Teachers at the Head of the Class

Wednesday, May 1, 2013 Last regular issue of spring semester! Read UIC News online uicnews.uic.edu

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“Students are often trained to want to know what the right answer is. I’m equally interested in how we get there and in what the right question is.”

Photo: Roberta Dupuis-Devlin Corey Capers, assistant professor of African American studies and history, is among 13 faculty members who will receive the Silver Circle Award for teaching excellence at college commencements next week. The Silver Circle, which dates back to 1966, is awarded through vote by graduating seniors. Some of this year’s crop are first-time winners; others have collected as many as seven. Read more about the latest winners on page 7. Teachers at the head of the class

Eleni Katsarou guides students as UIC, state join forces to promote Students learn to talk the talk with Horizon League title No. 17 for they learn to teach technology State Department scholarships women’s tennis More on page 2 More on page 3 More on page 13 More on page 16 2 UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu I MAY 1, 2013

profile Send profile ideas to Gary Wisby, [email protected] Eleni Katsarou guides students as they learn to teach By Gary Wisby

Under Eleni Katsarou’s guidance, UIC student teachers spend more than 1,000 hours in elementary school classrooms. “That’s at least double if not triple what other colleges require,” said Katsarou, director of elementary education in the College of Education. There are 50 juniors and 50 seniors in 15 schools. Students spend one semester in a school with a majority of Latino students and another semester with a primarily black student population. “They learn about the experiences of kids, families and communities with people we trust academically, socially and emotionally,” Katsarou said. “None are placed in a program where it’s sink or swim.” Junior teacher candidates spend mornings in their school classroom and afternoons in the same school with visiting UIC professors. “The idea is that professors step into the classroom and see what teacher candidates are seeing,” Katsarou said. Many of the school educators working with UIC student teachers are graduates of the program themselves. “They are selected by having observed them — it’s not a random process,” she said. “And it’s intergenerational; former students are current mentors.” One teacher who graduated in 2000 has been mentoring for 10 years. “That’s pretty fantastic,” Katsarou said. After graduation, many of the UIC student teachers are hired by the schools where they were assigned. “South Loop, Shields, Spencer, Talman, South Shore and Photo: Roberta Dupuis-Devlin Orozco [elementary schools] — they all look to hire from Many UIC student teachers are hired by the schools where they train, says Eleni Katsarou, clinical professor and director of elementary our senior teacher candidates,” Katsarou said. education in curriculum and instruction. “It speaks volumes about how principals value our program,” she says. “Shields in the last 10 years has had over 20 of my students. Spencer in the last five years hired eight. “It’s the kind of work that needs to be done.” Leo Patton, 23 months old, and his sister Nellie, 5 months old. “It speaks volumes about how principals value our pro- Katsarou was born in Athens, Greece, coming to this Her daughter, Sofia, 32, is a third-grade teacher in Chicago. gram that they look to us to hire their new teachers.” country with her family when she was 13. Her son, Andreas, 36, is a stylist and design marketing direc- Waxing philosophical, Katsarou went on, “For me, the Her bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. are all from UIC. She tor in New York City. beauty of this work is that the program is grounded in started working at the university in elementary education in Katsarou is no fan of the Chicago Public Schools’ plan to strong university instruction coupled with a really strong 1992, and is in her fourth year as director. close 53 elementary schools and one high school. relationship with the schools, with results that are envious. She received a Silver Circle Teaching Excellence Award “None of them should be closed,” she said. “We get effective, ethical, caring teachers.” and a Best Practice Award for Professional Ethics and Moral But aren’t they underused? The process builds upon itself, she said. Dispositions in Teacher Education from the American Asso- “That’s what they say,” Katsarou replied. “It’s code for “It loops back to us — we have mentors for a new wave of ciation of Colleges for Teacher Education. something else. Charter schools are taking over, siphoning off teachers,” she said. “I feel like we are doing what we should Katsarou visits Greece at least once a year, seeing family funds for neighborhood public schools. When a charter opens be doing. and friends. simultaneously, families have no other options. “I’m particularly proud of the fact we pay close attention She enjoys flower gardening at her home in Ravenswood, “Where are they going to go?” to the schools we select, which are historically underserved. and spends as much time as possible with her grandchildren, [email protected]

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“There will be stronger and more stable storms, “Any time you can teach people that it’s OK to take a “We’re working toward creating sustainable startups. which will stay for a long time because the planetary step back, rather than make a mistake that will cost As some of these projects work through the process temperature has risen and it’s going to continue to you for the rest of your life ... I guarantee you, 70 per- and hit their milestones, they might be a licensing op- rise. There’s more energy in the system and we’re cent of the guys locked up in the penitentiary, if they portunity for a big company or they could be a startup going to see more violent storms. The news is not could just take back that second when they made a opportunity.” good.” bad decision, they would do it in a heartbeat.” Nancy Sullivan, CEO of IllinoisVentures and director of the Peter Doran, professor of earth and environmental sci- Tio Hardiman, director of CeaseFire Illinois, on the use of Office of Technology Management, on the new Chancellor’s ences, on the prospect of more storms and flooding similar meditation in preventing violence, April 27 Chicago Tribune Innovation Fund, April 26 Chicago Tribune to a few weeks ago, April 27 Chicago Sun-Times

