazz Club Bev Elliot Award,Department of MusicNew College of Artsand Sciences ScholarshipsAkhunkhail Family Scholarship 1,000 gift 1,000 scholarship forsocial work majorsDavid A. Harrison Scholarship 5,000 gift 200 scholarship forsocial work majorsAnn L. BanduhnMemorial Scholarship 15,000 gift 500 scholarship for mathematicsand statistics and business majorsMikkilineni Family Scholarshipfor the College of Arts and Sciences 1,500 gift 500 scholarship for CASundergraduate majors 1,000 scholarship for CASgraduate majorsMichael, Al, Rich, Len,Fred, David BernardScholarship Endowment 25,000 gift 1,000 scholarship for CAS majorsJeffrey S. Hammer, MD,Memorial ScholarshipEndowment 500,000 giftFull-ride scholarship forhealthcare informatics majorsShirley Motley Portwoodand Harry MichaelPortwood Scholarship 500 gift 500 scholarship for history majorsSIR Foundation Scholarship 1,000 gift 1,000 scholarship forsocial work majorsSupport the Legacy of Shirley Portwood“Without awards like this I wouldnot be able to create and fund thework I produce. They truly influencewhich shows I have been acceptedinto, residency opportunities andgraduate school opportunities.”Joseph OvalleBachelor of Fine Arts ’20Thomas and Carol Gipe Awardin Sculpturekymoore@siue.edu618-650-5048Give onlinesiue.edu/giveThe SIUE Department of Historyhas established the Shirley MotleyPortwood and Harry MichaelPortwood Scholarship to honor SIUEalumna, professor emerita and formerSIU Board of Trustees member ShirleyPortwood, PhD.This scholarship will be availableto full-time students majoring inhistory, with preference given to Blackstudents. A committee of Departmentof History faculty members will selectthe first recipient in spring 2021 basedon the excellence of the student’s workand his/her desire to become active inpolitics or education in the future.Our goal is to raise 25,000 in order topermanently endow this scholarship. Please help us acknowledge and rewardDr. Portwood’s legacy by doing what she loves most: helping students achievetheir educational aspirations.To make your gift, visit siue.edu/give and enter the scholarship name in theFund Designation box, or contact Kyle Moore, director of development, at618-650-5048 or kymoore@siue.edu.7

Alumni SpotlightsSussman Tockstein MakesHer Mark on the WorldIn less than a year after graduating from SIUEwith a bachelor’s in international studies, DianaSussman Tockstein, ’19, landed her dream job asthe development coordinator for Junior ChamberInternational (JCI), presented workshops in fourcountries, and was promoted to the organization’spartnerships manager.Bradford Chosenas Harris-Stowe StateUniversity’s 20th PresidentSIUE alumnus Corey S. Bradford Sr., PhD, ’93, ’95,returned to his native St. Louis in May to becomethe 20th president of Harris-Stowe State University(HSSU), the region’s only historically Black collegeand university. Bradford previously served as seniorvice president for business affairs at Prairie ViewA&M University in Prairie View, Texas. He began his26-year career in higher education in the SouthernIllinois University System, where he held severalleadership positions during his 16-year tenure.“I am beyond excited for the opportunity to returnto my hometown and lead Harris-Stowe StateUniversity as its 20th president,” said Bradford,who holds a bachelor’s in mathematical studies/statistics and a master’s in mathematics from SIUE.“I have great admiration for what the university hasachieved in its 163 years, and I am excited to be apart of the university’s bright future.”Arriving at HSSU amid a global pandemic, Bradfordimmediately began working with his colleagues todevelop a framework for how they would safelycontinue educating their students. He also startedto lay the foundation for his plans to move theuniversity forward.Bradford’s vision for the future of HSSU includesan increased focus on student success and retentionthrough tutoring programs, internships, studyabroad opportunities and faculty-led studentresearch programming, to name a few. Bradfordis committed to ensuring HSSU is a place wherecurrent and future students will continue to thrivefor many years to come.8JCI is a nonprofit of young, active citizens fromaround the world who are committed to creatingimpact in their communities. In her current role,Sussman Tockstein manages partnerships withlike-minded organizations and develops relevantprograms and projects that align with JCI’s mission.She also presents workshops in person and online toaudiences around the globe.According to Sussman Tockstein, the knowledge andexperience she gained while at SIUE allowed her todream big—and to successfully fulfill those dreamsupon graduation.“One of the main questions I received whenpursuing my degree was, ‘what can you actually dowith a liberal arts degree?’” Sussman Tockstein said.“The answer, I came to find out, is—anything! Mywell-rounded education helps me every single day,professionally and personally.”

