2008 Winter - University Of Southern Indiana

From the editorMore than meets the eyeThe labyrinth pictured on the cover of this issueis more than just a good-looking visual attractionon campus. Those involved in the planning ofthe new quadrangle gave careful thought to its elements.Their choice of a labyrinth reflects the University’scommon ground with New Harmony, Indiana, the PoseyCounty community that was the site of two nineteenthcentury utopian communities.New Harmony has a granite labyrinth, modeled on theworld-famous labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral in France.Mark Rozewski, USI vice president for Business Affairs,calls the campus labyrinth a living reference to theUniversity’s relationship with New Harmony. USI’s Officeof Extended Services administers the programs of HistoricNew Harmony, which work to preserve and promote thespecial resources there. Through the College of LiberalArts, USI provides a professional Equity theatre in NewHarmony during the summer. The town’s legacy of educationalreforms, social and economic reforms, scientificadvances, and contributions to the arts reinforces theappropriateness of the linkage between the Universityand New Harmony.By the way, do you know the difference between amaze and a labyrinth? A maze has false passages and deadends. A labyrinth offers a single path in and out so thereis no confusion about the route to follow. For practicalpurposes, the USI labyrinth has an exit from the centerstraight out.If you have not visited campus recently, make plans todo so now. You are in for a treat!Betty R. VawterUSI Magazine is published three times annually bythe University of Southern Indiana for its alumniand friends.Vice President for AdvancementAnnie M. KrugDirector of News and Information ServicesKathy FunkeDirector of Alumni and Volunteer ServicesNancy Johnson, ’83 M ’95EditorBetty R. VawterContributing EditorsWendy Knipe Bredhold ’98David A. BowerRay SimmonsArt DirectorMichael D. HarbisonGraphic DesignerChristopher M. Norrick ’98PhotographyElizabeth CourtneyLaVerne Jones ’05MaCabe BrownEditorial AssociateBrandi Schwartz ’02Administrative AssistantBarbara GoodwinSend editorial information to the Office of Newsand Information Services. Send alumni informationto the Office of Alumni and VolunteerServices. Send donor information and addresschanges to the USI Foundation Office.AddressUniversity of Southern Indiana8600 University BoulevardEvansville, IN 47712TelephoneUSI Magazine 812/465-7005Other University phone numbersAlumni and Volunteer Services 812/464-1924USI Foundation 812/464-1918Admission 812/464-1765Athletics 812/464-1846It is the policy of the University of SouthernIndiana to be in full compliance with all federaland state non-discrimination and equal opportunitylaws, orders, and regulations relating to race, sex,religion, disability, age, national origin, sexual orientation,or status as a disabled veteran or veteranof the Vietnam era. Questions or concerns shouldbe directed to the Affirmative Action Officer,USI Human Resources Department, Universityof Southern Indiana, 8600 University Boulevard,Evansville, Indiana 47712.www.usi.eduMagazine

Volume 41 Issue 2December 2007FEATURESPresident’s Task Force 10Report on workforce and economic developmentInternships 12Students try out careers in the real worldWalking the labyrinth 16New campus focal point revealedA new spin on mentoring 18Academics and athletics10Workforce and Economic DevelopmentDEPARTMENTSCampus News 2Engineering program accreditedUSI Foundation News 8Gift funds mock interview roomSports 20Women’s soccer team in EnglandAlumni Today 22Current news on classmatesOn-court mentoring18On the CoverA labyrinth walk and a presentation by anexpert on labyrinths highlighted openingevents for the quadrangle labyrinth inOctober. Ben Nicholson, a resident of NewHarmony, Indiana, and associate professorof architecture at the School of the ArtInstitute of Chicago, discussed labyrinthsthroughout history. See page 16.Volunteer of the Decade21

Engineering program gains accreditationThe bachelor’s degree program in engineering at theUniversity of Southern Indiana has received accreditation fromthe Engineering Accreditation Commissionof the Accreditation Board for Engineeringand Technology (ABET), the recognizedaccreditation body for college and universityprograms in engineering, applied science,computing, and technology.USI President H. Ray Hoops said theaccreditation agency recognized the excellentsupport from the state and the regionfor the engineering program. He said,“Perhaps no other program has the abilityto have greater impact on a region interms of economic development than engineering.USI expects this program to havea major effect on the region.”Dr. Linda L. M. Bennett, provost andvice president for Academic Affairs, said,“The presence of an accredited engineeringprogram is a powerful recruitment tool and an importantprogram for economic development. It is a pivotal program thatdraws students. Accreditation also is animprimatur from an external agency thatwe are doing a good job. It is the work ofthe faculty, who know the strength of theprogram and who have worked so hard,that has brought us here.”The engineering program is administeredby the Pott College of Science andEngineering at USI. Dr. Scott Gordon isdean of the Pott College. Eric Sprouls,associate professor of engineering, is chairof the Engineering Department.The accreditation is retroactive fromOctober 1, 2004. The announcement capsa process that began with a self-study in2005, graduation of the first class of fouryearengineering students in May 2006,and a two-day site visit in October 2006.Accreditation affirms the quality of theUSI engineering program.Trustees approve new doctoral and undergraduate degree programsA doctoral-level academic programand a new undergraduate degree programreceived approval at the University ofSouthern Indiana Board of Trusteesmeeting in September. The newdegrees, expected to be implemented in2008, are a Doctor of Nursing Practice(DNP) and a Bachelor of Science inAdvanced Manufacturing.The proposed DNP program wouldserve Master of Science in Nursing(MSN) graduates who are currentlypracticing as nurse educators, nursepractitioners, or nurse administrators.The DNP is an alternative to researchfocuseddoctorates in nursing and iscomparable to practice doctorates inpharmacy and physical therapy.Dr. Nadine Coudret, dean ofthe College of Nursing and HealthProfessions, said the college learned ofinterest and support for the establishmentof a clinical nursing practice doctoratethrough a survey. The 2007President’s Task Force on Workforceand Economic Development supportedthe need for clinical nursing and otherhealth-related programs. The doctoratewill support the education, social, andeconomic growth of southern Indianaby providing expert nurse clinicians,educators, and administrators. The programis offered at 45 universities nationallyand at Purdue University in Indiana.The program will be offeredthrough a hybrid approach to coursedelivery using online learning technologywith on-campus intensives.The DNP program would beginwith 20 students and would be availableto full-time and part-time students.The proposal will be submitted to theIndiana Commission for HigherEducation for approval and first coursescould be implemented in fall 2008.Students seeking admission to theprogram must have completed anM.S.N. degree to be eligible to enroll.The curriculum will build on the currentMSN program.The program in advanced manufacturingevolved from IndianaCommission for Higher Education recommendations.In 2002 the commissionendorsed the agreement betweenPurdue University and USI for deliveryof engineering education alternatives inthe southern part of the state and recommendedthe consolidation of existingUSI engineering technology offeringsinto a Bachelor of Science in manufacturingtechnology.The program will provide skilledbaccalaureate-degreed technologists forthe advanced manufacturing industry.It also will support regional businessand industry in workforce developmentand training by providing professionaldevelopment and certificate-trainingopportunities. The expected implementationdate is spring 2008.December 20072University of Southern Indiana

Freshman class is second largestEnrollment at the University of Southern Indiana for 2007 is 9,939 students.Final figures show that the incoming freshman class with 2,136 students is thesecond largest freshman class in USI’s history and the fourth consecutive classover 2,100 students.Dr. Robert Parrent, vice president forStudent Affairs, said, “New students coming toUSI are well prepared for college work, morediverse, and come from greater distances.”The Class of 2011 includes one nationalmerit finalist, 58 valedictorians, two LilyEndowment Community scholars, and 201Twenty-First Century scholars.Minority and international students representmore than seven percent of the studentsat USI. African American students, USI’slargest minority, increased to 4.9 percent ofthe total student population. The female-malecount remains at 60 percent female and 40 percentmale. Traditional-age students remain inthe majority at 7,696 and adult studentsincreased to 2,243.Academic quality demonstrated by thestandardized test performance of new Presidential Scholars and Baccalaureate/Doctorof Medicine (BMD) scholarship recipients continues to increase. The average SATscore for the Presidential Scholars is 1342 and the average score for the BMD studentsis 1325.Transfers from other post secondary institutions to USI increased this fall andnew graduate student numbers are up. Students enrolled at USI come from 91 Indianacounties and 35 other states. International enrollment represents 44 foreign countries.The geographic breakdown of the student population is:4,855 students from Vanderburgh and contiguous counties1,291 students from area counties2,652 students from other Indiana counties1,026 students from other states115 international studentsJohn Dunn chairsBoard of TrusteesEvansville resident John M. Dunn,chairman and CEO of Dunn Hospitality,has been elected chair of the Universityof SouthernIndiana Board ofTrustees. He wasappointed to thenine-memberboard in 2006 byGovernor MitchDaniels.DunnIn additionto his work withthe USI Board ofTrustees, Dunn has been a member ofthe USI Foundation Board since 1993and is a life director. He was chair ofthe USI Foundation Board for twoyears starting in July 2000. He receivedan honorary degree from USI in 2004.Other officers of the USI Boardof Trustees for 2007-08 are Jeffrey L.Knight, Evansville, vice chair and chairof the Finance and Audit Committee;W. Harold Calloway, Evansville, vicechair and chair of the Long RangePlanning Committee; and Amy W.MacDonell, Indianapolis, secretary.Knight is executive vice presidentand chief legal counsel for OldNational Bank, and Calloway is anagent with State Farm Insurance.MacDonell is a historic preservationist,community volunteer, and former chairof the Indiana Main Street Council.ICHE meets on campusUSI President H. Ray Hoops(at podium) welcomes members ofthe Indiana Commission for HigherEducation to campus in October.University of Southern Indiana3December 2007

McCutchan Art Center/Pace Galleries under constructionThe dream of an on-campus art gallery is closer to reality with construction in progress onthe Kenneth P. McCutchan Art Center/Palmina F. and Stephen S. Pace Art Galleries. Turningtheir spades to break ground for the addition to the Liberal Arts Center are, from left, JimSanders, Doris Halwes, and Sue Huck, representatives of the McCutchan family; BixBranson, chair elect of the USI Foundation Board of Directors; Jamie Johnson, studenttrustee; USI President H. Ray Hoops; Harold Calloway, trustee; David Rigdon, art student;Dr. David Glassman, dean of the College of Liberal Arts; and Sandra and DonaldPace, representatives of the Pace family. The construction is due in large part to the generousgifts of Kenneth P. McCutchan and Stephen S. and Palmina F. Pace.Mentoring program helps students applyfor nationally competitive scholarshipsStudents at the University of Southern Indiana have new resourcesto assist them in applying for nationally competitive scholarships.The initiative is under the direction of Dr. Brian Posler, assistant vicepresident for Academic Affairs.“Our strong USI students are always extremely competitive for nationalscholarships, and with organized mentoring, we hope to build on our past successes,”Posler said.Eleven faculty members, an administrator, and Posler are available to helpstudents gain a clearer picture of how to navigate the application process for suchwell-known and lucrative scholarships as Fulbright, Truman, Goldwater, andother top national and international scholarships. USI mentors know evaluatorslook for leadership ability, community service, achievement in academic performance,a potential to perform well, essays, recommendations, and personal statements.And mentors know what scholarships exist according to personal interestand eligibility and can aid in the process to reach another level of excellence.Such prestigious scholarships offer an opportunity to study at premier graduateschools, provide funding for the education, and carry with them recognitionto enhance career opportunities.The Web site at www.usi.edu/acaffrs/scholarships/ provides information aboutnationally competitive scholarships and the special mentoring program.Alerts on text messagesStudents, faculty, and staff may signup for a new wireless text-messaging serviceenabling the University to notifythem swiftly via mobile phone in caseof a campus emergency. The text messagingsystem is an option to USI’s currentemergency communication systemincluding notices on the USI Web site(www.usi.edu), telephone and e-mailalerts, and local media notices.“Text messages can be one of thebest ways to notify students about anemergency,” said Annie Krug, vice presidentfor Advancement. “We know 96percent of today’s college students havecell phones.”The service is provided free by theUniversity. The wireless service provider’stext messaging fees may apply.Student mobile or cell phone numberswill be maintained in a secure databaseand will not be used for any purposeother than emergency notification.Play unveiled at New Harmonygets New York attentionA play that received its world premiereat The New Harmony Theatre in2005 is continuing its journey in NewYork. A reading of A Moon to Dance Byby Thom Thomas was held in Octoberat Primary Stages, a company that specializesin producing new works andnurturing contemporary Americanplaywrights.Actress Jane Alexander, who is inthe new HBO series “Tell Me You LoveMe,” read the role of D.H. Lawrence’swidow, Frieda. She is a past chair of theNational Endowment for the Arts.Jerry Wade, longtime NHT supporterand a Posey County native nowliving in New York, and Evansvilleresidents Edward P. and Mary Anne M.Fox provided major underwriting forthe production in New Harmony,Indiana. The New Harmony Theatre isthe University of Southern Indiana’sprofessional Equity theatre.December 20074University of Southern Indiana