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Giving citizens Bridging research, commercialization gap a say in plans By Bill Burton UIC will launch a $10 million fund to for budget move technologies devised by faculty, students or staff from research to commercial By Anne Brooks Ranallo use. The Chancellor’s Innovation Fund will make grants totaling $2 million a year for five City planners, officials and activists years. from around the world will gather in Chi- About half the funding will finance proof- cago this week to promote a new way of of-concept grants of up to $75,000 for proj- spending taxpayers’ money: letting resi- ects just emerging from basic research. dents suggest projects and vote to decide The other half will provide equity fund- what gets funded. ing of $150,000 to $250,000 for start-ups that The Great Cities Institute partnered have moved beyond proof-of-concept and with the New York-based nonprofit Par- are closer to commercialization. ticipatory Budgeting Project to support “The fund establishes UIC as a leader in the participatory budgeting process in technology acceleration, enhances our com- Chicago. petitiveness, and positions UIC as an impor- The three-day conference with experts tant partner to external stakeholders,” said from around the world, “Building a Dem- Chancellor Paula Allen-Meares. ocratic City,” begins Friday with a train- Photo: Roberta Dupuis-Devlin Proceeds from fund investments will be ing workshop at UIC. Other activities The Chancellor’s Innovation Fund “establishes UIC as a leader in technology acceleration and positions reinvested to support further UIC technology will include tours of local infrastructure UIC as an important partner to external stakeholders,” says Chancellor Paula Allen-Meares. development. The fund will be managed by projects chosen through participatory Illinois Ventures, a technology investment CEO of Illinois Ventures and interim executive Sullivan said Illinois Ventures has “the budgeting, a Chicago voting returns firm launched 10 years ago by the University director of UIC’s Office of Technology Man- necessary expertise and infrastructure to celebration, and discussion panels on of Illinois. agement. evaluate proposed technologies for project political strategy, inclusion, international “Some novel university-based technolo- “The campus created the innovation fund impact, technological soundness, intellectual networking, technical tools and more. gies fail to bridge the gap between research to further accelerate UIC’s commercialization property strength and market potential.” Speakers will discuss participatory and commercialization,” said Nancy Sullivan, efforts and bridge this gap.” [email protected] budgeting in other cities in the U.S. and around the world. Participatory budgeting began in the U.S. in 2009, when 49th Ward Ald. Joe Moore became the first elected official in Medical district facility to promote start-up ventures the nation to try it. Residents of his ward people’s lives,” Quinn said at the ribbon determined how more than $3 million By Sonya Booth cutting. would be spent, including $150,000 for “The HTI will drive further growth urgent sidewalk repairs, $125,000 for a UIC and the Illinois Medical District will in the field, serving as a key resource new playground, $120,000 for murals at be partners in a new facility to foster early for our medical science researchers and transit viaducts and $75,000 for shade start-up ventures in the life sciences. providing a new platform through which trees. Gov. Pat Quinn joined university and innovative ideas can be developed and Last year, aldermen in three other city officials at a ribbon-cutting April 24 an- introduced to the marketplace.” wards signed on, allowing residents to nouncing Health, Technology, Innovation, HTI will work with projects and com- decide how to spend $4 million in tax- a $3.4 million hub for biotechnology at the panies early in the commercialization payer dollars. Chicago Technology Park on the west side of process, said EnterpriseWorks director “Budget cuts are leading officials to campus. Kapila Viges. look for more transparent, equitable ways HTI, funded through a $1.7 million state The initiative will partner with the Of- to manage their remaining dollars,” said capital investment and matching university fice of Technology Management to focus Rachel Weber, associate director of the funds, is an initiative of EnterpriseWorks primarily on UIC technologies, but the Great Cities Institute. Chicago, part of the UI Office of the Vice Photo: Roberta Dupuis-Devlin facilities and programs are open to other “We’ve tried to involve as many resi- President for Research. The state’s life sciences sector “creates jobs while researchers and entrepreneurs. dents as possible, especially those who The facility, located at 2242 W. Harrison improving people’s lives,” says Gov. Pat Quinn. For more information on previously haven’t participated in politics St. in a building that includes the UIC Sleep It is expected to open mid-summer. HTI and EnterpriseWorks, email and neighborhood planning. Ultimately, Center, will have 12,000 square feet of labo- “Illinois’ thriving, cutting-edge life sci- [email protected] the initiative fosters a sense of ownership ratories and space for offices, meetings and ences sector creates jobs while improving [email protected] over shared resources and connectedness classes. in the community.” Thea Crum, economic development planner at the Great Cities Institute, says Health insurance premiums see ‘significant’ increase participatory budgeting has spread to more than 1,500 cities worldwide since it By Christy Levy UIC employees can make changes to aged care and Quality Care Health Plan range was introduced in 1989 in Porto Alegre, health and dental plans and enroll in flexible from $21 to $126.50. Brazil. “Significant increases” in employee health spending accounts during the Benefit Choice Employees who were enrolled in a Flex- The United Nations promotes it as a insurance premiums and other costs will take period, now through May 31. ible Spending Account this year must sign up best practice of democratic governance. effect July 1. The Benefits Choice booklet, which again by May 31. Claims processing for the The conference is open to all. “There are increases to employee and includes detailed information on costs, is flexible spending program will change from Registration is $60 for students and dependent health premiums, out-of-pocket available through NESSIE, the university’s FBMC to WageWorks; all participants will low-income participants and $125 for maximums, copayments, deductibles, co- human resources website, at http://nessie.uihr. receive a new health care debit card. others. For more information, visit insurance and other health care costs,” said uillinois.edu All changes during the Benefit Choice pe- http://pbconference.wordpress.com/ James Davito, executive director of university Monthly premium increases vary, depend- riod must be made online through NESSIE. [email protected] payroll and benefits, in a letter to UI employ- ing on employee salary range. Increases in the For more information, call 312-996-6471. ees Monday. monthly employee contributions for the man- [email protected] 4 UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu I MAY 1, 2013

campus news Send campus news to Sonya Booth, [email protected]

Honoring diversity The UIC community is invited to an information brown bag discussion on diver- Commencement celebrations begin next week sity, solidarity and peace Thursday, noon to 1 p.m., in 605 Student Center East. By Sonya Booth The discussion will include the recent vandalism of an outdoor art exhibit featur- Nearly 7,650 students will be honored ing portraits of students who are undocu- next week as they receive undergraduate, mented, as well as the role of social media in graduate, professional degrees and spreading intolerance and discrimination. certificates at commencements and convo- The session is co-sponsored by the Office cations. of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, The celebrations in the UIC Forum and the School of Public Health and the Office of UIC Pavilion begin May 8 with the Honors Diversity. College convocation and end May 12 with the commencement for the College of Lib- Thrive and Survive eral Arts and Sciences. Master’s students in urban planning Marian Wright Edelman, founder and and policy will team with Chicago Time president of the Children’s Defense Fund, Students celebrate at last year’s graduation. Nearly 7,650 students will be honored next week. Exchange and Shareable Magazine for a day will receive an honorary degree at School of of free skill sharing Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Public Health ceremonies May 10. at Jane Addams Hull-House Museum. Ses- Edelman, the first black woman admit- tion cases against former Illinois governors May 10; venture capitalist William Unger, sions will also be held at the Latino Cultural ted to the Mississippi Bar, was director of George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich, Urban Engineering, May 11; John E. Adams, CEO Center in Lecture Center B2 and the African the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Planning and Public Affairs, May 10; Bar- of the age medical management firm Cene- American Cultural Center, Addams Hall. Fund. bara Eason-Watkins, former Chicago Pub- genics, Business Administration, May 11; Students are invited to share skills in Other commencement speakers include lic Schools chief education officer who is and Chicago artist and musician Jon Lang- community gardening, home brewing, bike U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, who will address now superintendent of Michigan City Area ford, Architecture and the Arts, May 11. maintenance, cooking, computer software graduates of Applied Health Sciences May 9 Schools, Ind., Education, May 9; Jeremy For more information on commence- and more. via pre-recorded video; Patrick Fitzgerald, Lazarus, an alumnus and president of the ment visit: uic.edu/depts/ovcsa/ For more information, visit former federal prosecutor who led corrup- American Medical Association, Medicine, commencement/ https://sites.google.com/site/up2mupps/

Boy’s basketball camp Registration is open for this summer’s Supporting student Howard Moore Basketball Camps on cam- research pus. June 1 is the deadline to apply for the There will be three camps, a one-day 12th annual Alice J. Dan Dissertation Re- shooting camp June 15 for boys age 10 to search Award and Clinical Translational 16; a day camp June 24 to 27 for boys 7 to 10 Research Award. and 11 to 15; and an advanced skills camp The award encourages research about Aug. 11 for high school players. gender and/or women. UIC doctoral stu- For more information, visit dents who have an approved dissertation http://bitly.com/Zj5L9s proposal can apply. Awards range from $500 to $1,000. Bridging the grant gap Winners of the research award will be an- As the federal deficit and budget se- nounced in July. questration continue, the Office of the Vice For more information, visit http://bit. Chancellor for Research is offering Bridge ly/10MirqF or contact Manorama Khare at Gap grants to researchers facing gaps in [email protected] their research funding. The Bridge grants offer short-term sup- More time to study port to sustain ongoing research by experi- The Daley Library will be open around enced researchers while they seek external the clock through 7 p.m. May 10. funds. The Library of the Health Sciences is More information and applications are now open continuously until midnight available online at http://bit.ly/14SgaLA. May 6. For more information, visit Civic engagement projects http://library.uic.edu/about-us/hours Applications are due May 24 for the Civic Engagement Research Fund Awards. Benefit payout The awards, sponsored by the Institute UIC employees can defer vacation for Policy and Civic Engagement, support and compensable sick leave payouts to research projects that focus on civic engage- their 403(b) and/or 457 retirement ac- ment. counts when they retire or leave the uni- Research awards will be granted for up versity. to $20,000. For information on submitting a defer- UIC faculty members, research faculty ral form, call the Benefits Services office, and research staff at campus research insti- 312-996-6471, at least 60 days before the tutes or centers are eligible to apply. last day of employment. For more information, visit For more information, visit NESSIE at www.ipce.uic.edu https://nessie.uihr.uillinois.edu UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu I MAY 1, 2013 MAY 1, 2013 I UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu 5 Engineering students get a head start through internships By Christy Levy “Having an internship really helps in terms of seeing where you want to go in life,” said Ante Kovacevic thought he knew what Kovacevic, a junior. career he wanted, until an internship put him “It made me realize that switching my on a different path. major was a really good idea. Students should Originally a civil engineering major, Ko- do internships as soon as possible.” vacevic discovered that it wasn’t right for him UIC’s newest engineering students will after interning at a company that designs cell have that option. The College of Engineering towers. is the first in the country to guarantee that all He found a better fit in mechanical engi- eligible incoming freshmen will be placed in neering and has an internship lined up this a paid internship the summer after their first summer with the GREEN Program, exploring year. renewable energy initiatives in Costa Rica. “Paid internships are one way that we can give our students the experience they need to succeed and help them connect to the professional world,” said Peter Nelson, dean of the engineering college, “especially since that first internship is the hardest to find.” The program will place stu- Photo: Ron Fernandez dents with a company or UIC “Having an internship really helps in terms of seeing where you want to go,” says junior Ante Kovacevic. research lab for at least eight weeks over the summer. Pay is expected nities for our students,” Nelson said. was able to understand what they were talk- to range from $10 to $15 per hour. Senior TaTanesha Lee found an internship ing about and see how we actually use the To be eligible for the intern- at ComEd through networking at the UIC stuff I learn in my engineering courses. And I ship program, students must meet Diversity Career Fair in fall 2011. During was able to apply some of the things I learned a minimum GPA requirement, her internship last summer, Lee helped solve through my work at ComEd in my classes.” complete required coursework and problems such as ensuring that workers were She also learned to appreciate some of her participate in the Engineering Stu- protected from on-the-job hazards. least favorite subjects. dent Success Program. “I could see myself working there,” said “I hated physics but working there, I could “We are seeing a long-term Lee, a senior in electrical engineering. see how it was useful and was like, ‘Oh, wow, Senior TaTanesha Lee examines a tool used to place clamps on upward enrollment trend driven “When they would throw around terms this is actually kind of cool,’” Lee said. transmission lines during her internship at ComEd last summer. by the tremendous career opportu- like ‘induced currents’ or ‘induced voltage,’ I [email protected] 6 UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu I MAY 1, 2013 Helping student veterans feel comfortable on campus

