WIU Department News

Brice to lecture at Northwestern University

Tue, 13 May 2008 14:22:18 GMT

Dr. Lee Brice, mentor to the ballistae-building marauders (a.k.a., History 430 students) who recently laid siege to the lawns east of Morgan hall will lecture on Wednesday, May 14 at 6:30 p.m. in the Forum Room of Northwestern University's Library. His lecture entitled "Chariots and Charioteering in the Ancient Roman World" is presented in conjunction with the exhibit Life Turns on Two Wheels, on view through June 26 at Northwestern University Library.

While we're not sure where one parks a chariot on the Northwestern Campus, the event is free and open to the public.

Dean Levi extends thanks for a succesful Undergraduate Research Day

Tue, 13 May 2008 14:22:18 GMT

Please, accept my congratulations on another outstanding Undergraduate Research Day. This year, as in years past, the College of Arts and Sciences had an outstanding representation. There were 125 projects presented by CAS students from a total of 158 for the university as a whole. I extend a personal thank you to our 66 faculty members who mentored 147 CAS student-presenters at 2008 Undergraduate Research Day; almost every department participated.

Thank you for the efforts you make on behalf of our students. Every day, you work to foster a rich and diverse learning environment, which is so important to the success of our students.

Thank you to all the Faculty Mentors:

Audrey Watkins, African American Studies

Nancy Kwang Johnson, African American Studies

Abdul-Rasheed Na'Allah, African American Studies

Jo Ann Morgan, African American Studies

Susan Meiers, Biological Sciences

Brain Peer, Biological Sciences

Jeffrey Engel, Biological Sciences

Laura Barden-Gabbei, Biological Sciences

Matthew Bonnan, Biological Sciences

Kenneth McCravy, Biological Sciences

Shawn Meagher, Biological Sciences

Richard Anderson, Biological Sciences

Richard Musser, Biological Sciences

Scott Holt, Biological Sciences

Timothy Spier, Biological Sciences

Jack Huang, Chemistry

LisaWen, Chemistry

Ashish Pathak, Chemistry

Netkal Made Gowda, Chemistry

Thottumkara Vinod, Chemistry

Xiaoping Pan, Chemistry

Scott McConnell, Chemistry

Amy Patrick, English and Journalism

Lisa Barr, English and Journalism

Shazia Rahman, English and Journalism

Chris Sutton, Geography

Yongxin Deng, Geography

Kyle Mayborn, Geology

Leslie Melim, Geology

Steve Bennett, Geology

Greg Hall, History

Virginia Boynton, History

Jennifer McNabb, History

Lee Brice, History

Walter Kretchik, History

Boris Petracovici, Mathematics

Feridun Tasdan, Mathematics

Iraj Kalantari, Mathematics

James Olsen, Mathematics

Marko Kranjc, Mathematics

Rumen Dimitrov, Mathematics

Victoria Baramidze, Mathematics

Amy Carr, Philosophy and Religious Studies

Igor Shovkovy, Physics

James Rabchuk, Physics

Mark Boley, Physics

Pengqian Wang, Physics

Julia Albarracin, Political Science

Curt Dunkel, Psychology

Eugene Mathes, Psychology

Kimberley McClure, Psychology

Kristine Kelly, Psychology

Matt Blankenship, Psychology

Melanie Hetzel-Riggin, Psychology

David Lane, Psychology

Russell Morgan, Psychology

Sandra McFadden, Psychology

Elgin Mannion, Sociology and Anthropology

Jessica White, Sociology and Anthropology

Lora Ebert Wallace, Sociology and Anthropology

Oswald Warner, Sociology and Anthropology

Tammy Werner, Sociology and Anthropology

Craig Tollini , Sociology and Anthropology

Doris Hambuch, Women's Studies

Holly Stovall, Women's Studies

Lori Baker-Sperry, Women's Studies

History alumnus Behr makes bid for Florida circuit court bench

Tue, 13 May 2008 14:22:18 GMT

History alumnus Richard Behr (CAS '77) has entered the race for Monroe County, Florida circuit court judge. See the full story by clicking here.

CAS Spring Awards Reception on May 2

Tue, 13 May 2008 14:22:18 GMT

Western Illinois University's College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) will host its 2008 Spring Awards Reception beginning at 4 p.m. Friday, May 2 in the University Union Lamoine Room.

Hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar will be available, and music will be provided by the CAS faculty group "The Endnotes."

Faculty, student and Student Council awards will be presented beginning at 4:45 p.m.

Retiring faculty to be honored include Bill Combs, history professor, who came to Western in 1966; Ken Mietus, sociology professor, 1972; Polly Radosh, department of women's studies chairperson, 1984; Paula Wise, psychology professor, 1977; and Janna Haworth, English instructor, 2001.

