Western Illinois University: Macomb Campus

Dr. McIlvaine-Newsad provides commentary for local NPR station on Value of Study Abroad Experiences

Dr. Heather McIlvaine-Newsad, professor of Anthropology, recently provided a short commentary to WIUM/WIUW TriStates Public Radio on the value of study abroad and ethnography. To listen and read her commentary, click here: Heather McIlvaine-Newsad May commentary.

Dr. Oswald Warner receives President's Excellence in Diversity, Employee Award

Dr. Oswald Warner, Associate Professor of Sociology, has been awarded the President's Excellenced in Diversity Award for 2011. Award recipients will be honored at the President's 22nd Annual Excellence in Diversity Reception on Thursday, May 5, 2011.

Dr. Tammy Werner interviewed for WQPT "The Cities" episode on Union History and it's Future.

Dr. Tammy Werner, Assistant Professor of Sociology was recently interviewed by WQPT regarding union history and recent attacks on public union employees in Wisconsin and other states. You can view the entire interview at the link posted below.

http://www.youtube.com/wqptpbs#p/u/5/MXl_S3iYo08

Dr. Heather McIlvaine-Newsad and Dr. Sarah Haynes to lead Study Abroad "Stories of India" January 2-14, 2012.

Dr. Heather McIlvaine-Newsad, Professor of Anthropology and Dr. Sarah Haynes, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies will lead a study abroad to India in January 2012. Information sessions will be held on April 27th from noon-1:00 in Morgan 324
and May 5th from 3:30-4:43 in Morgan 320. For additional information on the program "Stories of India" and registration requirements, see course flyer or contact Dr. McIlvaine-Newsad, Dr. Sarah Haynes, or Kim McDaniel at the Office of Study Abroad at Western Illinois University.

Sociology and Anthropology Students Present at Thomas E. Helm Undergraduate Research Day on April 20, 2011

Eight students in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology participated in podium and poster presentations during the most recent Undergraduate Research Day held on April 20, 2011.

• Shawn Fitzpatrick with Lora Ebert Wallace, Sociology and Anthropology – Gender Congruence and Gender Attitudes in Occupational Aspirations
• Sheila Kuck with David Casagrande, Sociology and Anthropology – Examining Wild Edible Plant Knowledge: A Valid Cultural Domain in Illinois, USA
• Rebecca Rowland with Lora Ebert Wallace, Sociology and Anthropology – Attitudes and Beliefs Pertaining to Stereotyped and Gendered Roles in Medical Professions
• Mercedes Taylor with Jessica White and Matt Bonnan, Sociology and Anthropology – Differential Longbone Growth in Eutherian Mammals
• Steven Wright and Kelley Speck with David Rohall, Sociology and Anthropology – Influences of Smoking Behavior at Western Illinois University
• Brandon Wright with Elgin Mannion, Sociology and Anthropology – Drug Index Crimes Across Illinois Counties: Does Race Affect Arrest Rates?
• Justin Venturini with Elgin Mannion, Sociology and Anthropology – Deterrent Effect of Police Presence across Illinois Counties on Total Index Crimes and Drug Arrests

Additional congratulations to Justin Venturini, third place winnder of the podium award.
Additional information and abstracts for research presented at the 2011 Undergraduate Research Day is available at wiu.edu/honors under "Honors Special Events."

Mercedes Taylor, Senior, pictured with President Al Goldfarb and Provost Jack Thomas

Dr. Jess White and Dr. Matt Bonnan receive "Best in Track" Award at 2011 WIU Symposium on Teaching, Research, and Creative Activities

Assistant Professor of Anthropology Dr. Jess White and Dr. Matt Bonnan, Associate Professor of Biology, received the "Best in Track" for Research Development Activities at the annual WIU Symposium on Teaching, Research, and Creative Actrivities held on April 8, 2011. The presentation was titled, "The Contribution of Embryonic Bone Development to Diet and Locomotion."

Dr. Tawnya Adkins Covert awarded 2011 CAS "Outstanding Teaching with Technology" Award.

Associate Professor of Sociology Tawnya Adkins Covert was among several faculty honored on April 11, 2011 at the CAS Spring Awards Ceremony. Dr. Adkins Covert received the College of Arts and Sciences Award for "Outstanding Teaching with Technology."

Professor Chris Adamski-Mietus's Sociology 100 FYE Students Present 3rd Annual "Peep Show Project"

For the third year in a row, Professor of Sociology Chris Adamski-Mietus has challenged her students to apply their understanding of Sociological Terms and Concepts learned during the semester to create visual projects using Peeps candies. The "Peep Show Project." Additional photos are posted on the Department of Sociology and Anthropology's Facebook Page, along with descriptions of each project. You can see the projects yourself by stopping by the stairwell outside of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology main office on the fourth floor of Morgan Hall.

Ten Department of Sociology and Anthropology Graduate Students Present Papers at the 2011 Midwest Sociological Society Meetings

• Jenna Pirok, Elizabeth Webb, Daryl Turrentine, Kenny Kovacs, Robert L Shelby, Arturo Gonzalez, and Richard Gee, "Dichotomous Strategies of Writing: Collective Production in Lieu of Individualistic Methods"
• Daryl Turrentineand Richard Gee, "Comparison of Racial Attitudes by Age and Race between 1998-2008."
• Doreen A Dedjoe and Robert J Hironimus-Wendt, "Gated Communities and Glass Ceilings: Revealing Discrimination in Higher Education Labor Markets
• Amy R Crosby, "Romanticized Images of Sexual Victimization in Young Adult Literature: The Twilight Series"
• Robert L Shelby, "One Church with Multiple Locations: Exploring The Crossing Church, a Multi-sited Religious Organization"
• Derek Kleinschmidt and Richard Gee, "Freedom or Tetheredness: Vehicle Propulsion in a Socio-Historical Context"
• Frederick L Hunter, "Religious Marginalization: Homophobia in the US Black Church and Black Community"
• Arturo Gonzalez, "Rationalizations for Geographic Persistence of Non-Migratory Latino Undocumented Immigrants"
• Jenna Pirok, "Framing Processes Construct a Social Movement: The Analysis of Five Prominent SMO’s within the Breast Cancer Awareness Movement"
• Kenny Kovacs, "A Historical Analysis of Physician Assisted Suicide: How Illinois Decided to Criminalize Euthanasia"

African American Studies Announces New Social Justice Award

Initiated by Robert Hironimus-Wendt, associate professor of sociology, and Alphonso Simpson, Jr., interim chair and associate professor of African American studies, the Social Justice Award includes a $250 check to the selected individual. The award is open to all students in all majors, and it will be presented for the first time in Fall 2011 to a senior who is in good academic standing.

Additional Information about the award can be found at: http://www.wiu.edu/news/newsrelease.php?release_id=8863.