By Gary Wisby “A lot of veterans may feel isolated — it’s instilled in them to be part of a group,” For the 450 to 500 UIC students who are Mason said. veterans, military experience colors their life “So if they’re not getting along well, we on campus. suggest that they join a campus activity.” This can affect an activity as simple as Military veterans may face challenges walking to class, like reintegration into family life, difficulty “A lot of said Tyler Mason, making decisions, boredom and irritation, veterans may president of the and feelings of isolation brought on by loss UIC Student Vet- of identity, purpose, camaraderie and esprit feel isolated erans Association, de corps, he said. last Wednesday About 20 percent of veterans have post- — it’s instilled in a session at the traumatic stress disorder, Passi said. in them to Daley Library. “Being in harm’s way stays with you,” Deployed with she said. be part of a the Army in Iraq “It impacts a primitive part of your g roup.” in 2007-2008, brain. Your body goes into fight-or-flight Mason learned to m o d e .” be wary of suicide bombers. Talking about PTSD is helpful and there “You try to keep the population away from are other effective treatments, Passi said. you,” he said. Back home, “you still have that “People can become symptom-free.” survival instinct, so when walking to classes Experiencing trauma can have a plus you may avoid crowds.” side. Mason was joined by Holly Passi, a clinical “People can come away with an in- psychologist who provides psychotherapy for creased appreciation for what’s important veterans, in a presentation entitled “Return- in life,” she said. ing Veterans on Campus: A Primer.” For more information on campus ser- Military culture is mission-focused, he vices for student military veterans, visit noted. UIC Student Veteran Affairs, 3030 Student On campus, that structure is missing, Services Building, 312-996-4857 or uic.edu/ along with a sense of loyalty and self-sacrifice. depts/dos/veteranaffairs.html UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu I MAY 1, 2013 MAY 1, 2013 I UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu 7 2013 Honoring some of UIC’s best SILVER CIRCLE Since 1966, the Silver Circle Award has been presented to some of UIC’s best teachers. Winners, who are honored at their college commencements, receive $500 and their names join a long list of distinguished colleagues. AWARD But what makes the award especially meaningful is its selection committee: the graduating seniors.

Michael J. Anderson Mary Brown Corey Capers

Photo: Roberta Dupuis-Devlin Photo: Roberta Dupuis-Devlin Photo: Roberta Dupuis-Devlin

Michael J. Anderson Mary Brown “Watching them become successful men and women means Director of choral & vocal studies Clinical associate professor of finance a lot to me,” she says. “You never know how something you say College of Architecture & the Arts College of Business Administration or do will affect a student.”

When Michael J. Anderson began teaching choral Mary Brown has more reason to celebrate this year’s Silver Corey Capers studies at UIC 22 years ago, there were seven students in Circle than her four previous awards. Assistant professor of history & African-American studies the choir. Brown, who began teaching after a successful health care College of Liberal Arts & Sciences “And half of them couldn’t read music,” he recalls. management career, will retire in two years. He established the graduate-level Chamber Choir, the “I am so very, very honored,” says Brown, who has received As an undergraduate at Southern Methodist University, all-level University Choir and the Women’s Choir, the last at least five other teaching awards during her career. “This Corey Capers benefited from professors who stretched the because many more women than men wanted to sing. award is particularly meaningful.” boundaries and stressed critical thinking. Later, he required that all choir members learn to read Brown taught her first business course in 1977. Since joining Their question-based approach helped him develop a wider, music, including the 60 to 70 percent who are not music UIC in 1994, she has worked to build a connection between the more critical view of the world as he studied topics such as class, majors. finance industry and the classroom. gender and post-colonial literature. But the greatest broadening effect of Anderson’s teach- “I love quantitative analysis, and finance was one field where It serves as the foundation for his teaching today. ing may be his international perspective. He makes six or I could make use of what I learned either in academics, corpo- “I learned to try to find a good balance between authorita- seven international trips a year to take part in choral sym- rations or personally,” she says. tive lecturing on the one hand and student-centered learning on posiums and festivals. Because the field of finance is in constant flux, staying up to the other,” Capers says. As president of the International Federation for Choral date is a challenge, Brown says. Race, gender, nationalism, popular culture and religion Music, Anderson is responsible for a world symposium “My lectures evolve literally from semester to semester and intersect within his courses in colonial American, U.S. and every three years. He has conducted, lectured and adju- even week to week. The research to prepare or revise them is African-American history that cover the late 15th century to dicated choirs across the United States and in Sweden, constant.” the end of the 19th century. France, Colombia, Hong Kong, Israel, China, Japan, Her ways of creating and delivering courses in finance have Capers, a first-time Silver Circle winner, expects his students Korea, the Dominican Republic, the Philippines and come out of her international experience teaching bank opera- to be intellectually curious and willing to challenge their pre- Puerto Rico. tions and management at the American University of Armenia, conceived notions. “For 26 years, my life has been all about international and teaching commercial banking for a cohort of Chinese bank “I try to get students to look at cultural changes that are not choral music. I see fabulous choirs. I come back telling my employees as part of UIC’s Corporate MBA Program. so obvious because they are accustomed to the political and students, ‘I need you to be better, right now,’” he says, only At UIC, she has developed new courses in venture capital/ social history,” he says. half-joking. private equity and investment banking. “They know of groups and political institutions, but often Anderson says the international outlook gives his stu- Editors at a publishing company were so impressed with the cultural part of that is really obscure.” dents a better appreciation of other cultures, travel and Brown’s editing for a finance text that they asked her to spon- Capers, a UIC faculty member since January 2006, says being able to deal with people anywhere. He returns with sor an experimental blog on teaching methodology in finance. “being open and vulnerable as opposed to performing my ex- bundles of CDs that demonstrate “attention to detail, tone, Each week, she wrote a short article to generate discussion by pertise in a way that is bulletproof” has been a key aspect of his the correct approach to the music.” other finance faculty. instructional practice. “It changes my attitude, which in turn changes their Although Brown mixes real-life examples with humor and He directs his undergraduate classes in a similar manner to attitudes,” he says. “As worldly as our students are, they anecdotes about her own mistakes, her classes are no joke. his graduate classes. always enjoy hearing about these things.” “I’m known for very challenging exams,” she says. “Students “The focus is to get students to be assertive with their ideas Anderson, a former chair of his department, advises are so delighted to see how they have improved since the last and insights and to accept that assertiveness is something that is other educators to “bring your energy and enthusiasm. test. The important thing is that there is really good student- risky, but worth it,” he explains. Bring your competence, because students will challenge professor interaction.” “Students are often trained to want to know what the right you. Never give up. Thanks to social media, Brown tracks the success of many of answer is. I’m equally interested in how we get there and in “And enjoy it.” her former students and the impact she’s had on their careers. what the right question is.” 8 UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu I MAY 1, 2013 2013 SILVER CIRCLE AWARD