www.PublishAmerica.comHart created prompt, courteous,professional security forceBarry Hart will be stepping down,at the end of the 2007 fall semester, asdirector of Security after 17 years at theUniversity of Southern Indiana.Hart’s favorite day while at USI wasthe day of the parade from the Evansvilleregional airport when the men’s basketballteam came home as finalists fromthe 1994 national championship game.“We won the 1995 title, but 1994is the year I remember because of theenthusiasm of USI fans and the coveragein national publications of our studentathletes and coaches,” Hart said.USI Director of Athletics Jon MarkHall, said, “Barry has been and willcontinue to be a friend to the studentathletes and to the Athletics Department.He has been there during the manytimes of celebrations and a few momentsof disappointment.“Barry’s guidance and help wasinstrumental in USI and Athleticshosting major events on campus suchas NCAA Division II Great LakesBasketball Regionals and the NCAADivision II Cross Country NationalChampionships.”Hart is proudof the securityforce in place atUSI. He said theexpectation among Hartthe USI communityis that the force is prompt, courteous,and professional. The department’semphasis on medical response also getshigh marks from the retiring director.“All the security officers are emergencymedical technicians (EMT) orhave reached levels of certificationtraining,” he said. “I know we have hadan impact on campus, and we havesaved lives.”Hart graduated from the Universityof Evansville with a Bachelor of Sciencedegree in criminal justice and was onthe Evansville Police Department for21 years. He is a graduate of the F.B.I.National Academy.He plans to stay in Evansville afterretiring and looks forward to sleepingthrough the night.He said, “I have slept with one eyeopen for 38 years. I’m going to stop watchingthe phone and waiting for it to ring.”Regional geology meeting includes visits to New HarmonyThe 42nd annual meeting ofthe North-Central Section of theGeological Society of America willbring more than 500 geologists toEvansville April 23-26. Paul Doss,USI associate professor of geology,will chair the meeting.The keynote speaker will beDr. William DiMichele, a paleontologistwith the Smithsonian Institution. Hisresearch on fossil exposures in the deepcoal mines of eastern Illinois generatedinternational press earlier this year.The Casino Aztar ConferenceCenter is headquarters for the meeting.The conference will offer a numberof field trips, including two to NewHarmony, Indiana, which was animportant training and research centerfor the study of geology in Americafrom 1830 through 1860. New Harmonyhas been called the birthplace of NorthAmerican geology.Historic New Harmony is a sponsorof the regional meeting along withthe USI Pott College of Science andEngineering and the Department ofGeology and Physics. USI geology studentswill assist with the meeting andattend sessions.Skoglund chosenfor People to Peopleprogram in EgyptDr. Margaret A. Skoglund, associateprofessor of art, was selected to participatein the recent People to PeopleAmbassador Programs’ HistoryEducation Delegation to Egypt.She and other U.S. educators metin Cairo for professionalexchangewith representativesof theEgyptian educationsystem. The delegationvisitedschools and historicsites as well as Skoglunda large complexdevoted to teacher education.Skoglund’s participation was madepossible by a grant from the Robert andMary Koch Memorial Faculty EnhancementFund in the Vanderburgh CommunityFoundation.John GottcentThe Autobiography ofJesus of NazarethDr. John Gottcent, professoremeritus of English, addresses lingeringquestions about an 18-year gap in theGospels in his recently published novel,The Autobiography ofTHE UTOBIOGRAPHY A OFJesus of Nazareth.JESUS OF NAZARETH“There’s We know the story a of Jesus through the words and perspectives ofMatthew, Mark, Luke, and John. But what about Jesus’ own words,own thoughts, own perspectives? What if he’d written an autobiography,shared his story as seen through his own eyes? What if he’d stored it in acave, like the Dead Sea Scrolls, and what if it had only now beenfamous discovered? This novel aboutimagines just such a series of “what ifs.” Not asimple retelling of the gospel story, it’s an imaginative attempt to reconstructwhat might have happened in the long periods of his life when Jesus ismissing from the historical record, an attempt to depict what things mighthave looked like from his own perspective. If, like the author, you’vebeen fascinated by this person more than by any other figure in history,Jesus at age you’ll enjoy imagining 12 the possibilities wowingthe rabbis University in of Southern Indiana. He is the author or editorin the pages within.John H.Gottcent is Professor Emeritus of English at theof three books and numerous articles, mostly on thesubject of biblical literature, which he taught in twoseparate college courses for more than thirty years. Thisis his first novel.temple, but we don’thear about him againuntil age 30. We’re5.50 x 8.50 .4235.50 x 8.50missing 18 years,”said Gottcent, who taught biblical literatureat USI for more than 30 years.Gottcent was the founding directorof the University Core Council. This ishis first novel.THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF JESUS OF NAZARETH JOHN H.GOTTCENTUniversity of Southern Indiana5December 2007

RetirementsDarrel E. BighamContinuing to workon Lincoln BicentennialDr. Darrel Bigham, professor ofhistory, will see eight years of work ona federal commission begin to bear fruitin spring 2008, his last semester beforeretirement from USI.In 2000, hewas appointedby President BillClinton to theAbraham LincolnBicentennialCommission,charged byBighamCongress withseveral mandates,including thecreation of Lincoln-oriented stamps,a redesigned penny, and a specialrededication program at the LincolnMemorial in Washington, D.C.For Bigham, who chairs the commission’seducation committee, retirementmeans he will have more time forhis commission work. “My responsibilitiescontinue through the end of 2010,so this has been almost a full-time joband I’m glad I’ll have more time to workon it,” he said. The national kick-offevent is in February in Louisville.Bigham joined the Universityin 1970. He was instrumental in theformation and serves as director ofHistoric Southern Indiana, a USI outreachprogram that promotes the historical,cultural, and natural resources ofsouthern Indiana. “It’s a program I feelvery strongly about and feel we’ve madea significant contribution to the region,”he said. “We’ve gotten a great deal ofnational attention in the past 21 years.It was one of the earliest outreachprograms of the institution, and wecontinue to make a mark.”He has authored, co-authored,or edited 11 books, most recently OnJordan’s Banks: Emancipation and itsAftermath in the Ohio River Valley(University Press of Kentucky, 2005).When his work with the commissionends, he plans to write, travel, andspend more time with his wife Pollyat her family home in Woodstock,Vermont.Larry W. BohleberInnovation, creativityin programmingLarry W. Bohleber ’72, managerof the Center for Human ResourcesDevelopment, retires in 2008 after 23years with the University. His longtenure with USI Extended Serviceshas been marked by innovation.Bohleber was instrumentalin developing USI’s ManagementDiagnostic Center, a national awardwinningprogram that continues toassist businesses in developing supervisoryand management talent. He isan expert at organizational assessment,helping to clarify goals and build developmentplans that go far beyond just“training.”Dr. M. Edward Jones, dean ofExtended Services, said, “Larry developedthe nucleus of training and assessmentprograms for business and industryon which much of our outreach programsto area employers was built. Histalents and creativitywill be missed.”Bohleber hasbeen the primaryliaison betweenUSI colleges andarea businessesneeding on-sitecredit courses andspecialized degreeprograms.Linda Cleek, associate dean ofBohleberExtended Services, said Bohleber is acreative and engaging facilitator andinstructor who frequently calls uponhis talents as an amateur magician toadd to classroom fun and learning.Hundreds of noncredit studentshave enjoyed his courses on management,especially “Adventures inAttitudes.” He developed and delivereda well-received and effective customerservice program, “Advanced Connections,”for USI employees. He has taught coursesfor the colleges of Business andLiberal Arts, filling a section of introductorysociology nearly every semester.Recently, he has written a column ontraining issues for Evansville BusinessJournal.Cleek said, “Larry’s dedication toUSI and Extended Services has beenexemplary. I will miss his sense of humoras well as his ability to make the complexmanageable.”Leonard M. CookSteady handthrough growthLeonard M. Cook, associate professorof engineering, joined the Universityof Southern Indiana in 1975 and retiresin 2008 after 33 years of service.“Len is the consummate professional,”said Eric Sprouls, chair of theDepartment of Engineering. “He haswillingly taught overloads during theschool year and courses in the summersession.”Cook was the coordinator of themechanical engineering technology(MET) program from the inception ofthe engineering technology programat USI. Since the development of theundergraduate major in engineering,he has coordinated the mechanicalengineering (ME) option. The METprogram was the largest in the technologyprogram; the ME option is thelargest in the bachelor’s program inengineering.“Len has supervised these programswith a steady hand—making them rigorousand demanding, but graduatingexcellent and successful technologistsand engineers. He has taught two of theDecember 20076University of Southern Indiana