Left Photo: A portrait from Lee’s “Cancelled Prom” photo essay included in Rolling Stone and National GeographicRight Photo: Christian K. Lee, BS Mass Communications ’18Lee Uses Photography to Share Stories Across AmericaChristian K. Lee, ’18, has been bringing images of life acrossthe U.S. to readers since 2013, when he began showcasingSIUE campus life as the photo editor of The Alestle, SIUE’sstudent newspaper. Since then, Lee, who earned a bachelor’sin mass communications, has gone on to capture everythingfrom Black Lives Matter protests for The Associated Pressto the impacts of COVID-19 in his photo essay entitled“Cancelled Prom,” which has been featured in Rolling Stoneand National Geographic.Lee was inspired to develop his “Cancelled Prom”photo essay in the spring of 2020 after learning aboutthe high school seniors in his central Texas communitywho didn’t have the opportunity to attend their seniorprom due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lee’s photoscaught the attention of Rolling Stone, which publisheda slideshow of his work in June. His photo essaywas also featured in National Geographic magazine’sNovember special issue focused on the pandemic.“My camera and I have ridden all over the countrymaking photos together, from as far east as D.C. with TheWashington Post to as far west as L.A. with the Los AngelesTimes,” notes Lee, who is also a full-time commissionedofficer with the U.S. Army. “My work is not about me, it'sabout others. I have utilized my camera as a tool to learnabout people from all over.”In addition to taking time to document the lives ofhis neighbors and community members, Lee plans tocontinue traveling the country, using his camera to tellthe stories of others.Lee’s work first drew public acclaim in 2015 when hedisplayed his exhibit “Ferguson Unrest” at SIUE followingthe fatal shooting of Michael Brown. Since then, Lee hascontinued to bring coverage of Black Lives Matter proteststo readers across the country.“I learned photography just as one would learn toride a bike,” Lee said. “Sometimes you fall, but all thefalls are worth the ride, and I’m having a great ride.”View Lee’s work atchristianklee.com.9

Faculty & Student SpotlightsDiSalvo Honored forContributions to Research,Educating Next GenerationSusanne DiSalvo, PhD, assistant professor in the Departmentof Biological Sciences, has gained a strong reputation for herresearch contributions and dedication to educating the nextgeneration of researchers. These efforts were formally recognizedwhen she earned the SIUE Graduate School’s 2020-21 VaughnieLindsay New Investigator Award.DiSalvo’s research focuses on the process of symbiosis, aninteraction of two different organisms living together in whichrelationships can be neutral, positive or negative. By studyingthese relationships, she hopes to further the understanding of thissymbiotic spectrum by studying the intimate interactions betweenamoeba hosts and their bacterial symbionts.“I was thrilled to receive this award,” said DiSalvo, who joinedthe SIUE faculty in 2016. “It has provided me with the resourcesto propel my research forward, generate preliminary data to applyfor competitive grants, and help me train and fund phenomenalSIUE student researchers in the lab.”DiSalvo received a combined 12,500 from the Graduate Schooland the College of Arts and Sciences to support her researchproject, “Connecting Unique Outcomes with Dynamic InfectionProcesses in an Emerging Microbial Symbiosis System.”“My lab works to highlight the diverse consequences thatbacterial symbionts impart to their hosts and how environmentalcontext modifies these consequences,” said DiSalvo. “Currently,we have made good headway on describing these interactions.The work enabled by receiving this award will begin us on ourtrajectory of dissecting the molecular mechanisms that mediatethe infection process.”“Dr. DiSalvo’s fundamental research in microbial symbioticrelationships will lead to new knowledge and understandingof infection processes and, more importantly, new treatmentsfor infections,” said Jerry Weinberg, PhD, associate provost forresearch and dean of the Graduate School. “Our current situationclearly shows how important her work is to our future.”While DiSalvo’s research doesn’t relate directly to thecoronavirus, she can make several connections that may provebeneficial to fighting the virus in the future. Among theseconnections is her research on bacteriophages, which are virusesspecific to bacteria.“Although these are not eukaryotic viruses like coronaviruses,there are similarities between the infectious cycle for all viruses.Much of the information gained from studying bacterial virusescan be applied to human viruses,” said DiSalvo. “In my lab andin my virology class, we conduct research with bacteriophagesthat ultimately teaches students techniques that are relevant toall fields of virology.”10