Sandra Gibbons Larry Grimm Saeed Manafzadeh

Photo: Roberta Dupuis-Devlin Photo: Joshua Clark Photo: Roberta Dupuis-Devlin

Gibbons says. Sandra Gibbons “Our students are going to have to fix the messes we’ve Saeed Manafzadeh Visiting lecturer in biological sciences made,” she adds. Lecturer in mechanical & industrial engineering College of Liberal Arts & Sciences “They are going to have to solve problems that are require College of Engineering more than just doing well on a multiple choice test, and it’s my Sandra Gibbons’ three UIC microbiology classes average goal to teach them how to do that.” Saeed Manafzadeh was once a UIC student. 150 students each. Still, she gets to know her students, giving Now, as a faculty member, he makes sure students learn them a chance to ask questions and “really engage.” something new each time they come to his class. “Engaged” is a word Gibbons uses often. Larry Grimm “I find that teaching effectively requires a balance of humor “I don’t want anyone lost in the rafters,” she says. Associate professor emeritus of psychology and everyday examples,” he says, adding that simple experi- Although she’s been teaching for 20 years — since 1992 at Director of graduate studies in psychology ments students can do on their own helps them better under- Moraine Valley Community College and at UIC since 2004 — College of Liberal Arts & Sciences stand technical concepts. Gibbons frequently redesigns her course. Manafzadeh says he cannot see himself anywhere other Because today’s students are visual learners, she says, she It wasn’t unusual to see Larry Grimm sitting among his than UIC. includes pictures, web videos and animations to help them high school classmates one day, and standing before them “You see people from every walk of life and you realize that understand biological concepts. teaching the next. as much as you are here to teach them, there is a great deal This semester she added a service learning assignment to Grimm knew at an early age that he wanted to be a teacher. that they can teach you.” her classes. Psychology has always fascinated him and Grimm never His interest in teaching was inspired by the late Harold Most of her students are pre-health, headed for careers in missed an opportunity to learn more, even volunteering to give Simon, his adviser and one of the engineering department’s nursing, medicine, pharmacy and similar fields. lectures in his high school class in Livonia, Mich. most respected instructors. It was then he realized that engi- “They always seem most engaged when we are talking “There’s no higher honor than to win an award while doing neering is unlike any other field. about a real-life situation,” she says. something you’re passionate about,” he says of the Silver Circle. “There is nothing more exciting to me than to be sur- Gibbons hates to think that there are diseases that could be “To me, living your passion is reward enough.” rounded by this kind of groundbreaking creativity each and controlled but aren’t because of lack of funding. So she built Grimm’s enthusiasm for teaching and psychology intensi- every day,” says Manafzadeh, who has received five other her four-part service-learning assignment around the correla- fied as an undergraduate student at Western Michigan Univer- teaching awards in addition to two Silver Circles. tion between child mortality and lack of access to clean drink- sity. When a back injury forced him to quit the track and field After completing his graduate degrees and postdoctoral ing water or hygiene. team (he was an accomplished pole vaulter), Grimm immersed research at UIC, he returned to his native Iran to become a First she asked her students to write a blog as they re- himself in his studies. professor at the Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, the searched child mortality and disease. Because UIC is a global Grimm initially aspired to be a high school psychology country’s top technical school. He returned to UIC’s faculty in campus, some students had personal experience or family teacher and coach when he graduated from Western Michigan 1998. members who live in countries where lack of clean drinking University. But always the student, he wanted to learn more Manafzadeh teaches a spectrum of courses ranging from water is a real and immediate problem. and instead began graduate studies at Urbana-Champaign. beginning to advanced, mainly in mechanical engineering. Next the students were assigned a pathogen and asked to When he became interested in research, a new career path “But I have to say the course I enjoy teaching most is intro- write a public health brochure about the dangers. She told emerged — college professor. duction to thermodynamics,” he says. them, “Don’t use any fancy biological terms to try to impress “Teaching has been a perfect fit for me,” says Grimm, who “It’s a tough class for the students. It’s their first chance to m e .” has now won the Silver Circle Award seven times. take everything they’ve learned from math and physics and The results were “fantastic. The marketing department “When some people cook, they don’t want to eat alone. apply it to understanding real-world engineering.” should hire my students,” Gibbons says. When I learn something, I want to share it with others.” Manafzadeh hopes to advance further an end-of-year For the service part, her students are collecting soap for When he lectures, Grimm wants his students to feed off his program survey seminar he developed to get undergradu- Clean the World, a nonprofit that distributes soap and hygiene energy and enthusiasm. His goals are the same as theirs, he ates’ feedback on their college experience. The seminar so packets to areas beset by diseases like cholera, as well as to the says. impressed the accrediting American Board of Engineering homeless in this country. “I want them to develop a lifelong love of learning, to de- Technology that similar courses are being set up for all UIC So far the students have collected more than 1,000 bars of velop critical thinking skills and a skepticism about what is engineering departments. soap. held to be true,” he says. Manafzadeh says he’s thrilled to have won the Silver Circle Finally, they will write a reflection paper on their experi- “It’s a big kick for me to see my students leave UIC and Award for the second time. ence. become successful in pursuing their dream, even if it’s not psy- “I’ve always known that I wanted to teach, and to get this “I think this is something they will remember,” chology.” affirmation once again means the world to me.” UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu I MAY 1, 2013 MAY 1, 2013 I UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu 9 2013 SILVER CIRCLE AWARD

Jane Marone Ronald Pavone Catherine Tredway

Photo: Joshua Clark Photo: Roberta Dupuis-Devlin Photo: Jessica Jeys

Jane Marone Ronald Pavone Catherine Tredway Clinical associate professor of kinesiology & nutrition Lecturer in psychology Clinical instructor, Quad City Regional Program College of Applied Health Sciences College of Liberal Arts & Sciences College of Nursing