core classes in the programs – strengthof materials and fluid mechanics. Theseare key courses for practicing engineers.His contributions to our programs havebeen substantial and he will be missed,”Sprouls said.Over the years, Cook offered consultationservices on such topics as weldshear tests, ring connected rod capacity,and fiberglass connection tests. He is amember and past secretary and treasurerof the AmericanSociety ofMechanicalEngineers.Cook earneda B.S. fromPennsylvania StateUniversity and anCookM.S. fromUniversity ofPittsburgh. Beforecoming to USI, he was supervisor oftechnical services at PPG Industries,Inc. in Creighton, Pennsylvania.Marjorie Labhart‘Wonderful 43 yearsfrom start to finish’Marjorie Labhart was one of onlytwo full-time instructors in 1965 on theday the University of Southern Indianaopened its doors. She taught mathematicsfor three years, took a couple of yearsoff while her children were young,returned as a part-time instructor for 17years, and resumed full-time teachingin 1987.She retires in 2008.“Every year has been great,” shesaid. “I leave thinking I’ve had thegreatest run in the world. It’s been awonderful 43 years from start to finish.”Prior to joining USI, Labhart was amath teacher at Harrison High Schoolin Evansville. When she had the opportunityto teach at the college level, shefound it suited her perfectly.“It is so much fun to see studentsas young adults grow and change andfigure out what college is all about,”she said.At Commencement in 2005, theUniversity’s 40th year, Labhart presentedreflections about the early days ofUSI. She said, “Would you have likedhaving classes only between 4 p.m. and10 p.m. Monday through Thursday?That means no class on Friday—noclass before noon. Perfect, you say! Well,that was truly the scenario that firstacademic year! Of course, it didn’t staythat way long! Student enrollmentincreased so much that by the secondyear, the starting time for classes wasmoved to noon and by the third year,we were offering classes all day long,five days a week.”Labhart hasseen USI enrollmentgrow from412 students in1965 to 10,000students.In retirement,she looks forwardLabhartto playing moregolf and the flexibilityto travel attimes of the year not dictated by theschool calendar.Eric vonFuhrmannLeaving a legacythrough studentsReflecting on his 42-year careerat USI, Eric vonFuhrmann is proudestof the legacy he leaves through hisstudents.“My real legacy is not personalachievement, but the good studentsthat I’ve been able to help,” he said.“I’ve watched them flower. I’ve watchedthem go on to further education andprofessions. To think I had a small rolein this is the most gratifying thing Ihave out of my career.”VonFuhrman opened the world tostudents through both teaching andinternational travel. For 20 years, hetook students in his Humanities classesto Greece and Italy.“I took students who had neverbeen on a plane before—who had neverbeen out of the Tri-State or the country,”he said. “It was something to seetheir faces whenthey got out of theTri-State and into acompletely foreignculture.”VonFurhmannwas the recipientof two FulbrightvonFuhrmannAwards andtwo NationalEndowment forthe Humanities Awards. The Fulbrightgrants enabled him to create AmericanStudies programs and libraries at theUniversity of Seville and the Universityof Valencia in Spain. The NEH grantsallowed him to attend University ofArizona Institutes on Homer and Greekliterature with master scholars of theWestern world.He created many classes in theHumanities at USI, including theCore courses ethnic literature, classicalmythology, and world mythology. Alongwith Dr. Michael Dixon, assistant professorof history, he helped to start aminor in classical studies.He was recognized for his teachingwith the H. Lee Cooper Core CurriculumTeaching Award in 2004.In the community, vonFuhrmannwas a member of the committee thatbrought the LST 325 to Evansville.He will lead a sold-out tour of WorldWar II sites in Europe in July. He andhis wife Katherine support Tales &Scales, New Harmony Theatre, andthe historic Alhambra Theatre.They established the USI MatthewShepard Theatre Award.University of Southern Indiana7 December 2007

The Northwestern Mutual Interview Room is available to employers recruiting on campus and is used for mock interviews that help studentspolish their interviewing skills.Updated Career Services space includesNorthwestern Mutual Interview RoomGreater interviewing capacity inthe newly renovated and relocatedOffice of Career Servicesand Placement in the Orr Centerincludes a room equipped for mockinterviews where students can polishtheir skills in preparation for actual jobinterviews.The mock interview room wasmade possible by a gift to the USIFoundation from the NorthwesternMutual Financial Network, EvansvilleGroup. Norman B. Miller ’77 is directorand financial advisor.The Northwestern MutualInterview Room is among attractivenew spaces available to recruiters andjob candidates and provides videotapingcapability that allows students to recordand review their practice interviews.Philip L. Parker, director of USICareer Services and Placement, andother professional staff in CareerServices often conduct mock interviewsto give students practice for actual jobinterviews. Some employers also volunteertime to conduct mock interviewsfor students nearing graduation.Parker said, “Students need to polishtheir interview skills. They need tobe able to tell the story of their accomplishments,skills, and experience toprospective employers.”The gift from Northwestern Mutualalso funded new software that allowsstudents to participate in a virtualinterview through digital Web cam.The student’s responses to interviewquestions are recorded. Students canthen meet with a career advisor toreview the recorded interview andreceive feedback that will strengthenand enhance the way they presentthemselves and respond in an actualinterview.With a special code students canaccess the virtual interview software attheir convenience from their personalcomputers and come into the Office ofCareer Serivces at a later time to reviewthe tape with a career advisor.Miller said, “The Evansville Groupof the Northwestern Mutual FinancialNetwork is truly committed to highereducation in Evansville and to USI.This gift was a way for us to show ourlong-term commitment to the University.”Miller said Northwestern has hadUSI interns since 1973. The companyplans to use the new room for interviewinginternship candidates and willprovide professionals from its staff toconduct mock interviews.A plaque on the mock interview roomrecognizes the gift of NorthwesternMutual Financial Network, EvansvilleGroup. From left are Philip L. Parker,director of USI Career Services andPlacement; Dr. Robert W. Parrent,USI vice president for Student Affairs;Norman B. Miller ’77, NMFN directorand financial advisor; and hisson, Joshua E. Miller ’02, NMFNcollege unit director.December 20078University of Southern Indiana

Artist Will Barnet providesprints for USI art collectionNoted American artist WillBarnet of New York has presentedthree pieces of his workfor addition to the University’s art collection.The lithographs are on displayin the McCutchan Exhibition Space inthe Wright Administration Building.Will Barnet and Stephen Pace haveArtists Will Barnet, left, and Stephen Pacehave been friends for more than 50 years.been friends for more than 50 years.Barnet presented the prints to the USIFoundation to honor his friend and fellowartist as ground was broken recentlyfor the Kenneth P. McCutchan ArtCenter/Palmina F. and Stephen S. PaceGalleries. The McCutchan Art Center/Pace Galleries is an addition to theLiberal Arts Center.Susan Colaricci Sauls, art collectionregistrar for the University, said,“Barnet has explored many artisticstyles yet executes his work in a mannerthat is uniquely his own.”His body of work is closely identifiedwith the Indian Space Movement,which is influenced by Native Americanart and promotes flat design with a balanceof organic and geometric shapes.Barnet received the 2007 DistinguishedLifetime Achievement Award from theCollege Art Association.Pace lived in Posey County,Indiana, in his youth and studied art inEvansville. He and his wife Palmina arerelocating from New York to the SolarbronPointe Retirement Community adjacentto the USI campus. The Paces recentlyprovided a $1.5 million gift to the USIFoundation. The gift includes a numberof Pace’s works as well as funding toestablish the Pace Galleries in theMcCutchan Art Center.The USI art collection is ateaching collection.Lecture hall, classroom named for LawrencesWill BarnetTotem, 1982Lithograph withMetallic SilkscreenA lecture hall and a collaborative classroom in theHealth Professions Center have been named to honorthe memory of Melissa Faye Lawrence and recognizeher husband John M. Lawrence ’73, left, of Evansville.Lawrence; his aunt, Carol Dippel Heines, center; andDr. Nadine Coudret, dean of the College of Nursing andHealth Professions, gathered with USI President H. RayHoops, other University administrators, faculty, and studentsfor the dedication. John Lawrence established theMelissa Faye Lawrence Endowed Nursing Scholarship,the largest scholarship award in the College of Nursingand Health Professions.University of Southern Indiana9 December 2007

Regional focus groups contribute to report findingsWhen members of theUniversity of SouthernIndiana President’s TaskForce on Workforce and EconomicDevelopment came calling, leaders inGibson County, Indiana, stepped forward.They not only provided informationabout their county’s priorities andconcerns, they also took advantage ofthe chance to learn about themselves.USI President H. Ray Hoopsappointed the task force to assessUniversity curricular needs, study economictrends, analyze economic impact,and seek community input and awareness.At work since October 2006, thetask force released its report in August.The task force findings will serve as aguide in long-range planning as theUniversity continues to educate theregional workforce and work withemployers and regional leaders tofacilitate economic development.Connie Wellmeyer ’84 is assistantgeneral manager of corporate planningfor Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indianain Princeton, Indiana. She served onthe task force’s Community AdvisoryPanel and participated in the GibsonCounty focus group, one of nine focusgroups conducted throughout the southwesternIndiana, southern Illinois, andwestern Kentucky region. Wellmeyer isa member of the board of the GibsonCounty Economic DevelopmentCorporation (GCEDC).“It was a good flow of information,”Wellmeyer said of the Gibson Countyfocus group meeting.“It was beneficialfor me as amember of theGibson CountyEconomicDevelopment Boardand, in terms of myWellmeyerjob at Toyota, ithelped me understandthe needs of the community.”The focus group included otherGCEDC board members, representativesof corporations from manufacturingto banking, and participants fromOakland City University and GibsonCounty schools. George Rehnquist,a Princeton attorney, served on thecommittee. He is a member of the boardof the Quad County DevelopmentCommission, a multi-governmentalagency serving Gibson, Posey,Vanderburgh, and Warrick counties.He also is a member of the IndianaCommission for Higher Education.Wellmeyer said a major issue for thePrinceton group was the forth comingdevelopment of Interstate-69. The groupbrainstormed about how to prepare forthe economic development the newhighway will bring. They expect workforceneeds in logistics, supply chainmanagement, and construction managementand want students to be educatedwith the knowledge and skills they willneed for these jobs.Discussion in the Gibson CountyGroup also prompted USI to survey itsemployees’ volunteerism. See Inside theReport (next page).The first President’s Task Force onWorkforce and Economic Developmentwas conducted in 1999-2000.

Inside the reportUSI employeesMaking a difference in the communityUSI’s employees are making important contributions to the regionthrough their volunteerism. As a result of their civic engagement, USIemployees make a difference in improving lives, strengthening communities,and creating value within the region.In a survey of employees, in which 324 (100 support staff, 108administrative staff, 100 full-time and 45 part-time faculty, and 13 temporarystaff) responded, there were 32,652 volunteer hours reportedannually. Calculated at the national volunteer wage of $18.77 per hour,the annual monetary value of volunteer activity is $612,878.With an average of 88 volunteer hours per year, USI employeescontribute almost double the average volunteer hours of 44.2 per year inthe state of Indiana.USI’s contribution to the creative classOne of the best-read books in popular economic literature in recentyears is Richard Florida’s The Rise of the Creative Class. The bestseller,published in 2003, indicates that creativity has a growing role in theeconomy. Florida said more and more people are involved in living andworking as “creative types” and their lifestyles, work, values, and choicesare changing the economy.Related research indicates that unlike many other inputs into thegrowth process (such as natural resources) which experience diminishingreturns, creativity is associated with increasing returns. An expansionof the creative class in a region can be expected to significantlyboost its economic growth.These occupations are considered to place a greater demand oncreative abilities:• Computer and mathematical occupations• Architecture and engineering occupations• Life, physical, and social science occupations• Education, training, and library occupations• Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations• Management occupations• Business and financial occupations• Legal occupations• Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations• High-end sales and sales managementThe USI President’s Task Force on Workforce and EconomicDevelopment subcommittee on economic impact used data from annualalumni surveys to measure USI’s contribution to the creative class,revealing that a significant proportion of USI graduates are joining theranks of the creative class in the region and enhancing the region’shigh-end growth potential.The charge to theTask ForceUniversity of Southern IndianaPresident H. Ray Hoops appointed aUniversity Task Force on Economicand Workforce Development to studyeconomic and workforce trends andto assess institutional programs toserve regional employers and theregional economy.The charge to the task force was:• Audit existing curriculum,education and training programs,and communityengagement activities, andrecommend needed changes.• Study the existing and newlyemerging economic and socialtrends in the regional economyto identify gaps betweenthe existing program offeringsand the changing needs ofarea employers.• Conduct a study of USI’s economicimpact on the regionaleconomy.• Mount a regional effort togenerate awareness of theseissues and to solicit feedbackon the role of the Universityas an agent for economicdevelopment.More informationRead the report online atwww.usi.edu/president/taskforce/.Request a copy of the report or apresentation of the findings to yourprofessional or civic group by callingthe USI Office of Advancement at812/464-1755 or e-mailing akrug@usi.edu.www.usi.edu/president/taskforce