Faculty awards will be presented to Amy Carr, associate professor in the philosophy and religious studies department, for teaching; Efrain Ferrer, physics professor, for research/scholarly activities; Matthew Blankenship, associate professor of psychology, for service; Heather McIlvaine-Newsad, associate professor of anthropology, for teaching with technology; Vincent Auger, professor of political science, for internationalization; Marjorie Allison, associate professor of English, for multicultural teaching; Michael Romano, professor of biological sciences, for undergraduate research throughout a career; and Lee Brice, history professor, for recent undergraduate research.

Senior political science major Julia Remes (Saint Paul, MN) will be recognized as the CAS Spring 2008 Cecile A. Christison Sterrett College Scholar.

Student Council Honorary Recognition Awards will be presented to senior English major Annette Glotfelty (O'Fallon, IL), humanities; senior psychology major Ray Serra (Silvis, IL), social sciences; and senior mathematics major Sarah Cane (Quincy, IL), mathematics and natural sciences.

The chemistry club will receive the Student Council Departmental Organization Award.

The Spring 2008 College of Arts and Sciences Student/Faculty Research and Creative Activity Fund Awards will be presented to Beverly Thompson (Biology) and W. Aaron Collie (English & Journalism).

The awards reception is open to the campus community.

WIU Students Demonstrate History Research Projects; Ballistae, Stocks

Tue, 13 May 2008 14:22:18 GMT

MACOMB, IL - - Get ready! It's time for Western Illinois University's history research reality games and demonstrations, scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday, May 1 on the campus mall east of Morgan Hall.

Students in the History 430G "Topics in Ancient History" course taught by Associate Professor of History Lee Brice, and in the History 482 "Topics in European History" course taught by Assistant Professor of History Jennifer McNabb have engaged in research projects that explore the past through experimental archaeology. This year's demonstration will include two ballistae, which were modified by Romans and used as siege engines and later battlefield artillery; some Roman soldiers in battlefield armor; and public punishment devices from early modern England, including stocks and a pillory.

Student researchers include junior history major Myles Cameron (Edwardsville, IL) demonstrating a small ballista; senior history major Rob Ramaker (Keokuk, IA) and graduate student/alumnus Dirk Yarker (Peoria, IL; B.A. History, 2006), demonstrating a large ballista; who are mentored by Brice. Senior history education major Abby Lagemann (Pittsfield, IL) researched the stocks and pillory, under the guidance of McNabb.

"We will be test-firing the ballistae for range and accuracy and testing the pillory and other gear for effectiveness," Brice said. "There will also be some Roman armor so people can see why it was effective.

"The University and surrounding communities are invited to join us in celebrating undergraduate research and in testing our historical hypotheses," he added.

The students received College of Arts and Sciences research awards to assist with building their projects. Brice also received a grant from the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs to fund the undergraduate research. In addition, Lagemann won a Norman and Cermelita Teeter Research Grant to fund her travel expenses to present her research at the Phi Alpha Theta History Honors Society regional conference in Terra Haute, IN.

This is the fourth annual student research demonstration - - or field exercise, as he calls it - - for Brice's class. The first, in Spring 2005, was a mock battle between Greek hoplite warriors and ancient Roman soldiers. It included the first demonstration of a trebuchet, a large siege engine.

The event is free and open to the public.

Copy By: Bonnie Barker, University Relations
Phone: (309) 298-1993 * Fax: (309) 298-1606

History majors present research at Phi Alpha Theta conference

Tue, 13 May 2008 14:22:18 GMT

Four WIU History majors presented papers based on their original historical research at the Spring 2008 Regional Phi Alpha Theta (History Honorary Society) Conference in Terre Haute, Indiana. The WIU contingent won the Conference Award for Furthest Distance Traveled.

Two of the undergraduates had been awarded prestigious Norman and Carmelita Teeter Research Grants by the College of Arts and Sciences as well as Department of History Undergraduate Research Awards, to fund their presentations at the April 2008 conference. Andrea Van Drew, of Chadwick, was awarded a $300 Teeter Research Grant and a $75 History Undergraduate Research Award to support her research presentation, “Blood, Politics, and Religion: The Colosseum as an Enduring Icon of Rome”; Ms. Van Drew was mentored by Dr. Lee Brice, Associate Professor of History at WIU. Abby Lagemann, originally from Pittsfield, was also awarded a $300 Teeter Research Grant and a $75 History Undergraduate Research Award to help defray the costs of her presentation, “Judicial Punishment in Elizabethan England.” Ms. Lagemann’s faculty mentor for this project was Dr. Jennifer McNabb, Assistant Professor of History at WIU.