Jane Marone began her career as a physician in New For Ronald Pavone, teaching students in psychology and Catherine Tredway’s students may be out of sight, but never Orleans, working with indigent patients. statistics how to learn is just as important as teaching them out of mind. She learned to communicate complex information what to learn. Tredway is program director of the College of Nursing’s about medication and health issues to people, some of “We cover effective learning methods not only as ap- RN-BSN Online Degree Completion Program, where students them illiterate, who needed help understanding basic in- plied to studying for their coursework, but also as applied can advance their nursing careers via the computer. formation about their care. to other current research and future pursuits outside of “Our students receive the same high-quality education as She credits this early practical experience with helping class,” Pavone says. students who sit in a classroom,” Tredway says. her communicate with students. The three-time Silver Circle winner says he teaches a The students, who are registered nurses, have access to Realizing that she preferred teaching to seeing patients, topic that is “intrinsically fascinating to students” — quali- educational resources, library services and faculty, staff and Marone came to UIC as a visiting lecturer in 1995. She has ties of human beings that directly apply to themselves and classmates at any time, Tredway adds. taught human physiological anatomy for the past 18 years the important people in their lives. The program helped put UIC in the top 20 nationwide for and human cadaver dissection for 14 years. Students in his class on statistical methods in the be- online learning, according to a recent survey by U.S. News and It’s important to see things from the student’s perspec- havioral sciences can’t rely on memorizing content — they World Report. tive, she says. must apply sequential decision-making procedures to class- The Quad Cities Regional Program began offering the RN- “The ability to get into their heads and try to see the related problem-solving exercises. BSN program in a traditional classroom setting more than 32 world from their viewpoint makes me a better teacher.” He often discusses how these step-by-step procedures years ago. As technology grew, distance learning classes were Her inspiration as a teacher comes from the good and can be used in other life settings. offered to students, allowing them to learn through video con- the bad instructors she’s had. “Teaching statistics has interested me because students ferencing. “The worst teachers had quite an effect on me,” she says. gain familiarity and practice with active procedural prob- Today, the regional program uses both online courses and “Anyone can read a textbook, but the best teachers put lem-solving skills that are additional to ‘head knowledge,’ or video conferencing in its graduate-level courses. The RN-BSN the information in such a way that you can understand content levels of learning,” Pavone says. program, 100 percent online, has produced nearly 150 gradu- it and the worst teachers destroyed it and I didn’t know Some students enter the course lacking confidence in ates since it began in 2008. anything.” their math and science abilities. The program is a collaboration between the College of Much of her teaching philosophy comes from experi- “I have liked working with these students, showing Nursing and UIC Online in the School of Continuing Studies. ence. Early in her teaching career, she realized that she them that they, too, can become good at such processes and The college manages the curriculum and instruction, while wasn’t reaching her students. skills,” he says. UIC Online provides the infrastructure and online delivery. Over time, she has developed her own methods and Outside the classroom, Pavone is available through flex- “It’s easy to be an award-winning teacher when you have tutorials. ible office hours and appointment times. UIC Online doing all the hard work,” Tredway says. “It’s im- “When I teach, I try to construct something for them “This enables students to learn by interactively partici- portant for our students to feel connected, and UIC Online so they can have building blocks from beginning to end,” pating and discussing topics and issues with me. It results in does a fabulous job of this, from a student’s initial inquiry she says. an individually tailor-made exchange of ideas that through graduation.” Marone’s research interests include biomechanics and builds toward good understanding of their questions,” he Most students hail from Illinois, but as more states are fall risk in older adults. says. adding new requirements for nursing education, they are She has also done pedagogical research on student Pavone says the individual attention he got from his own searching for high-quality curriculums such as the College of learning. teachers inspires and influences his instructional style. Nursing’s online program, Tredway said. Today’s students often “want answers really quick,” “All I try to do is to pass along something of what they “We have students from states as close as Missouri and as she says, looking for instant success instead of taking the have added to my own educational experiences, growing up far away as Massachusetts, and we are receiving numerous time to deliberately study, think and analyze what they are from grade school to graduate school,” he explains. inquiries from New York,” she says. learning. “They were successful teachers because they ended up Tredway, a UIC faculty member for 16 years, has won many “Simple as it is, the amount of time spent studying is making what have turned out to be long-lasting differences teaching honors; this is her third Silver Circle. really one of the most important determinants of student in my life — in some cases, decades after I was their stu- “It’s easy to be a good instructor when you have the type of success,” she says. dent.” students we have at UIC,” she says. 10 UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu I MAY 1, 2013 2013 SILVER CIRCLE AWARD

Maria Varelas Valerie Werner Sloan Williams

Photo: Roberta Dupuis-Devlin Photo: Troy Heinzeroth Photo: Roberta Dupuis-Devlin

Maria Varelas Valerie Werner Sloan Williams Professor of curriculum & instruction Former director, Urban & Public Affairs Associate professor of anthropology College of Education College of Urban Planning & Public Affairs College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

A colleague dubbed Maria Varelas “fervor-ball,” and she Valerie Werner spent a lot of one-on-one time with her Skeleton bones and archeological digs in former cemeteries accepts the nickname happily. undergraduate students last semester, overseeing their inde- may seem like morbid subjects, but they’re exciting material Her first “students,” when she was a third-grader play- pendent research, overseas studies and internships with mu- for biological anthropologist Sloan Williams and her students. ing school, were her mother’s 20 flowerpots on the veranda nicipalities, federal agencies and local nonprofits. The undergraduate class she teaches most often is osteol- in Athens, Greece. She gave them names, talked to them and She wanted to be sure the interns could use what they’d ogy, the examination of the human skeleton. graded them at the end of the day. learned about civic engagement. “It’s hands-on and a lab format, so they are working in That was how she discovered that she enjoyed “creating a “They do a contract with the agency and with me, with small groups and it’s very informal,” says Williams, a first-time safe, nurturing environment” for learners. learning objectives. I want to make sure they’re not just an- Silver Circle winner. Years later, she was drawn to physics for giving her “a sense swering phones,” Werner says. “The skeletons we are able to use have come from the Field of how the world came to be.” She admired a popular physics At the same time, she took over a key class in the program. Museum on loan. I picked them to have interesting things,” professor at the University of Athens whose interactive, call- “I taught Political Economy to this graduating class. I she says. and-response lectures were always packed. wasn’t the original teacher, and I filled in with no prep time. The students collaborate to determine attributes such as “We would see that we were developing scientific stories And we did all right in the end,” she says. age, gender, or who may have lived at the particular site. along with him. ‘Think with me,’ he would exclaim, in the In 2006, Werner began developing the first undergraduate “It gives them a chance to use their skills, to really think classroom or in the lab,” she says. program in the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs. about what they’ve learned and come at it as if they are the Aware of the power of storytelling, Varelas completed her The resulting Urban and Public Affairs degree is taught by expert,” she says. bachelor’s degree with a thesis on the role of humor in teach- faculty from the graduate programs in urban planning and Williams enjoys having her students as active participants. ing physics. public administration. “They are not sitting there passively while I lecture them. Since joining UIC in 1993, she has won seven awards for The program, which began enrolling students in 2007, It’s much more fun and they learn more if they have a hand in teaching students in the College of Education how to teach combines course instruction, service learning and research to learning and sharing with each other,” she says. science. address human, social and environmental concerns. Williams, who studies how culture affects the biology of “Many undergraduates get paralyzed by science. Many At the same time, Werner was completing her own degree humans, teaches a mortuary archaeology course on global haven’t had very positive experiences with science in their at UIC, with a doctoral dissertation on Mary Parker Follet burial customs. K-12 schooling,” she says. whom Werner calls “the mother of public administration.” “It’s sort of a mix of archaeology and cultural anthropology “They have to deconstruct their negative experiences and Armed with her Ph.D., she was offered a position to devel- where we look at different parts of the world, how they treat build new ones, and see themselves as doers of science.” op another new program at the Adler School of Psychology. their dead, what that means, and how they conceive of the Varelas models science teaching by engaging her students Since January she has been an adjunct at UIC and a faculty afterlife,” she explains. in exercises as if they were learners themselves. member at Adler, where she is developing a master’s program Williams, a faculty member since 1996, is an adviser in the “I make explicit the teaching moves I do in the classroom in public policy and administration with concentrations in Honors College. — pausing, saying, ‘What did I just do?’ and ‘What could I human rights or urban mental health. She was visiting associate dean in the College of Liberal have done?’” she says. “I think it’s important to leave home and find your way Arts and Sciences and directed the LAS Undergraduate Re- Varelas’ research and service in the Chicago Public Schools outside of your home institution,” she says of her new posi- search Initiative and Global Learning Community certificate inform her teaching. tion. “And I think it’s good for the undergrad program. My program. “Many of my students were CPS kids themselves,” she says. work as the Urban and Public Affairs director established the She credits those roles for influencing her teaching style “To ponder about teachers who had limited resources but program and ensured its existence; my leaving brings faculty to place a greater emphasis on developing students as critical plenty of creativity and trust in what their kids bring to the back into the discussion on how it can grow, change, become thinkers and engaged researchers. classroom, create spaces for students to blossom, is powerful.” even better.” “Research is a good experience for anyone no matter what Varelas says she learns every time she teaches her class. field they are in. It gives them useful skills and it’s just fun,” she says. Good teachers are great listeners, she says. • Stories by Jeffron Boynes, Brian Flood, “Hear what the kids are saying. Honor their meaning-making. It may not agree with what is scientifically known. Jeanne Galatzer-Levy, Sam Hostettler, David Cabrera, lecturer in mathematics, statistics and “But celebrate where they are, and help them move to new Sherri McGinnis-Gonzalez, Anne Brooks Ranallo computer science in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, places.” also received a Silver Circle Award. UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu I MAY 1, 2013 MAY 1, 2013 I UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu 11

calendar Send information about campus events to Christy Levy, [email protected]