Real-world TrainingInternships and co-operative programsgive students valuable work experienceStudents who complete co-op orinternship experiences find themselvesa step up on the ladder to asuccessful career. As job candidates,their names often rise to the top.Internships give students a jumpstart on their professional careers, saidPhilip L. Parker, director of CareerServices and Placement for theUniversity of Southern Indiana.“When I meet with seniors whohave done internships, I see a significantdifference,” he said. “They alreadyhave a sense of professionalism. Theyhave begun to build a professional network.They have a confidence aboutthemselves becausethey’ve been in theworkplace withprofessionals intheir chosencareer.”During the lastyear, 110 employershired USI studentsParkeras interns. Parkerpoints out advantagesto employers:“They get the benefit of havingdedicated and ambitious students who,with the right course work behindthem, can make a valuable contributionto the organization.”Many academic departments atUSI require that students reach junioror senior status before completing aninternship to assure they have a goodfoundation of knowledge to apply intheir real-world experience.Another advantage for employers isthe opportunity to identify talent theymay want to bring on board when astudent is ready to graduate.In recent years, Career Servicesand Placement has facilitated 250-300internships a year. Parker wants todouble that number.Depending on the employer,students earn academic credit orget paid experience.While Parker wants to expandinternship opportunities in all fields, helists increased opportunities for studentsstudying liberal arts—including history,sociology, and English—as a high priority.“We always have a need for internshipsfor those students,” he said.Another priority is to increaseopportunities for students majoring inSTEM (science, technology, engineering,and mathematics) areas.Nationwide programs are under way toencourage more students to pursuecareers in STEM areas to prepare forthe in-demand jobs of coming years.In summer 2007, 25 engineeringstudents completed internships. Parkersaid that AK Steel in Rockport, Indiana,has committed to USI being a primaryschool for recruitment of engineeringinterns and co-op students. AK Steelemployed seven USI engineering studentslast summer.Career Services works with manyregional employers and also helps studentslearn about internship opportunitiesnationwide.In summer 2007, managementmajor Christina Warren completed aninternship at Sargent and Lundy, anengineering firm in Chicago. BryceBullock, a finance major, also wasin Chicago. He worked for GeneralElectric. Brittany Oeth, a marketingmajor, worked for UniversityDirectories, based in Chapel Hill,North Carolina. Several studentsworked in Indianapolis, includingLauren Omohundro who completedan internship with the office of CheriDaniels, Indiana’s first lady. In springsemester, Scott Carr was chosen asDemocratic Intern of the Year forhis work with the Indiana GeneralAssembly.December 200712University of Southern Indiana

The InternLauren Omohundro, seniormajoring in communication studiesHometownEvansvilleHer employerOffice of the First LadyState of IndianaIndianapolisThe Web site for Career Servicesand Placement includes a section whereemployers can list a position, includinginternships. Information about workagreements and evaluations also is onthe Web site.“Of course, we encourage employersto call us, especially if they are new tothe process,” Parker said.Nationally, a recent survey showsthe conversion rate from internship toprofessional employment at the samecompany is 47 percent. While the Tri-State rate is not that high, Parker said asignificant number of interns do acceptpositions with their employers.Jared Simmons, a 2007 engineeringgraduate, completed a co-op programwith Toyota Motor ManufacturingIndiana, continued his relationship withthe company following the co-op period,and joined Toyota full time upongraduation in May. A business studentwho converted his internship into fulltimeemployment is Neil Fortwendel’05. He was named one of the top 10interns nationwide for NorthwesternMutual Financial Group in 2005 andjoined the company’s Evansville Group,where he interned, upon graduation.Her internship experienceLauren Omohundro’s baseas an intern last summer wasthe Governor’s Residence inIndianapolis, but she was mostly onthe go coordinating activities for theFirst Lady’s third annual HeartlandWalk for Health and other StateFair activities.“The walk was very much a success,”said Omohundro. “We had 430participants, almost double what theyhad a year ago.”The Heartland Walk is an initiativeto promote heart healthy lifestylesfor all Hoosiers. Omohundro workedwith businesses to promote the eventand wrote public service announcements,media advisories, and pressreleases. She also worked with State Fairofficials to coordinate Daniels’ participationin State Fair contests. The FirstLady came away a winner in both thecelebrity cow-milking and watermelonspittingcontests and tied for honors inthe corn-husking challenge.Omohundro set up several “Heartto Heart” events on college campusesand attended an event with the FirstLady at a hospital in Elkhart, Indiana.Jill Burleson, chief of staff for theFirst Lady, said, “Lauren was invaluablethis summer providing our office withhard work and dedication. She was notonly fun and energetic, but added talentto our team. She was above all professionaland a joy to work with.USI student Lauren Omohundro, right, helpedcoordinate State Fair participation for Indiana’sfirst lady, Cheri Daniels.Omohundro called upon knowledgeshe gained from a USI course in businessand professional communication tocomplete the internship successfully.“That course taught me how tospeak positively and professionally in abusiness situation,” she said, “In myinternship I was speaking to people ofhigh status. It helped me to be confidentin what I was saying.”Her futureOmohundro will put the finishingtouches on her resume and distribute itto potential employers early in springsemester. She will look for a job thatuses a combination of skills from hermajor in communications studies. She isdefinitely interested in putting her eventplanning skills to use again because herinternship proved that she enjoys it andis good at it.continued on next pageUniversity of Southern Indiana13 December 2007

Andy JeffriesJeffries called on knowledge andskills developed through classroomexperience to complete the study ofthe Alhambra.“I felt very prepared to do what wasneeded because the things you learn inhistory courses lend themselves to theactual work of doing and writing history,”he said.“You need research skills and theability to talk to people. You need tocarry yourself in a professional manner.There were a lot of phone calls, e-mails,and face-to-face meetings.”As for academic skills, Jeffriesemphasized the need to be critical inreading and evaluating the sources.His futureBased on his summer experience,Jeffries likes the idea of a job in research.He also may consider graduate schoolor a future in teaching.The Co-opStudentMelissa Kern, seniormajoring in business administrationwith an emphasis in managementand minoring in public relationsand advertisingHometownHuntingburg, IndianaHer employerPublic Affairs DepartmentToyota Motor Manufacturing IndianaPrinceton, IndianaHer co-op experienceFrom a recycling event for thirdgraders to a photo shoot for the cover ofFortune, Melissa Kern has put her businessadministration and public relationsknowledge into practice. She is completingthe second of three rotations asa co-op student at Toyota MotorManufacturing Indiana (TMMI).Her job encompasses event planning,TMMI’s student tour program,overview presentations, communications,and philanthropy. She plannedEarth Aware Camp, an event with afocus on recycling, for more than 420Gibson County third-graders, and alsowas involved in Toyota’s project to cleanup two community parks in observanceof National Public Lands Day. She hashad the opportunity to organize photoshoots, one of which resulted in a frontcover of Fortune magazine (March 19 issue).Melissa KernKern was excited that she was givenchallenging projects in her co-op experience.“I rarely am found behind the deskor my computer. A majority of my workis done throughout the community orgreeting visitors touring our facility,”she said.“I feel that what I have learned fromthis experience is a great deal of knowledgethat could never be taught in anyclassroom setting.”She has had a chance to see theToyota production system up close andgained experience in problem solving,effective communication, planningphilanthropic activities, and developingbusiness relationships.Her futureKern’s career goal is to land a positionin either business or public relationswith a Fortune 500 Company. She alsomay decide to further her education byearning an M.B.A. degree.ments include Parker, Pott Collegeof Science and Engineering; JanetJohnson, assistant director of CareerServices and Placement, College ofBusiness; Pam Doerter, career coordinator,College of Liberal Arts. A jobsearch is in progress to employ a careercoordinator for the open position workingwith the Bower-SuhrheinrichCollege of Education and the Collegeof Nursing and Health Professions.Parker said, “It’s important to getsome kind of career-related experiencebefore graduation. The hiring marketfor new graduates is very good, but it’sstill competitive. Students with thesekinds of experience will find themselvesat the top of the list.”For information aboutsponsoring an internshipCareer Services and Placement812/464-1865Room 074, Orr Centerwww.usi.edu/careersv/index.ASPUniversity of Southern Indiana15 December 2007

Huff is in her nineteenth year as anadjunct instructor at USI. She teaches acourse in personal health science duringthe academic year and a graduate coursein education during the summer.Glenwood is a feeder school forEvansville’s Bosse High School.The leaders of the USI mentoring programarranged an opportunity for theGlenwood students to visit Bosse tomeet the tennis coach and watch amatch.Will any of these Glenwood studentssomeday play on the Bosse tennisteam? Whether or not that comes topass, the students have knowledge of asport they can play most of their livesas long as they have a racket and oneother person available.Will some of the Glenwoodstudents one day be USI students?“For many who never thought ofgoing to college, that seed has beenplanted,” Huff said.Aguinaga and Porter received agrant from the Bower-SuhrheinrichFaculty Enhancement Fund to supportthe mentoring program. They hopeto help improve tennis courts nearGlenwood Middle School so the studentswho have participated in theafter-school program can continueto develop their athletic skills.In learning, one size does not fit allDr. Nancy Aguinaga, assistant professor of education,is committed not only to incorporating Universal Design forLearning into her teaching but to teaching it to her studentsso they, too, can reach all learners.The concept of Universal Design for Learning hasthree aspects.The first is multiple means of representation, giving learnersa variety of ways to acquire knowledge. The second is multiplemeans of engagement, tapping into students’ interests andAguinagaincreasing motivation. The third is multiple means of expression, providing a choiceof ways for students to demonstrate what they know.“All of us learn differently,” Aguinaga said. “It really is all about the individual.People are attracted to different formats. It’s clear when they submit their assignments.Some students may be comfortable writing a paper; others may want todevelop a PowerPoint presentation.”Aguinaga attended an institute last summer at the Harvard Graduate School ofEducation on the concept of Universal Design for Learning.She explained, “It is like thinking about people with differences before youbuild a building. You need a ramp and an elevator to give everyone access.“From an education aspect, you want to design courses so everybodycan benefit.”In today’s educational environment, knowing how to use technologyto its fullest advantage helps teachers reach different types of learners.Aguinaga uses blogs, discussion forums, audio, video, and closed captioning inher teaching. She directs her students to research-based Web resources they can usewhen they become teachers.Aguinaga recently made two presentations in Minneapolis at “Closing the Gap,”an assistive technology conference. One was on Universal Design for Learning andthe other on using assistive technology in the classroom to help students with autism.Above: (Left) USI women’s tennis player Mary Johnson works with Glenwood’s KaliaLevel. (Center) Audra Lindenschmidt, a senior in elementary education, tutors DanaPorter, a sixth-grade student from Glenwood. (Right) Keely Porter, head coach forwomen’s tennis, advises Glenwood students on their racket hold.University of Southern Indiana 19 December 2007