Also presenting at the Conference was Myles Cameron, of Edwardsville, who had been awarded a $300 College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Activity Grant and a $75 Department of History Undergraduate Research Award for this presentation. His paper, "Seeking Sorceresses: Torture and its Effects on Witchcraft Prosecutions in Early Modern Scotland” was based on the research he completed under the mentorship of Dr. McNabb. Presenting in the graduate category at the conference was WIU History Department alumna, Ashley Eberle, of Spring Grove, mentored by Dr. Virginia Boynton, Professor of History and Interim Department Chair. Ms. Eberle graduated summa cum laude in December 2007 as the History Department’s “Department Scholar” and as the “College Scholar” of the Centennial Honors College; she was also chosen as the University’s Commencement Speaker for the December 2007 Commencement Ceremony. Ms. Eberle’s presentation, "Creating Solidarity Through Structure: The Organization of the Chicago Women's Liberation Union, 1969-1977," was based on her research for the Honors Thesis she completed in 2007 under the direction of Dr. Boynton.

Copy By: Virginia Boynton, History Department
Phone: (309) 298-2323

Call for proposals: CAS Undergraduate Scholarship and Creative Activity Summer Institute

Tue, 13 May 2008 14:22:18 GMT

To support and expand undergraduate research activities and faculty/student mentoring at Western Illinois University, the College of Arts and Sciences has organized the Second Annual Undergraduate Scholarship and Creative Activity Summer Institute (Western SCAI), which supports undergraduate students. Western SCAI participation provides more critical faculty-student mentoring opportunities for research and creative activities, adding additional value to students’ learning experience and giving them a competitive edge in career and post-baccalaureate educational opportunities.

Awardees will receive tuition and fees for one semester hour tutored study during summer 2008. The Institute will involve students and faculty in departments and programs in Humanities, Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Social Sciences. Participating faculty members will serve on the SCAI advisory board and receive a $100 stipend. There will be several weekly meetings of the whole group, and additional meetings of individual students with their faculty mentors. At the completion of SCAI, the students will produce a portfolio of their research, including a project (individual or group) that will be submitted for the following Spring Undergraduate Research Day. We will also host a mini-conference presenting students work.

CLICK HERE for the Summer 2008 grant application and instructions in the attached file (please note that the application and instructions are provided in MS-Word format. If you need accommodation to access this document, please call Sue Martinelli-Fernandez at x1828). The deadline for submission of Summer 2008 Western SCAI applications is April 22, 2008. The College’s Undergraduate Research Committee will award these grants. Acceptance notifications are scheduled for April 29, 2008.

Each student must have a faculty mentor helping that student with the application process as well as providing guidance of the research process itself during the summer. Abstracts/summaries must be crafted such that any non-specialist will understand the purpose and goals of the research project. Please remember that all application materials must be typed or computer-printed. It is assumed that while students write their own summaries, faculty mentors review this and other documents to be submitted. Please feel free to contact Sue Martinelli-Fernandez via email (martinelli-fernandez@wiu.edu) or telephone (x1828) if you have any questions regarding the application process.

Copy By: Susan Martinelli-Fernandez, College of Arts and Sciences
Phone: (309) 298-1828 * Fax: (309) 298-2585

Learn About WIU's Pre-Engineering and UIUC Engineering Programs

Tue, 13 May 2008 14:22:18 GMT

MACOMB, IL - - Students interested in engineering can learn more about the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's College of Engineering and Western Illinois University's Pre-Engineering program at a 4 p.m. Thursday, April 10 informational session in Currens Hall 210. Refreshments will be served beginning at 3:30 p.m.

Bruce Elliot-Litchfield, UIUC's College of Engineering dean, will discuss the different options for students who wish to start their engineering education at Western. The options include transferfing to UIUC after two or three years as undergraduates, or completing a degree in physics or math at Western and then enrolling in UIUC's graduate engineering program. He will also discuss career options for students who graduate with a B.S., M.S. or Ph.D. in engineering from UIUC.

For more information, contact Physics Professor James Rabchuk, 309/298-2577, or e-mail JA-Rabchuk@wiu.edu.

Copy By: Bonnie Barker, University Relations
Phone: (309) 298-1993 * Fax: (309) 298-1606

CAS Travel Policy Update

Tue, 13 May 2008 14:22:18 GMT

TRAVEL POLICY

Supplemental funds

The College of Arts and Sciences’ travel policy provides $400 in support (if matched by departments) of faculty travel to present academic papers this year. This is an increase of $50 from 2006-07 and $100 from 2005-06.

We have received requests for additional support of travel. As we approach the end of the budget year we will assess (as we do each year) what funds might be available to supplement our initial travel allocations.

We ask that faculty, through their department chairs, submit requests for supplemental funding. The requests should be rank ordered by the department with a statement of justification. Once we have ascertained if supplemental funding will be available we will request and review the information and allocate the funds available.