MAY 1 IN HISTORY HIGHLIGHT MAY

Empire State Building dedication “Choral Masterworks”

May 1, 1931: As May 2 S M T W T F S President Herbert Performance by the Hoover symbolically UIC Symphonic Choir 1 2 3 4 presses a button from and Janus Ensemble. the White House, Conducted by Mi- 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 operators turn on the chael J. Anderson and lights to the Empire Andrew Lewis. 7:30 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 State Building for its p.m. UIC students and 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 official dedication. employees, $5; others, At the time of its $10. St. Francis of 26 27 28 29 30 31 completion, the 1,250- Assisi Church, 813 W. foot building was the UIC Symphonic Choir Roosevelt Road world’s tallest.

Exhibits Through August 31 June 20 “Unfinished Business: 21st Century Home “Where Can You Work in the World of Green Careers?” May 3-June 15 Economics” Webinar sponsored by the Alumni Career Center. 7-8 p.m. Alum- Interactive exhibition that demonstrates Jane Addams’ legacy ni, free; others, $45. http://bit.ly/YnHXkp “I Think We’re Ready to Go to the Next Sequence: for domestic life and public health. Public workshops, perfor- The Legacy of Halflifers” mances, conversations and hands-on activities. Jane Addams Exhibit curated by Torsten Zenas Burns and Anthony Discenza Hull-House Museum. 312-413-5353 SPECIAL EVENTS includes video and large-scale installations. Opening reception, 5-8 p.m. May 3. Exhibit hours, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tues.-Fri., noon-6 May 3 p.m. Sat. Gallery 400, ADH. 312-996-6114 LECTURES/SEMINARS/ CONFERENCES “Lavender Graduation” Celebrating undergraduate, graduate, professional students and May 7 alumni who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and ally (LGBTQA). 4-7 p.m. Illinois Room, SCE. [email protected] “Linking Aims, Hypotheses and Analysis: Why Coherence in Grant Proposals is Crucial” May 4 Richard Campbell, professor emeritus of biostatistics and soci- ology, and Marian Fitzgibbon, professor of medicine and health UIC Liautaud Graduate School of Business policy and administration. Sponsored by the CCTS Research Information Session Education and Careers in Health Program and the Institute for Learn more about master’s degree programs. 9:30-11 a.m. 210 Health Research and Policy. Noon-1 p.m. Light lunch provided. DH. [email protected] 5175 CMRB. [email protected] May 7 “The Legacy of Halflifers” at Gallery 400. “Oligodendrocyte Cell Death and CNS Inflammation” Roumen Balabanov, associate professor of neurology and as- Ed.D. in Urban Education Leadership Info Session Through May 31 sociate director of Rush MS Center, Rush University Medical Learn more about program for teachers, school and district lead- Center. 12:30-1:30 p.m. 1020 CMRB. [email protected] ers. 5-7 p.m. 3233 EPASW. [email protected] “Commerce in Human Souls: The Legacy of the Atlantic Slave Trade” May 16 June 6 Exhibit includes 18th and 19th century documents from the UIC Library’s special collections including letters, government “What Employers Listen for in Your Interview” “The Power of Leadership: Changing the World, One reports, diaries and slave ship drawings. 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Webinar sponsored by the Alumni Career Center. 7-8 p.m. Woman at a Time” Mon.-Tues. and Thurs.-Fri., and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Wed. Third Alumni, free; others, $45. http://bit.ly/YnHXkp 19th Annual Women’s Leadership Symposium. Daylong confer- floor, Daley Library. 312-996-2742 ence offering workshops, speakers and networking opportunities June 8 focused on leadership development for women. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Illinois Room, SCE. Employees, $55; students, $20; community “Craniofacial, Cosmetic, and Head and Neck Surgery members, $60; on-site registration, $65. www.uic.edu/depts/owa/ Considerations for the Oral and Maxillofacial wls2013/ Surgeon” Fifth annual Dr. Daniel M. Laskin Lecture. 9 a.m. Fifth floor, lecture hall south, Dentistry. 312-996-5987

An exhibit in the Daley Library displays slave ship drawings.

For more UIC events, visit www.events.uic.edu 12 UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu I MAY 1, 2013

Want to contribute a story? student voice Email Christy Levy, [email protected] ‘Book of Mormon’ a clever escape from school stress

By Alex Rauch

Everyone has been talking about “The Book of Mormon” — the play’s list of accolades from just about every major newspaper and magazine is impressively long. There’s good reason for all this praise. “Book of Mormon” is, hands down, the best musical I have ever seen. I went to see the show a few weeks ago, stressed from school and work. But my exhaustion was no match for the opening — goofy musical missionaries in white shirts, black tie and pants pressing imaginary doorbells, singing and waving. As a South Park fan, I’ve wanted to see “Book of Mor- mon” since I heard it was coming to Chicago. While the play doesn’t diverge from Matt Stone and Trey Parker’s customary vulgar use of language, it feels more refined and, dare I say, mature. This could have something do with the collaborative efforts of Robert Lopez, who co-created the hit “Avenue Q.” The story is not only fun, but emotional; you become surprisingly connected to the characters. The songs were fun to listen to, with clever language and melodic hints of “The Lion King,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Little Shop of Hor- rors,” Stevie Wonder and more — musical appropriation in the best sense. Even when a set and musical are well crafted, the cast can ruin a production. But they knock it out of the park on this one. Ben Platt will keep you laughing from the first and you “The Book of Mormon” cast members “knock it out of the park.” Catch the musical onstage through Sept. 8 at the Bank of America Theater. will ask yourself, “What is in that Star Wars backpack?” If you’ve heard good things about the show, you haven’t The play is currently booked at the Bank of America The- formance days; for more information, visit broadwayinchicago. heard enough. “The Book of Mormon” is great, even if you ater, 18 W. Monroe St., through Sept. 8. Limited $25 tickets are com/bomdrawing.php are too exhausted to imagine how you could enjoy anything. available through a pre-show drawing at the box office on per- [email protected] Elections over, student leaders ready to hit the ground running

By Matt O’Connor USG in the next year,” said Reddy, a freshman in bioengineering. “I also know that I Campaigning in student government elec- have a greater responsibility now that I will tions is no easy task. be taking on this role.” Now that the elections are over, Abhinav Among Reddy’s goals: creating a stron- Reddy and Danielle Leibowitz are ready for ger relationship between USG and stu- the next challenge: tackling their new roles. dents, with the help of a weekly newsletter Reddy, elected president of UIC’s Under- and active participation on campus. graduate Student Government, and Leibow- “While we work for the interest of the itz, UIC’s next student representative to the students, I feel that USG has often had a University of Illinois Board of Trustees, begin great disconnect with the student body,” their yearlong terms July 1. he said. “I am excited to see where we can take Reddy is lobbying in Springfield for a bill that would provide housing grants for homeless students. He worked on the proposal with USG colleague Urooj Shuaib. Leibowitz plans to promote the Stu- dent Success Plan, a campus-wide initiative that helps students advance through their undergraduate studies. The plan identifies eight target areas that help students succeed, such as advis- ing and first-year curriculum. “I’m looking forward to next year,” says Danielle Leibowitz, who becomes UIC student trustee July 1. “Next year I just want to keep up with all these things that are going on and “Then I can contribute and voice my opin- “Representing the perspective of an aspir- make sure I’m following along with the ion as someone who is studying education.” ing educator could be really beneficial,” Lei- Student Success Plan,” said Leibowitz, a Leibowitz thinks her educational back- bowitz said. “I’m excited to see where we can take USG next sophomore in the teaching of mathemat- ground will serve her well in her new role as “I’m looking forward to next year.” year,” says Abhinav Reddy, USG president. ics. UIC’s student trustee. [email protected] UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu I MAY 1, 2013 MAY 1, 2013 I UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu 13