Women’s soccer players travelto birthplace of their sportby Dan McDonnell, USI Sports InformationCollege isn’t just about the learningexperience students get inthe classroom. It’s also about thelife experiences they gain.The women’s soccer team traveledto England in August and played soccerin the sport’s birthplace. The playerswill remember not only the 10-day tripbut the dedication it took to get there.“It took a lot of hard work,” USIHead Coach Krissy Engelbrecht said.“The players were training for soccer,going to classes, and on top of that,fund raising. But it got them out in thecommunity, and I think they enjoyedthat.”The team returned from theEuropean trip with a 2-1 record and alifetime of memories.“It was the most amazing thing,”senior Katie Barisano said. “The sightseeingstuff was great, but to play soccerthere was something that you can’treally explain.”The team saw London via theLondon Eye, the world’s tallest observationwheel. They also visited BuckinghamWomen’s soccer players (front row, fromleft) Jessica Snyder and Jessica Stawickand (back row, from left) MeaganHomolla, Katie Grossman, AllisonConquest, Katie Teagarden, KaraGeorgeff, and Victoria Fralick take inthe sights at the London Eye. Passengersin the London Eye’s capsules can seealmost 25 miles in all directions.Palace, Big Ben, and of course, theDavid Beckham Academy.“I have to say, that was my favoritepart,” senior Katie Grossman said of thesoccer academy. “I didn’t think it wasgoing to be that big. But his coach (EdHarris who coached Beckham on theEnglish National Team as well asManchester United) showed up andtaught us a few things.“I liked the stories he had of DavidBeckham and a bunch of the players.”The USI women athletes would nothave heard those stories had it not beenfor an idea they had four years ago.“As freshmen we talked about goingsomewhere as seniors,” Barisano said.“We never really thought that it wouldhappen though.”Last year, she and some of herteammates revisited the thought ofmaking a big trip and came up withthe idea of England.“We wanted to do something bigbecause we heard that the team had goneto Hawaii in the past,” Grossman said.They presented their off-the-cuffidea to the coach.“Coach Engelbrecht said, ‘Hey, ifyou really want to go, you can do it byfund raising,’” Barisano remembered.Engelbrecht laid out stringent goalsfor the players.“Each player had to raise $2,000 aspart of the Walk for Women’s Athletics,”Engelbrecht said. “They also had to passfitness tests.”Financially, the team set monthlygoals to measure their progress.“That definitely helped,” Grossmansaid. “We pushed each other to stayon goal.”Candle sales and car washes helpedthe team earn money. The players hadto balance the fund-raising task withsoccer and school.“We did a lot of things that tookup quite a bit of time along with schooland soccer,” senior Keri Land said.Women’s soccer players, from left, KatieBarisano, Julie Vaughan, Victoria Fralick,and Ashleigh Lemp gather in front ofBuckingham Palace.Though the goals were high, theteam reached them and had the summerto deal with the paperwork and passports.One player received her passportjust two days before departure.Getting everything in line duringthe summer was essential so the teamcould concentrate on soccer during preseasoncamp.Land had a positive memory ofpre-season.“I think this year was probablythe best pre-season we’ve had since I’vebeen here,” she said. “Everyone wasfocused and driven. We knew that wehad to get a lot done in a short amountof time before we left.”December 200720University of Southern Indiana

Varsity Club member Jack Burgdorfis USI Volunteer of the DecadeIn honor of Volunteer USI’s 10thanniversary, the Volunteer USIAdvisory Council and the Office ofVolunteer and Alumni Services namedJack Burgdorf the Volunteer of theDecade at the Volunteer RecognitionDinner in September.Burgdorf was nominated for theaward by Rick Herdes, men’s basketballcoach, and Sandy Hatfield, formerVarsity Club secretary.Hatfield said, “Any time I neededhelp, Jack was only a phone call awayand always available to do any job thatneeded to be done. He is mechanicallygifted, and happy to step in and volunteeron a project.”Burgdorf almost single-handedlyinstalled new bleachers at the USI baseballfield and crafted wooden tee boxesand tees for the Varsity Club GolfScramble. He chairs the committee thatmaintains and acquires sponsor signs forthe golf scramble, oversees the placementof the signs on the course, andremoves them at the end of the day.He also organizes the putting contest.He helped build the Varsity Club’sWest Side Nut Club Fall Festival foodbooth; transports it to and from WestFranklin Street each year; and volunteersas a “day chairman,” grilling steaksand chops during the festival. His totalreported volunteer hours since 1996 are1,169.Herdes said, “In addition to attendingmost basketball games both homeand away, Jack and his wife Bert are frequentlyat the PAC for volleyball games.They will be at baseball and softballenjoying the games or helping out inthe concession stands when asked.Cross country and tennis teams havealso been the beneficiary of Jack’s aidand talents. The Burgdorfs are greatfans of all our student athletes.”USI President H. Ray Hoops, center, congratulatesJack Burgdorf and his wife Bert.The Burgdorfs also support intramuralsports.Also honored at the ceremony wereLarry and Barbara Shelton, the 2007Volunteers of the Year, who contributeda combined 1,700 volunteer hours toAthletics. USI Habitat for Humanitywas recognized as the 2007 Student(Organization) Volunteer of the Year.Cross country teamsgo to national meetJellema, Hillyard earn top GLVC honorsThe men’s cross country team captureda league-record 15th conference title at theGLVC Championships. Both men’s andwomen’s cross country teams advanced tothe National Championships after themen’s team placed third and the women’steam fourth at the regional.USI men’s senior Paul Jellema wassecond at the regional as an individualJellemawhile women’s sophomore Mary Ballingerplaced third.The men’s team was ranked seventh nationally at press time.Jellema (Dyer, Indiana) earned GLVC Runner of the Yearhonors after capturing the individual title at the GLVCChampionships with an 8k time of 24 minutes, 48.90 seconds.He becomes the fourth men’s runner in school history and thefirst since Joey Byrne in 2002 to win the individual GLVCchampionship. Joining Jellema on the All-GLVC team werejunior Tim Sirbek (Hammond, Indiana) and senior TristanMannix (Crothersville, Indiana).USI Head Coach Mike Hillyard was named the GLVC Coachof the Year after directing the Screaming Eagles to their thirdstraight conference championship and fourth in the last five years.Athletes in community actionUSI athletes give back to the communityVisit www.usi.edu/sports to see student athletes inservice activities throughout the Evansville area.University of Southern Indiana21 December 2007

Alumni Council2007-08OfficersJessica A. McCarthy ’00PresidentJean M. Blanton ’01President ElectAmy B. Lutzel ’96SecretaryH. Alvin Basham ’00TreasurerGeoff A. Gentil ’92Immediate Past PresidentFrank F. McDonald II ’73Alumni TrusteeTarrie Kendall Crist ’94Indianapolis ChapterBrian E. Pauley ’00Louisville ChapterSteven R. Bass ’75Sandra L. Bosse ’97Stephanie S. Buchanan ’97Jina L. Campbell ’01, M’03Kevin L. Hammett ’90Karla L. Horrell ’77Tina M. Kern-Raibley ’86Kent L. Kleiman ’97Cindy L. Ohl ’80Ryan J. Robertson ’01. M’07John M. Schroder ’71, ’03Donald O. Stucki ’98, M’06Sarah M. Wagner ’94Lynell J. Walton ’91Debra E. Wells ’00Steven R. Wozniak ’97University StaffNancy L. Johnson ’83, M’95Director of Alumni andVolunteer ServicesLisa J. Schaefer ’98Assistant Director of Alumniand Volunteer ServicesDeb C. SchmuckSenior Administrative AssistantTEL. 812/464-1924www.usi.edu/alumniAlumni2008January 8January 12January 17January 19February 8February 9March 11April 19April 24May 10May 11June 8Alumni Council Meeting5:45 p.m., USI FoundationVarsity Club and Alumni Chili Supper5:30 p.m., USI Physical Activities Center 200Indianapolis Alumni Gathering at Comedy Sportz7:30 p.m.Louisville Alumni Gathering at Molly Malone’s Irish Pub8 p.m., following USI at Bellarmine University basketballgamesAthletic Hall of Fame Induction Dinner6 p.m., Carter HallHomecoming 2008: Week of the BeakTailgate Tent, Noon to 3 p.m.Alumni Party, 5:30 to 7 p.m.AMIGO Reunion, 7 p.m.Alumni Council Meeting5:45 p.m., USI FoundationUSI Day at the Zoo, Mesker Park ZooGreater Indianapolis Alumni Chapter Gathering, 7 p.m.,Union Jack Pub-Broad RippleUSI Alumni Association Annual MeetingFollowed by Class of 2008 Graduation CelebrationReception and Dinner; USI University CenterUSI Spring Commencement3 p.m., Roberts StadiumAlumni Picnic4 p.m., University Center MallAll alumni are invited to attend these events.December 200722University of Southern Indiana

1970sFrank F. McDonald II ’73, marketing, hasassumed a new role as director of governmentalaffairs and business development atEnvironmental Management Corporationin Evansville.Greta R. Mounts ’73, accounting, hastaken the position of controller at HRSolutions in Evansville.Marion L. Shuler ’74, business, has retiredafter 32 years with GE Plastics (now SaudiBasic Industries Corporation – SABIC) inMount Vernon, Indiana.Corliss E. Chastain ’78, art, will go toTokyo as a participant in the JapanFulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program.She is an art teacher at Maranacook HighSchool in Readfield, Maine. A panel of educatorsselected Chastain for the honor froma national pool of more than 1,700 applicants.The program allows distinguishedprimary and secondary school educators inthe United States to travel to Japan forthree weeks to promote interculturalunderstanding.Betty Madden Peppiatt ’79, elementaryeducation, has joined ERA First Advantageas a sales associate in Newburgh, Indiana.1980sPhyllis L. Truitt ’81, business, was honoredwith the National Association of CreditManagement Strength in NumbersRecognition Award. She is the director ofcredit at Atlas Van Lines in Evansville.Joe A. Hargis ’82, communications, is theassociate vice president for ExternalRelations at Carleton College in Northfield,Minnesota.Moulton “Mo” Cato ’85, communications,has taken the position of assistant soccercoach for Indiana University-PurdueUniversity Indianapolis. Cato is a formermember and assistant coach of the USImen’s soccer team.John P. Devine ’85, biology, was promotedto general manager at BASi Evansville, Inc.,in Mount Vernon, Indiana.Looking back at the Early YearsCourtney D. Watt ’85, sociology, is theauthor of The Journey That Led Me to JesusChrist, an autobiography. The book is publishedby Xlibris. Watt lives in Mesa, Arizona.Missing a yearbook? Buy one nowTony Aylsworth ’87, political science, waspromoted to senior vice president, corporatecompliance director at Old National Bankin Evansville.Now you have a chance to look back at your college years.Copies of yearbooks from 1971 to 1991 are available for purchase.Quantities are limited.Hardbacks - $10Paperbacks - $1Purchase onlinewww.usi.edu.alumni/saa/yearbooks.aspFor more informationLisa Schaefer at 812/465-1215 orljschaefer@usi.eduProceeds benefitStudent Alumni AssociationRetired businessprofessors LarryArp and HarlanVan Over enjoyphotos in a USIyearbook withKelly Wilkinson’81 at theCelebrate theEarly Years receptionfor facultyand alumni fromthe 1965 to1984 era. Thecampus tour andreception wereheld inSeptember.More photos from the Celebrate the Early Years Receptionwww.usi.edu/newsinfo/photos/EarlyYearsCelebration2007/continued on next pageUniversity of Southern Indiana23 December 2007