ROMANO TO GIVE REPRISE OF DISTINGUISHED FACULTY LECTURE TODAY ON QUAD CITIES CAMPUS

Tue, 13 May 2008 14:22:18 GMT

** UPDATED 03/24/2008 **

ROMANO TO GIVE REPRISE OF DISTINGUISHED FACULTY LECTURE TODAY ON QUAD CITIES CAMPUS

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL - - Michael Romano, Western Illinois University professor of biological sciences, will deliver the University’s 2008 Distinguished Faculty Lecture, which will explore benefits and problems DNA technology has on society.

Romano's lecture, "DNA Technology and Pandora's Box," will be presented at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 19 in the College of Fine Arts and Communication Recital Hall, Simpkins Hall, on the Macomb campus and at 3 p.m. Monday, March 24 at the WIU-Quad Cities (Room 102), in Moline.

"Current DNA technology has caused extraordinary changes within our society," Romano said. "While this technology is having increasingly positive effects on our everyday life, it also poses great problems for society, particularly in the area of healthcare. Genetic information has the potential for harming individuals if misused and legislative attempts at preventing this will be discussed.

"I think people will find some of the stories and anecdotes involving DNA applications both amusing as well as surprising. Although, some will know a few of the applications from popular television shows and the like, I hope to emphasize the significance to both science and society regarding the application of DNA technology," he added.

Romano, curator of reptiles and amphibians for Western's biology department, specializes in the areas of population genetics and molecular ecology of a wide variety of animals. He has a special interest in the genetic relationships of the hylid frogs, Mississippi turtles and Illinois wild turkey.

Much of Romano's research since he joined Western's faculty in 1984 has been through the University's Alice L. Kibbe Life Science Station, located near the Mississippi River in Warsaw (IL). Each summer since 2002, Romano and five co-principal investigators from the department, mentor a team of high-achieving high school students from across the country through the Student Challenge Awards Program's (SCAP) Earthwatch Institute, as they work together on longterm riparian (river bank) and aquatic ecosystem monitoring projects on the Upper Mississippi River.

"We are very proud of the SCAP program at our field station. Over the past few years, my colleagues and I have gotten very high quality assistance from some of the brightest young high school students I have ever met," Romano said. "Many of these students have found their field experience at Kibbe so valuable that they have actually changed their minds about their career paths and gone into ecology, environmental science or other related biological fields."

Kibbe is unique as a field station because of its geographic location in the Upper Mississippi River System (UMRS), an area of great ecological and economic importance which in 1986 was recognized as a nationally significant ecosystem by Congress, Romano said.

The teaching and research station is on a 200-mile stretch of the UMRS and offers a diversity of aquatic and terrestrial communities, which makes the station an important venue for future studies of the influence of human activities on the UMRS and the unique ecosystems within the UMRS watershed. The portion of the river associated with Kibbe and Pool 19, just upstream of the station, provides critical habitat to some 40 freshwater mussels and 150 species of fish, including the state endangered lake sturgeon, the rare blue sucker and paddlefish; as well as 90 species of breeding birds, 70 species of butterflies and some of the most rare diverse plant communities in the Midwest in hill prairie, sand prairies and oak savannas, he added.

Romano was among four co-principal investigators who helped secure a $243,300 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), which – along with matching money from the University – funded a nearly $500,000 environmentally-friendly multipurpose facility addition to Kibbe which opened in 2004. The NSF grant was among 18 funded projects from 68 proposals nationwide.

He has presented some 60 professional papers and abstracts; has contributed 19 articles to professional journals; and has supervised 15 master's theses and nine honors theses. He has served on numerous departmental committees. At the University level, Romano has served as vice president (2004-2007) of the Western Illinois Chapter of University Professionals of Illinois (UPI), the UPI/Administration negotiation of contract agreement (2006-2007), the University Graduate Council (2006-2007) and the Distance Learning Advisory Board (2007). He also served as an elected member of the Upper Mississippi River Research Consortium executive board in the roles of president (2003-2004), vice president (2002-2003) and secretary (2000-2002).

Prior to coming to Western Illinois, Romano was a Teaching Fellow (1980-1981 and 1982-1983) and Dissertation Fellow (1983-1984) at Miami University, Oxford, OH.

Romano earned his Ph.D. (1984) from Miami University and his master's (1980) and bachelor's (1976) degrees from the University of Vermont.

Western Illinois first presented an annual lecturer award in 1969 to honor an outstanding faculty member whose professional development in research or creative activity, teaching and service to the University represent the highest standards of the academic community. In 1998 the award was renamed the Distinguished Faculty Lecturer.

Copy By: Bonnie Barker, University Relations
Phone: (309) 298-1993 * Fax: (309) 298-1606