Want to contribute a story? Email Christy Levy, [email protected]

Photos: Roberta Dupuis-Devlin UIC students Alexander Guevara (from left), Michelle Lee and Osamah Hasan will go abroad this summer after winning the U.S. State Department’s Critical Languages Scholarship. Learning how to talk the talk in Oman, Indonesia, China

By Brian Flood vara, who is minoring in international stud- nesians in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and his on- and believes enhancing her Mandarin lan- ies. going desire to learn more about the region’s guage skills will benefit her future career as a Three students will travel to Oman, Indo- “Working for the State Department as a culture. licensed and practicing pharmacist. nesia and China this summer for intensive Foreign Service officer is a good way of “The identification of my career goals of “If I know another language, it would foreign language studies funded by the U.S. traveling and doing something that I love becoming a medical educator and providing definitely help me bridge language barriers State Department’s Critical Languages Schol- to do, which would be to help other community-based health care around the and communicate to patients,” said Lee, who arship. p e op l e .” world served as a catalyst to my continued studied Mandarin at UIC and also speaks The competitive award places each student Guevara, from Chicago’s Lawndale neigh- interest in the country,” he said. Cantonese. in a fully funded 10-week language program borhood, is a 2009 graduate of Hubbard Hasan, who plans to enter medical school “I want to be able to find out how I can use with cultural enrichment experiences. High School. after he graduates in 2014, will also compare my skill set to best help everybody else.” Alexander Guevara, a senior in the Hon- Osamah Hasan, an Honors College senior the effectiveness of Indonesian and U.S. Lee, who graduated from UIC next week, ors College majoring in criminology, law and majoring in biological sciences, will study health care programs. has two years of research experience focused justice, will study at the Noor Majan Training the Bahasa language at the State University of Hasan, of Glen Ellyn, received a Gilman on organic synthesis, working with Tom Institute in Ibri, Oman, where he will focus Malang in Indonesia. Scholarship for his study abroad. He gradu- Driver, associate professor of chemistry. A on Modern Standard Arabic with supplemen- Last year, he traveled to Botswana for ated from Glenbard South High School in Schaumburg resident, she graduated from tal instruction in the Omani dialect. study abroad, where he learned the local lan- 2010. Conant High School in 2010. A 2010 campus lecture by an FBI represen- guage, Setswana. Michelle Lee, an Honors College senior The Critical Languages Scholarship is part tative inspired him to study Arabic at UIC It’s all preparation for his eventual career majoring in chemistry, will travel to the Fui- of the National Security Language Initiative, and through study abroad in Morocco. He goal: bringing primary health care to people jan province of China to study Mandarin at a U.S. government interagency effort to in- graduates next week and plans a career in the in developing nations. Xiamen University in Xiamen. crease the number of Americans mastering Foreign Service or the FBI. Hasan’s interest in Bahasa stems from She plans to return to UIC fall semester critical-need languages. “I’ve always wanted to travel,” said Gue- early childhood experiences meeting Indo- to begin doctor of pharmacy degree studies, [email protected] Goldwater scholarship winner’s goal: become physician-scientist By Brian Flood He plans to earn an M.D./Ph.D. with the goal of heading a biomedical engineer- An aspiring physician-scientist who is al- ing laboratory. ready an experienced researcher was awarded Bommakanti is the director-elect of the Barry M. Goldwater scholarship, a national the Chicago Area Undergraduate award for academic achievement by students in Research Symposium, an annual under- mathematics, science and engineering. graduate-led convention for all academic Nikhil Bommakanti, a junior in bioengi- disciplines. neering, will use the $7,500 scholarship to help He is vice president of the Bioengineer- finish his undergraduate studies. ing Organizational Alliance, an umbrella Bommakanti, a student in the Honors Col- organization of national bioengineering lege, conducted research with Randal Dull, societies on campus. professor and vice head for research in the de- A 2010 graduate of Naperville North partment of anesthesiology, on how the barrier High School, Bommakanti is a member of separating the blood vessels and the lungs re- the national engineering honor society Tau sponds to increased vascular pressure. The goal Beta Pi, the national biomedical engineer- is to reduce the buildup of fluid in the lungs ing honor society Alpha Eta Mu Beta, and from congestive heart failure. Phi Kappa Phi. “As researchers in the biomedical sciences, This year’s 271 winners were selected we are uniquely positioned to find solutions from more than 1,100 qualified nominees that will ultimately benefit patients,” said Bom- for the Goldwater scholarship, named for Photo: Roberta Dupuis-Devlin makanti, who also works with bioengineering the late Republican senator from Arizona. Nikhil Bommakanti studies how to reduce fluid buildup in the lungs from congestive heart failure. faculty. [email protected] 14 UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu I MAY 1, 2013

deaths

Dale R. Eisenmann, interim dean of Dentistry Dale R. Eisenmann, 72, longtime professor and former interim dean of the College of Dentistry, died April 23. A graduate of the College of Dentistry, he joined the faculty in 1968. He was head of histology and associate dean for academic affairs before serving as interim from 1999 to 2000, when the current dean, Bruce Graham, was appointed. “When he was interim dean he didn’t just tend the shop — Dale R. Eisenmann, longtime professor in the College of Dentistry. he moved the college forward,” Graham said. His research focused on the development “Faculty were recruited, and tough deci- of dental tissue, the internal structure of den- sions were made and executed.” tin and enamel protein processing. Eisenmann earned a DDS in 1965 and a Eisenmann received two college teaching Ph.D. in anatomy in 1968. awards, the E. Lloyd Du Brul Faculty Achieve- ment Award and the University of Illinois “When he was interim dean he Alumni Association Loyalty Award. After his retirement, he became a minister didn’t just tend the shop — he and elder of the Apostolic Christian Church moved the college forward.” of Chicago in Hillside.

police

UIC Police emergency: 312-355-5555 3:31 a.m. at 1255 S. Union Ave. Nonemergency: 312-996-2830 April 28: A man was arrested for criminal trespass at 4:13 p.m. in the hospital. April 22-28 For more information on police activity, visit the UIC Police crime map, www. Crimes reported to UIC Police uic.edu/depts/police, and the Chicago Police Theft: 8 CLEAR Map, http://gis.chicagopolice.org Battery: 4 DUI: 1 Crimestopper tip Criminal trespass: 1 UIC Police have recovered several bi- Disorderly conduct: 4 cycles recently but they were not registered with UIC or the city, making them nearly Arrests by UIC Police impossible to identify. April 25: A woman was arrested for bat- Register your bike at www.uic.edu/depts/ tery at 3:25 a.m. at 239 S. Halsted St. police/index.html to help with its recovery in April 27: A man was arrested for DUI at case of theft.