Mark A. Isaac ’87, accounting, hasassumed the position of senior vice presidentof business development at UnitedBank in Evansville.Kathy Sitzman Scheller ’87, businessadministration/marketing, was named executivedirector of Ronald McDonald HouseCharities in Evansville.Basem A.K. Dugheish ’88, computer informationsystems, is a business developmentexecutive at Algosaibi Services Company,LTD in Dammam, Eastern Province, SaudiArabia.1990sGlenn T. Kingsbury ’90, business administration,has joined United Bank as assistantvice president for business development inEvansville.Dean A. Happe ’91, accounting, was promotedto vice president and general managerat CMC of Evansville.Cathleen Howard Morrow ’91, elementaryeducation, is a kindergarten teacher atSouth Terrace Elementary in Wadesville,Indiana.Lara Sears Beck ’92, communications, wasappointed executive director at VistaCare inEvansville.Diana Combs Daeger ’92, communications,is a program assistant with TwentyfirstCentury Scholars in North Vernon,Indiana.F. Denise Atkins ’93, business administration,was promoted to vice president, depositservices manager, at Old National Bankin Evansville.Tess Libbert Fleming ’93, business administration,was promoted to senior accountmanager at The ARS Group in Evansville.Gayla R. Killough ’93, biology, has takenthe position of community developmentspecialist with the City of Evansville.Cynthia A. Moore ’93, communications,’07, Master of Health Administration, wasnamed chair of the medical assisting programat Ivy Tech Community College inEvansville.Eric Snow namedadmission directorat Holiday WorldEric Snow ’03, advertising/publicrelations, a former Holiday World andSplashin’ Safari employee who was mostrecently corporate sponsorship managerat the Indianapolis Zoo, has been nameddirector of admissions at Holiday Worldand Splashin’ Safari in Santa Claus,Indiana.Snow oversees the hiring, training,and daily operations of a 45-membercrew responsible for front-gate ticketsales, season-pass processing, guest relations,lost and found, and the park’s kennel,the Holidog Inn.Snow returns to Holiday World, wherehe spent six seasons as a ride operatorand marketing intern.Scott Wright named presidentof newspaper companyScott A. Wright ’86, communications,has been named president and chiefoperating officer for the Journal RegisterCompany based in Yardley,Pennsylvania.Wright manages the day-to-day operationsof the company’s six clusters andparticipates in planning and developingresources to achieve short- and longertermgoals and objectives. Previously, hewas senior vice president for the company’sMichigan cluster.Prior to joining the Journal RegisterCompany in 2006, Wright was presidentand publisher at Suburban CommunityNewspapers in Memphis, Tennessee. Healso has been associated with newspapersin Plano, Texas; Pontiac, Michigan;St. Louis, Missouri; Campbell Hall,New York; and Joplin, Missouri.J. Susie Hoffmann Traylor ’93, English,was promoted to director of human resourcesat CMC in Evansville.Scott A. Blubaum ’94, mathematics, is amathematics teacher for Sarasota CountySchools in Sarasota, Florida.Chelsea Vowels Brown ’94, elementaryeducation, has taken the position of realtorassociate with Realty Group in Evansville.Rachel L. Rawlinson ’94, communications,is the executive director of marketing andcommunications at Ivy Tech CommunityCollege in Evansville.Sharon B. Shumate ’94, communications,has joined the Columbus Republic newspaperas advertising director in Columbus,Indiana.Thomas C. Burkhardt ’95, communications,is the branch manager at C.H.Robinson Worldwide in Evansville.Barbara Gibson Goodyear ’95, mathematics,was promoted to financial services managerat Mid-Hudson Regional InformationCenter – Ulster Boards of CooperativeEducational Services in New Paltz,New York.Kelley J. Greer ’95, nursing, has joinedThe Realty Group as a realtor associatein Evansville.Brenda K. Rehl ’95, business, has takenthe position of account manager at SaintMary’s Medical Center in Evansville.Kevin S. Axsom ’96, communications, hasassumed the position of sales associate forF.C. Tucker Emge Realty in Evansville.Julie M. Bellamy ’96, Master of SocialWork, has joined aha! Architects of HumanAwareness as a partner and psychotherapistin Evansville.Linda Mullis Bueltel ’96, accounting, hasaccepted the position of shared servicescontroller with Office Furniture Group inJasper, Indiana.Elizabeth A. Jackson ’96, Master ofBusiness Administration, has joined theSouthwestern Indiana Mental HealthCenter, Inc., as vice president in humanresources in Evansville.December 200724University of Southern Indiana

Knute A. Lentz ’96, accounting, is thechief executive officer of Brybelly Holdings,Inc., in Indianapolis.Amy Huebschman Lutzel ’96, communications/German,is a paralegal with theVanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office inEvansville.Matthew W. Potter ’96, English, hasjoined Strouse Wealth Advisors as anassociate wealth adviser in Evansville.Matthew D. Deckard ’97, social scienceteaching, is the principal at WestElementary School in Mount Juliet,Tennessee.Jay H. Donosky ’97, biology, is anassociate study manager with W.L. Gore& Associates in Flagstaff, Arizona.Misty Kiger Duncan ’97, mathematics, waspromoted to director of guidance at BartowHigh School in Bartow, Florida.Gary J. Marksberry ’98, political science,has recently opened a law office, G. JaysonMarksberry, Attorney at Law, in Danville,Indiana.Brian D. Mullen ’98, chemistry, is a seniorscientist at Segetis, Inc., in Plymouth,Minnesota.Stephanie Stewart Polen ’98, businessadministration/French, ’05, Master ofBusiness Administration, was promoted todirector of marketing at Card ManagementCorporation in Evansville.James K. Reese ’98, elementary education,is the director of student financial servicesat Trinity College of the Bible andTheological Seminary in Newburgh,Indiana.Amanda Young Wagner ’98, psychology,is a mental health professional at SaintJoseph’s Mercy Care Services in Atlanta,Georgia.Michael L. Whicker ’98, English, wasselected to fill a seat on the VanderburghCounty Commission but resigned soon afterfor health reasons. He is a former plumberand Air Force veteran who became a publishedauthor and English teacher at ReitzHigh School. Whicker is associated with theWorld War II ship LST 325 in Evansville.Lisa Gish recognized as Distinguished Nursing AlumnaLisa Gish ’00 B.S.N. ’04 M.H.A. is the 2007 recipient of the DistinguishedNursing Alumna Award presented by the USI Nursing Alumni Society. She isexecutive director of the nonprofit association Tri-State Business Group on Health,a coalition of employers concerned withhealth-care costs and quality.Gale Hoehn, USI instructor innursing, said, “Lisa not only believes inadequate health care for all but hasmade it her life’s mission. She is a personwho usually stays under the ‘radar’but gets work done efficiently andDr. Ann H. White, left, assistant dean ofnursing, and Dr. Nadine A. Coudret,right, dean of the College of Nursing andHealth Professions, congratulate Lisa Gish.effectively.”Gish was recognized with theaward for her work in the establishmentof the Tri-State Case Manager’sNetwork. Prior to joining TSBGH in1998, Gish was manager of quality, utilization, and case management for AnthemBlue Cross and Blue Shield of Evansville.The award was presented in October at the annual meeting of the USINursing Alumni Society. Keynote speaker for the event was Elizabeth “Betty” J.Brown ’92 M.B.A. ’04, vice president of quality and performance improvement forTriHealth in Cincinnati, Ohio. Brown also was Alumna-in-Residence for the day,making a presentation to faculty and students on the topic, “It’s Apparent. HealthCare is Transparent.”Brown joined TriHealth in July. She was previously vice president of strategicphysician integration at St. Mary’s Health System in Evansville. Brown was the2005 recipient of the Distinguished Nursing Alumna Award.Bordelon participates in fossil recoveryLaura Bordelon ’06, geology, was involved in the recovery of a fossil from a 30-footlongsuper-crocodile during the summer while she was a field worker at Grand StaircaseNational Monument in Utah. From left are Bordelon; Dr. Alan Titus, paleontologist; andMichael Knell of Montana State University. Bordelon is a graduate student ingeobiology at Southern Illinois University.Photo courtesy Southern Utah News/Dixie Brunner.University of Southern Indiana25 December 2007

Debra Thompson Duncan ’99, businessadministration, has joined Integra Bankas senior human resources manager inEvansville.Rebecca A. Dunlap ’99, sociology, ’01,Master of Social Work, is a victim servicesspecialist at Crisis Connection, Inc., inJasper, Indiana. She received the 2006Mental Health Professional of the Yearaward at the “We Are…People First” StateConference from the Indiana CoalitionAgainst Sexual Assault, IndianaAssociation of Forensic Nurses, IndianaChapter of Child Advocacy Centers, LatinoCoalition Against Domestic and SexualViolence, and the Indiana Law EnforcementAcademy.Edward J. Hull ’99, accounting, was promotedto vice president, manager of systemsand support at Old National Bank inEvansville.Elexica Finch McAlister ’99, communications,has assumed the position of humanresources recruiting administrator at EnergySystems Group in Newburgh, Indiana.Pamela J. Rhodes ’99, Master of SocialWork, has joined aha! Architects of HumanAwareness as a partner and psychotherapistin Evansville.2000s.Jeff M. Eckels ’00, computer informationsystems, is the owner of Key TechnologyGroup, LLC in Evansville.Paul J. Fallace ’00, Master of BusinessAdministration, is a financial advisor atSmith Barney in Baltimore, Maryland.Shawn M. Knotts ’00, electrical engineeringtechnology, is a project engineer atElectronics Research, Inc., in Chandler,Indiana.Andrew N. Skillman ’00, business administration,was promoted to vice president,district manager at First Indiana Bank inIndianapolis.Jonathan D. Stallings ’00, biology, is thechief cell biologist in the Department ofClinical Investigation at Madigan ArmyMedical Center in Tacoma, Washington.Brad Schneider namedSuperintendent of the YearBrad Schneider ’89, mathematics,superintendent of Warrick CountySchool Corporation, has been chosen bythe Indiana Association of Public SchoolSuperintendents as the 2008 District VIISuperintendent of the Year.The district includes 14 SouthwesternIndiana counties. Winners are chosen byother superintendents in their districtwho consider the qualifications andaccomplishments of area colleagues aswell as how well they have exerted leadershipwith limited financial resources.Schneider was named superintendentin 2003. He previously served as directorof personnel and director of student supportservices in the Warrick CountySchool Corporation.Pat Tuley namedto EVSC postPat Tuley ’91 has been named facilitiesdirector for the Evansville-VanderburghSchool Corporation. He previously wasdirector of support services for EVSC.In his new position, Tuley will beresponsible for maintenance and upkeepof all EVSC-owned properties, includingBosse Field. Tuley is a former countycommissioner and deputy county auditorin Vanderburgh County.Greg Orr is vice presidentof transportation companyGregory Orr ’95, business administration,has joined Greatwide DedicatedTransport as vice president of operations.Greatwide provides transportationservices to major retail clients througha large fleet of owner operators.Orr formerly was a transportationoperations manager for Wal-Mart andmost recently was associated withSchneider National Inc.Greatwide is based in Dallas, Texas.Paul O. Swanson ’00, Master of Science inEducation, is author of the novel, A CountryMile to Par, published in July by Authorhouse.Swanson teaches English at Mount VernonHigh School in Mount Vernon, Indiana.Brad R. Burvan ’01, business administration,is the director of golf and golf professionalat Sandy Pines Golf Club inDeMotte, Indiana.Melody Puller Freeman ’01, public relationsand advertising, is a product marketingmanager at Trends International inIndianapolis.Amy Buiter Hochstetler ’01, accounting,was promoted to controller for PorterHealth in Valparaiso, Indiana.Bryan P. Hughes ’01, business administration/marketing,was promoted to assistantvice president, banking center manager atFifth Third Bank in Vincennes, Indiana.Elisha M. Smith ’01, finance, is a portfoliomanager at Old National Bank inEvansville.Ciavon R. Fetcher ’02, accounting, waspromoted to assistant portfolio manager anddirector of finance at Donaldson CapitalManagement, LLC in Evansville.Jamie Grabert ’02, English, is the managingeditor for Player Magazine in Evansville.LouAnne Unger Kuntzman ’02, Master ofScience in Education, has joined Ivy TechCommunity College as an academic casemanager in Evansville.Amy C. Louthen ’02, exercise science, isthe front desk supervisor at Gold’s Gym inIndianapolis.Justin M. Neel ’02, computer informationsystems, has joined Gray Loon MarketingGroup, Inc., as a junior Web developer inEvansville.Sharon Y. Ridener ’02, health services,has taken the position of provider relationsmanager at AseraCare Hospice inNewburgh, Indiana.Jami Schultz Thomas ’02, occupationaltherapy, ’06, Master of Health Administration,is the director of therapy at Joyner TherapyServices in Marion, Illinois.December 200726University of Southern Indiana