Student BoostsEdwardsville PublicLibrary’s OutreachDuring PandemicBrejani Owens, BSW ’19, MSW ’20, was drawn tothe field of social work because of her commitmentto helping disadvantaged, underrepresented andoppressed populations. She was able to put thesepassions to work when she became the EdwardsvillePublic Library’s first social work intern in January2020. Library Director Jill Schardt developed theposition in response to the growing social serviceneeds of patrons and area residents.“We try to serve the needs of everyone who entersour library, but there are some needs we are notequipped to handle,” Schardt said. “It is importantto treat people with respect and listen to their voices,yet still be grounded in how we can assist. Brejanibrought a wonderful combination of empathy andclear thinking to her role.”During her first several weeks on the job, thengraduate student Owens hit the ground running,meeting with local social service agencies to learnabout the resources they offer and how they couldsupport the library’s patrons. She held office hoursat the library and hosted a meet-and-greet event tointroduce herself and her role to the community.Owens modified her day-to-day activities whilemaintaining her growing involvement in thecommunity when the COVID-19 pandemiccaused the library to temporarily close in March.“I had a list of patrons who were 65 and older. Icalled and checked on them, asked if their familiesneeded anything, and shared resource information,”said Owens, whose list contained 1,000 names. “Ialso called to be a listening ear.”An important aspect of Owens’ work from theoutset was to learn where gaps existed in the socialservices provided for Madison County residents.According to Owens, the pandemic made these voidseasier to identify.“Even with the struggles the pandemic hasprovided, I saw how the community came togetherto provide for that gap in services,” she said. “Itwas easier for me to identify the real needs ofthe community.”While Owens’ internship ended in August when shegraduated from SIUE, her dedication establisheda solid path forward for the library to continueproviding additional social services for its patrons.“I want to help as many people as possible,”Owens added. “I expect the library to continue thisextremely important work well into the future.”11

Community OutreachFrom left, Robert Dixon, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry; Kevin Tucker, PhD, assistant professor in the Departmentof Chemistry; and Courtney Breckenridge, educational outreach specialist; are among the faculty and staff leading this project.Increasing Water Security Through Public Awareness,Knowledge and Professional DevelopmentA 100,000 environmental education grant from the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency is allowing a team ofSIUE faculty, staff and students to address critical waterissues within local and regional waterways.The team is specifically targeting emerging pollutants,such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products, andregulated pollutants, such as phosphates and nitrates.Illinois’ proximity to major waterways and the rust andcorn belts uniquely positions SIUE to tackle such issuesthroughout the region.The project involves training undergraduate studentsto collect field water samples and assess water qualitythrough chemical testing. Then, research findings will beused by local partners to create interactive displays andconduct local training events.12Kevin Tucker, PhD, assistant professor in the Departmentof Chemistry, is the project’s principal investigator (PI).Co-PIs include Robert Dixon, PhD, associate professor inthe Department of Chemistry; Matthew Maas, directorof the Environmental Resource Training Center at SIUE;Educational Outreach Specialist Courtney Breckenridge;and Connie Frey Spurlock, PhD, associate professor ofsociology and director of the SIUE Successful CommunitiesCollaborative.“We will provide region-specific data to inform decisionsmade in the greater St. Louis area by industry, agricultureand residents alike,” Tucker said. “Considering the mightyMississippi to the west and Lake Michigan to the north,the ‘freshwater’ resources available to Illinois could makeit a leader in water supply, provided that the pollution ofour water is managed.”

Bringing Operato Local SchoolsFor many people, exposure to classical musicforms such as opera come much later inlife than elementary school. Thanks to apartnership between the SIUE Departmentof Music and local arts organization OperaEdwardsville, more than 1,000 loca

the world. Excellence in research transforms our vision of reality. Excellence in the arts transforms the observer and their emotions. Excellence in education transforms both the student and the instructor. But the pursuit of excellence requires determination and persistence." He continued, "May this pursuit of excellence continue to .