UIC NEWS

Published on Wednesdays during the academic year Assistant graphic designer (monthly during summer) by the Office of Megan Strand...... [email protected] Public Affairs of the University of Illinois at Chicago. Editorial associate 1320 University Hall (MC 288), 601 S. Morgan St., Alex Rauch...... [email protected] Chicago, IL 60607-7113. Editorial interns http://www.uicnews.uic.edu Matt O’Connor...... [email protected] Gina Russell...... [email protected] Editorial: ...... (312) 996-7758 Advertising coordinator Advertising:...... (312) 996-3456 Samella Wright...... [email protected] Fax:...... (312) 413-7607 Interim associate chancellor for public affairs Editor Bill Burton...... [email protected] Sonya Booth...... [email protected] Associate editor Photography Christy Levy...... [email protected] Roberta Dupuis-Devlin Assistant editor Joshua Clark Gary Wisby...... [email protected] UIC Photo Services...... [email protected] Visual communications and design Anna Dworzecka...... [email protected] UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu I MAY 1, 2013 MAY 1, 2013 I UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu 15

Master plan projects begin with updates to the grove

By Christy Levy

When students return to campus next fall, they’ll find a new and improved outdoor space waiting for them. Work begins this summer on the area at Taylor and Morgan streets known as the Chi- cago Circle Memorial Grove — the first major project to come to fruition from the 2010 Master Plan. Plans call for replacing the deteriorating asphalt walking path, updated landscap- ing, new outdoor seating and signs to mark the spot as a gateway to campus, said Mark Donovan, vice chancellor for administrative services. “We want to maintain the informal atmo- sphere of the space but make it seem more open, friendly and inviting,” he said. Campus administrators took student suggestions into consideration when planning the space. Charles Hoch, a member of the campus committee implementing projects from the master plan, asked the Urban Planning and Policy Student Association to visit the grove and compile a wish list for the space. “We got a really good conversation going,” said Hoch, professor of urban planning and policy. “The students showed a real range of experience and knowledge, and by working together, they combined that knowledge and The master plan includes a proposal to demolish two lecture centers for a greener quad. made it available for the leadership as advice.” Student suggestions incorporated into the The master plan, developed by consultants project include keeping the space open for Booth Hansen, a Chicago architectural firm, a variety of events, adding signage as a gate- and Hargreaves Associates, a San Francisco way to campus and creating a walkway wide landscape architecture firm, suggests short- enough for pedestrians and bicyclists, Hoch and long-term campus improvement projects. said. Low-cost projects that could have an im- About 40 students helped in the planning mediate impact include sprucing up green process, said Ashley Sarver, the group’s presi- spaces, removing fences, adding more out- dent. door seating and campus signage. “As students in urban planning and policy, Proposed long-term projects include we’re learning to work with communities and expanding south or consolidating north of people to make places better, so the project Roosevelt Road on the west side of campus; was right up our alley,” said Sarver, a graduate demolishing Lecture Centers B and E for a student in urban planning and policy. “We’ll greener quad; new student housing between be able to see our work when we walk by it. It’s Taylor Street and Roosevelt Road on the east encouraging to have actual results.” side of campus; a north quad near Harrison Improvements are scheduled to begin after and Halsted streets; and relocating student commencement, Donovan said. services to a more central campus location. Once the project is complete, a campus View the master plan at uic.edu/ committee will review the 2010 Master Plan master_plan/ to determine which project comes next. [email protected]

On urban planning students’ wish list for the grove: room to host events, creating gateway to campus. 16 UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu I MAY 1, 2013

sports For more Flames sports, visit www.uicflames.com

Softball remains No. 1 in league with victory By Robbin Cooley

Junior Jenna Marsalli paced the Flames with three hits to capture the three-game series, 2-1, over Youngstown State Sunday at Flames Field. The win keeps UIC in first place in the Horizon League with a 14-4 record. “It was a great team win,” head UIC softball coach Michelle Venturella said. “Bridget [Boyle] did a great job for us. Our defense made the adjustments they needed, and our offense was hitting well, but it seemed to be right at people. “It was nice to see Laura [Swan] come up with the game-winning RBI and Jenna [Marsalli] has just been solid for us.” The Flames beat Youngstown State, 5-1, in Saturday’s opening game but fell in the second match, 6-5. Freshman Bridget Boyle started inside the circle for UIC Sunday and captured her first collegiate win in Photo: Steve Woltmann seven innings of work. The women’s tennis team advances to the NCAA Tournament after beating Youngstown State Sunday in the Horizon League Championship. The Penguins jumped out “Our defense to a 2-0 lead in the top of the made the second inning, before UIC an- swered in the bottom half of the adjustments UIC vs. Northwestern in NCAA tourney frame with two of its own runs. they needed.” Marsalli singled up the By Laura White against Lauren Hankle and Paula de Man went unfinished middle to begin the second inning before Laura Swan after the doubles point was decided. walked. UIC will face Northwestern in the first round of the NCAA The Flames went down two matches in singles before col- With runners on first and second, Jacki Fletcher women’s tennis championship after the Flames won their 17th lecting their first win by Keti Mebuke, securing the victory reached on an error by the Penguins third baseman to Horizon League Championship Sunday. after two more wins from Knoppe and Sharples. score Marsalli. Erica Hampton then knocked in Swan The teams will play at 2 p.m. May 10 at Northwestern’s Youngstown State took two quick wins to go up 2-1 on and earned the RBI off a groundout to the second base- Christie Tennis Center in Evanston. UIC after de Man defeated Craig, 6-1, 6-4, at No. 1 and man to tie the game at 2-2. UIC, the Horizon’s top-ranked team, defeated No. 2 Burak took out Kuvakina, 6-3, 6-3, at No. 3. Marsalli produced in the fifth inning with a single up Youngstown State 4-3 to advance to the NCAA Tournament Mebuke tallied the first singles win for the Flames at No. the middle, then Swan tripled to right field to score Mar- for the 15th straight season. 6, where she captured a 6-3, 6-4 win over Raicevic to tie the salli for a 3-2 victory. “It was a great win during one of the most exciting champi- match, but the Penguins came back after Sadovnikova took a The Flames return to action at 6 p.m. today at Flames onships that I have ever been a part of,” head coach Shannon three-set 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 win over Palacios at No. 2. Field, facing Northwestern. Tully said. By the time Knoppe had gotten through her first set with The team wraps up the regular season against Cleve- “The team really came out on a mission and worked hard Hankle at No. 4, three other matches had ended, but Knoppe land State this weekend, with games set for noon and 2 to earn the doubles point, and worked extremely hard to finished strong to take a 6-3, 6-0 win and leave the deciding p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday at Flames Field. clinch the singles points. It was a total team effort and I can’t match at No. 5 with Sharples. remember many matches where every person on the team Sharples came in to win her first set against Brendel at contributed to the win, so that was a really fun part about No. 5 before dropping the second. today. With the fate of the match in her hands, Sharples ulti- “Now we are all looking forward to the NCAA Tourna- mately came back in the third to claim a 6-3, 6-7 (7), 6-4 win ment.” and clinch the title. UIC came up big in doubles to take the critical first point “With being the last match on the courts, I was nervous of the match. Natalia Kuvakina and Ann-Sophie Hahn col- but I knew it was a chance to step up and win it for the team,” lected the first win after defeating Tijana Raicevic and Annina Sharples said. Brendel, 8-3, at No. 3 before Haley Craig and Mariana Palacios “It felt like there were seven of us on the court and not took down Marta Burak and Margarita Sadovnikova for an just me, so it was great to clinch the match.” 8-6 win at No. 1. With the win, UIC ends Horizon League competition At No. 2, the match by Jana Knoppe and Kathryn Sharples with an 8-1 record, 39-13 in singles and 19-7 in doubles. Swimming, diving teams honor athletes at banquet

By Laura White atczyk and volunteer assistant coaches Steve Yemm and Sheri Meyer. The men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams held John Mordach and Alisa Penkala received the Sam Koois- their annual awards banquet Sunday at the Holiday Inn Chi- tra Scholarship Award. Photo: Steve Woltmann cago Mart Plaza, recalling 2012-13 season achievements and Team captains were announced: Woody Lord, Brian Sivak Junior Jenna Marsalli, with head coach Michelle Venturella, led naming 2013-14 team captains. and Josh Jacobson for the men’s team and Anne Jacobsen, the Flames with three hits Sunday against Youngstown State. The Flames honored seniors Mike Greco and Emily Gni- Monica Pinkus and Melanie Waszak for the women.