Angela N. Williams ’02, public relationsand advertising, has taken the position ofbusiness teacher at Hilton Head Island HighSchool in Hilton Head, South Carolina.Heath I. Eckert ’03, finance, has accepteda position as a financial analyst withJohnson & Johnson in Raritan, New Jersey.Britney N. Gentry ’03, journalism andcomputer publishing/sociology, is the assistantdirector for the Center of StudentEngagement at the University of Evansville.Emily Blinzinger Parke ’03, elementaryeducation, is a teacher at William TellElementary School in Rockport, Indiana.Nichol D. Vittitow ’03, elementary education,is a training coordinator for SRAInternational, Inc., in Fairfax, Virginia.Christopher M. Wilguess ’03, communications,has joined 94.9 The Sound as a middayradio host in Cincinnati, Ohio.Allison Mooney Greenwell ’04, postbaccalaureatecertificate in accounting,was promoted to senior tax accountant atBrown, Smith & Settle, LLC in Evansville.Charles W. Lane ’04, industrial supervision,has taken the position of operationsmanager with Transfreight, LLC in BedfordPark, Illinois.Andrew N. Rice ’04, marketing, is thegeneral manager for Fastenal in Evansville.Karen L. Steckler ’04, journalism andcomputer publishing, has joined Level 3Communications as a senior communicationanalyst. Level 3 is an internationalcommunications company headquarteredin Broomfield, Colorado.Carla M. Chappell ’05, computer science,is an information technology instructionalspecialist at Owensboro CommunityCollege in Owensboro, Kentucky.Heather D. Cole ’05, occupational therapy,is an occupational therapist with ProgressiveStep Corporation in Morganfield, Kentucky.Cassandra Harris David ’05, health services,is the office manager for Medical ofDubois in Jasper, Indiana.Easier than everto tag your carwith USI plateBeginning January 1, theBureau of Motor Vehicles inIndiana will streamline yourpurchase ofa red andblue USIlicenseplate. Thebureau willaccept your$25 tax-deductible contributionto the Alumni ScholarshipEndowment and forward it tothe University. No authorizationform will be required.When you purchase or renewyour plate, a $15 processing feewill be charged for each platealong with normal state-assessedfees in addition to the scholarshipgift. The USI license plateis available to Indiana residentswith a vehicle registered in thestate. Simply request your USIplate by mail, at your locallicense branch, or online at theBMV web site.For more information, visitwww.usi.edu/alumni/ssl or call812/464-1924. Thank you fortaking your USI spirit onthe road!Sarah A. Hurst ’05, elementary education,is a critical inquiries specialist for Humanain Louisville, Kentucky.Stephanie R. Hummel ’05, public relationsand advertising, is the executive assistantat Saint Vincent’s Day Care Center inEvansville.Jonathan E. Tague ’05, communications, isa loan executive with Metro United Way inJeffersonville, Indiana.Gina M. Utley ’05, marketing, has joinedKeller Schroeder as an account manager inEvansville.Stephanie N. Warlick ’05, public relationsand advertising, is a marketing project managerat ARSgroup in Evansville.John R. Worman ’05, history, graduatedfrom Thomas M. Cooley Law School inLansing, Michigan, in May 2007. He wasadmitted to the Indiana State Bar and tothe U.S. District Court, Southern Districtof Indiana in October. Worman and hiswife Katie have opened the law office ofWorman and Worman in Evansville.Katie Hollander Worman ’05, biology,graduated from Thomas M. Cooley LawSchool in Lansing, Michigan, in May 2007.She was admitted to the Indiana State Barand to the U.S. District Court, SouthernDistrict of Indiana in October. She and herhusband John have opened the law officeof Worman & Worman in Evansville.Kelly Wepsic Graber ’06, social scienceteaching, teaches world history at BoonvilleHigh School in Boonville, Indiana.Danyelle E. Granger ’06, Master of PublicAdministration, was promoted to foundationprogram officer at Old National Bankin Evansville.Daniel L. Kotter ’06, geology, is a cartographictechnician for the National ParkService in West Glacier, Montana.Johnna Benton Denning ’07, social work,has joined Diehl Consulting as a researchcoordinator in Evansville.Lacey R. Hall ’07, public relations andadvertising, is a community relations coordinatorwith Visiting Nurse Associationin Evansville.Amanda M. Kelly ’07, accounting, hastaken a position in accounts payable atMelmar Properties in Evansville.Rachel M. Mann ’07, accounting and professionalservices, has assumed the positionof staff accountant for Melhiser EndresTucker CPAs, P.C. in New Albany, Indiana.Owen T. McLean ’07, communications, is anoutbound operations manager for RoadrunnerDawes Freight Systems in Indianapolis.University of Southern Indiana27 December 2007

David A. Novak ’07, Master of HealthAdministration, has joined Saint Mary’sFamily Medicine Center as director inEvansville.Kyle E. Vannoni ’07, marketing, is a marketingassistant for State Farm in Evansville.Amber N. Wischmeier ’07, elementary education,is a fourth grade teacher at CorydonIntermediate School in Corydon, Indiana.MarriagesChasity D. Otto ’99, business administration,and Shane Matthews, August 25, 2007Farrah L. Stichler ’99, accounting, andRobert Mahoney, August 4, 2007Rachel L. Fisher ’01, occupational therapy,and Matt Nolan, June 9, 2007Jodie L. Foster ’01, radiologic technology,and Adam Fehd, June 16, 2007Laura M. Horn ’01, public relations andadvertising, Derick Wiggins, July 28, 2007April M. Beasley ’03, public relations andadvertising, and Tommy Forker, July 6, 2007Christina Montgomery ’03, English, andLance Mayes, July 13, 2007Solving problems one stitch at a timeA costume designer is a problem-solver, said MelissaPanzarello ’99.Panzarello is assistant professor of theatre at LongwoodUniversity in Farmville, Virginia. Known for its avant-gardenature, the Longwood theatre program often challengesPanzarello to create unusual costumes. Recently for Ibsen’sPeer Gynt, she pondered a design for troll costumes, includinga hairpiece made of moss, twigs, andbranches. She designed a full-length coatcovered completely with buttons for acharacter called the Button Molder.Panzarello first developed an affinityfor costume design as a USI student.Shan Jensen, USI associate professor oftheatre, was her mentor in creating costumesthat articulate the artistic visionfor the production.“I still remember that first time sitting at the sewingPanzarellomachine,” she said, recalling a USI theatre course thatrequired every student to take a turn at making costumes.As a USI student, Panzarello worked two summers atNew Harmony Theatre, USI’s professional Equity theatre.She has since returned for two additional seasons to assistJensen with costume design for the theatre in New Harmony,Indiana. In 2007, Panzarello was the lead designer for theseason’s third production, “I Do! I Do!” The play opens in1898 with the wedding of the characters Michael and Agnesand spans the 50 years of their marriage.“There were lots of costume changes to show the passageof time and age progression of the characters,” Panzarello said.She designed a Victorian wedding gown for the play.The dress of gossamer fabrics was fitted at the waist but fulland fluffy at the hem and sleeve to convey a youthful silhouette.As the character aged, Panzarello chose costumes witha square look and wide sleeve.Jensen said, “I thought she did a wonderful job this summer.She was invaluable to me on Amadeus and Earnest, andI thought her design work for I Do! I Do! was whimsicaland lovely.”Panzarello has designed costumes for productions atother regional theatres across the country, including Signals ofDistress at SoHo Rep (New York), Private Eyes and Little Shopof Horrors (Centennial Theatre Festival), and the worldpremiere of Ears on a Beatle (Barrington Stage Company).Her favoriteplays for costumedesign are musicalsor pieces setin the early 20thcentury (1900-50).“I think thatperiod is accessibleto the audience.It’s not soantiquated.” shesaid. “There areinteresting silhouettesand alot to choosefrom in thattime period.”Some ofPanzarello’sLongwoodstudents, includinga sounddesigner and aMelissa Panzarello designed theVictorian wedding gown and othercostumes for the 2007 production ofI Do! I Do! at New Harmony Theatre.carpenter, have gained experience working summers at NewHarmony Theatre.“The thing I valued most at USI was the one-on-oneprofessor/student interaction, not only in my favorite classesbut throughout the campus. The theatre faculty encouragedus to work summers in regional theatre and gain experiencebefore graduating,” she said.Panzarello earned a master’s degree in fine arts at FloridaState University after completing an undergraduate degreein communications at USI. She has been associated withLongwood since 2004.December 200728University of Southern Indiana

Danielle J. Vanderkooy ’03, nursing, andBradley Anslinger, May 5, 2007Russell J. Garrison ’04, public relationsand advertising, and Carolyn Klika, May 12,2007Kerri L. Jung ’05, marketing, and BrandonFehrenbacher, June 2, 2007Kelly B. Madden ’05, science education,and W. Mitchell Deep III ’98, Master ofSocial Work, May 30, 2007Darlene M. Dippel ’05, exercise science,and Tobin D. Pritchard ’05, businessadministration, August 26, 2006Brittney M. Warnken ’05, health services,and Adam M. Hunley ’05, marketing,June 2, 2007Ashley L. Droste ’06, elementary education,and Brandon M. Vignolo ’00, marketing,June 23, 2007Vanessa A. Hampton ’06, elementary education,and Mathew DuSablon, July 21, 2007Baseball talkDr. Todd Niemeier ’95, left, and DarinMastroianni discuss life in the minorleagues. Niemeier played baseball atUSI from 1992-95 and was drafted bythe Seattle Mariners in 1995.Mastroianni was drafted after last seasonby the Toronto Blue Jays. USI baseballalumni returned to campus for theannual alumni game in October.Niemeier is an Evansville optometrist.BirthsMichelle Rooze Gilbert ’90, communications,and Richard, son, Harrison Michael,June 11, 2007Sharon Beckman Shumate ’95, communications,and Beau, son, Jack Richard,December 27, 2006Angela Cooper Spicker ’95, communications,and Rob, son, Reid Cooper,September 20, 2007Michelle Denu Arthur ’96, mathematics,and Jason, son, Ian Patrick, June 5, 2007Casey Winniger Blake ’97, communications,and Michael F. Blake ’05, radio andtelevision, daughter, Millie Kay, June 23, 2007Monique Van Namen Clark ’97, elementaryeducation, and Thomas W. Clark ’99,history, daughter, Reagan Mae, June 10, 2007Leanne Love Nunning ’97, elementaryeducation, ’02, Master of ElementaryEducation, and Eric, daughter, AvaElizabeth, September 8, 2007.Homecoming 2008 • February 9Week of the BeakBasketball Games vs. University of IndianapolisWomen at 1 p.m.Men at 3:15 p.m.Tailgate Tent PartyNoon–3 p.m.Complimentary Food and Give-a-waysPhysical Activities Center, Front lawnAlumni GatheringComplimentary Food Boothsand Live Entertainment at 5:30 p.m.AMIGO ReunionDessert Reception at 7 p.m.Tickets/Information 812/464-1924www.usi.edu/homecomingUniversity of Southern Indiana29 December 2007

Sarah Hutchison Adams ’98, communications,and Jay, daughter, Ashton Elizabeth,June 4, 2007Alicia Armes Cecil ’98, biology, andNathan M. Cecil ’98, accounting, son,Jack Emerson, February 16, 2007Lisa Overton Demontagnac ’98, French,and Howard, daughter, Chloe Renae,March 20, 2007John P. Josey ’98, political science, andHannah, daughter, Jacqueline AmberElizabeth, March 3, 2006Cheryl Gaither Gibbs ’99, accounting,and Justin, daughter, Aubree Kadyn,February 21, 2007Jennifer Gibson Hamilton ’99, elementaryeducation, and Nicholas J. Hamilton ’00,nursing, daughter, Adelynn Faith,April 9, 2007Julie Sweet Pepple ’99, dental hygiene, andJoel, son, Jace Douglas, July 24, 2007Caleb J. Adamson ’00, nursing, and Erin,son, Noah James, January 6, 2007Nathan M. Baker ’00, business administration,and Amy, daughter, Samantha,April 23, 2007Tyson O. Will ’00, sociology, and Wendy,son, Derek Alexander, April 15, 2007Angie Lindsay Williams ’00, psychology,and Jeremy D Williams ’99, mathematics/economics, son, Luke Nathaniel, April 4,2007Kristi Butler Kain ’01, public relations andadvertising, and Josh, son, Dylan Maddox,September 5, 2007Anitra Acree Murphy ’01, sociology, andMicah, son, Nolan William, July 19, 2007Kathy Siebeking Titzer ’01, health services,and Brent, twin daughters, Daisy Janeand Miley Jean, April 2, 2007Christy Kellett Podewils ’02, nursing, andDaniel A. Podewils ‘96, mechanical engineeringtechnology, son, Gavin Lane, April20, 2007Christina Clement Stinson ’02, finance/accounting, and David, son, Alex Gene,December 10, 2006Jennifer McLevain Byrd ’03, health services,and Travis, son, Elijah Travis, June 1, 2007Hillerie Welch Kandul ’03, public relationsand advertising, and John, son, CarterMaxwell, May 13, 2007Craig W. McGowan ’03, economics, andAnne, son, Colin Randall, June 29, 2007Kalah Koester Muensterman ’03, physicaleducation, and Ryan, daughter, Bayley Rae,June 23, 2007Stacy Doane Wyatt ’03, health services,and Brad, son, Carter Chatten, July 24, 2007Vicky Coffer Thompson ’04, elementaryeducation, and Brandon D. Thompson ’02,psychology/social work, son, Braden Dwane,July 16, 2007Anna Woosley Waters ’04, public relationsand advertising, and Nick, son, DadeRussell, August 9, 2007Katie Paul Kelley ’05, finance, and Patrick,daughter, Avery Kathryne, July 20, 2007Christina Shadwick Stiles ’05, Master ofSocial Work, and Jason, daughter, AddisonKaylee, March 27, 2007Ireland trip will build scholarship fundsUSI Alumni Association Travelfor alumni, families, and friendsEnchanting Ireland9-Day, 7-Night TourSeptember 19–27, 2008See Killarney, Kilkenny, Dingle Peninsula,Dublin, and more…Contact USI Alumni & Volunteer Services at 812/464-1924or alumni@usi.edu for a registration brochure.Proceeds from alumni travel fund scholarships forUSI students.Travelers on the Alaska Voyage of the Glaciers Cruiseand Land Tour, July 2007, sponsored by USI AlumniAssociationDecember 200730University of Southern Indiana

In MemoriamGina Zehngut Myers ’77, dental hygiene, ofTrabuco Canyon, California, died April 15,2005. Gina was a charter member ofthe Lambda Beta Chapter of Delta ZetaSorority at USI. Other campus activitiesinclude the Student Union Board, EagleGran Prix, and Feathershakers. She wasHomecoming maid of honor and receivedthe Outstanding Student Award. She wasthe owner of Creative Consulting of NewportBeach in Dove Canyon, California.Lori Carroll Bryant ’82, art, of Evansville,died August 29, 2007. She was involved atUSI as a cheerleader, member of Delta ZetaSorority, AMIGO, president of the StudentGovernment Association, student representativeto the Board of Trustees, and 1982Homecoming Queen. Bryant was managerof Community Partnerships at CAPEChildren’s Services in Evansville.Beth Ann Dippel (Gutzweiler) Fehn ’82,marketing, of Evansville, died September 3,2007. She was comptroller and office managerfor Head Over Heelz Salon.William A. Peters ’87, mining engineeringtechnology, of Burlington, Kentucky, diedOctober 19, 2007. He was an environmentalengineer.Beulah Ile Alcorn ’89, psychology, ofOlney, Illinois, died August 7, 2007. Shegraduated from Wabash Valley College in1981, continued her education at SouthernIllinois University, and graduated from USI.Wilma Veller Thompson ’90, early childhoodeducation, of Evansville, died July 21,2007. She retired from Deaconess Hospitalin 1975 after 25 years as a nursing assistant.After retiring she was employed at KiddieKampus and Methodist Temple Day Care.Thompson earned an associate degree fromUSI at the age of 80.Golf outings fund scholarshipsProceeds of two alumni golf events support student scholarships.The Alumni Association and Greater Indianapolis Alumni Chapterexpress thanks to the following 2007 corporate hole sponsors:Alumni Fun Golf ScrambleAltstadt Office CityArc Construction CompanyDrs. Ashley & RouchBusiness Communications SolutionsCareer AssociatesCentury 21 Donita Wolf RealtyDeaconess HospitalFulton Interior SystemsGerman American BankHarding Shymanski & CompanyHeritage Federal Credit UnionHobbytown USAHylant GroupIntegra BankKemper CPA Group LLPMulzer Crushed StoneNick’s Pizza & WingsOld National BankONB InsuranceProfessional Eyecare AssociatesWest, Todd Niemeier O.D.The Alumni Fun GolfScramble attracted 140golfers, the largest participationsince the eventbegan in 1995. The 2007championship team witha record score of 51 (20under) included, from left,Bryan Smith, Todd Reller’84, Rod Sutherlin ’89,and Eric Steinback.Safety Management CorporationSign GraphicsTri-State TrophiesThree I EngineeringTwo Men And A TruckUmbach Financial GroupWeinzapfel & Co., LLCWells HomesGreater Indianapolis USIScholarship Golf ScrambleGold SponsorMercer Human Resource ConsultingSilver SponsorIce Miller LLP, Legal CounselBronze SponsorCenterfield CapitalChaseDonald L. Payne ’94, elementary education,of Evansville, died August 25, 2007. Hewas mental health and disabilitiescoordinator at CAPE Head Start.Harold (Chip) Gill Jr. ’95, Master of BusinessAdministration, of Newburgh, Indiana, diedOctober 20, 2007. He was employed by Vectrenin Evansville for 26 years. Chip served on theArthritis Foundation Board and the Tales &Scales Board.In MemoriamFacultyDr. James R. Blevins, dean emeritus of theCollege of Liberal Arts and professor emeritusof English, died August 6, 2007. Blevinsjoined USI in 1966 as assistant professorof English. He taught literature, film, andcomposition. He chaired the Division ofHumanities from 1969 until 1988 when thedivisions were organized into schools andwas appointed first dean of the School (nowCollege) of Liberal Arts. Blevins virtuallycreated the USI Theatre program from theground up. During his tenure, USI alsodeveloped the RopeWalk Writers Retreat,the Center for Communal Studies, HistoricSouthern Indiana, Historic New Harmony,and the New Harmony Gallery of ContemporaryArt. Memorial contributions may be madeto the Jim and Barbara Blevins StudentDevelopment Fund at the USI Foundation.University of Southern Indiana31 December 2007

Alumna Tracy Bee receives playwriting awardTracy Bee, a 1997 graduate with abachelor’s degree in English and sociology,is a recipient of the IndianaTheatre Association’s new Frank andKatrina Basile Emerging IndianaPlaywright Award. Bee received theaward, which includes a $500 prize,at the Indiana Theatre WorksConference in Indianapolis inSeptember.She won the award for her oneactplay “Failure,” in which “a manfaces his fears with the help of a lonelynurse in a nondescript medicaloffice located in an out-of-the-way“When I see abadly done playI have a visceralreaction, like I’vewitnessed somekind of crime.”—Tracy Beestrip mall.” The one-act play receiveda reading during the festival, and theBloomington Playwrights Project (BPP),of which Bee is a member, won a $250grant to support the development ofthe script.Bee also is amember of the BPPWriters Group.Her one-act “Timeand Place forEverything inBloomington,Indiana” wasperformed for theB’Town Playsseries duringBloomington’sArtsWeek 2006,and the 10-minuteplay “For theLove of a Couch,”“a comedic ruminationon furniture,”was part of thefirst annualBloomingPlaysFestival.“Going totheatre is one ofmy favorite things to do and has beensince high school,” she said. “I enjoythe intimacy and the immediacy of it.When I see a badly done play I have avisceral reaction, like I’ve witnessedsome kind of crime. I don’t ever feelthat way about other art forms—novelsor short stories or films.”She first became interested inthe genre when she took a playwritingclass from Elliot Wasserman,director of USI Theatre. She wasUSI’s first student recipient of aFulbright grant. She received anEnglish Teaching Assistantship(ETA) and spent a year in SouthKorea.Bee is employed as an academicadvisor in the International Studiesprogram at Indiana University inBloomington.Dr. Carla Alldredge administers local anesthetic to dentalpatient Melanie Meyers ’07 in the USI dental clinic. Assistingis Jennifer Miles while Kim Hite, left, program director fordental hygiene, and Jennifer Koehl look on.Dentist Carla Alldredgeis clinical facultyDr. Carla Alldredge ’01 hasjoined the USI dental assisting programas a clinical faculty member.A 2005 graduate of the Universityof Louisville School of Dentistry, sheprovides dental care to patients andworks with dental assisting studentsone afternoon a week in the dentalclinic in the Health ProfessionsCenter. Alldredge also supervisesthe dental hygiene clinic on Tuesdaynights. She earned a bachelor’s degreein dental hygiene education at USIbefore attending dental school.Alldredge recently opened herown practice, Alldredge Dental Carein Newburgh, Indiana. MelanieMeyers ’07 is a dental assistant inher office.We want to hear from you!Do you have professional news about yourself to share with fellow graduates? Have you moved? Do you have a suggestion for a story?Let us know! We value your comments via mail (Alumni and Volunteer Services Office, 8600 University Boulevard, Evansville, IN47712), phone (812/464-1924), FAX (812/464-1956), or e-mail (alumni@usi.edu).University of Southern Indiana32University of Southern Indiana

World War IIposters on exhibitWhitmanReproduction Poster1945Reproduction Poster for the U.S. GovernmentPrinting OfficeAn exhibit of World War IIposters will be on display in theMcCutchan Exhibition Space ofthe Wright Administration Buildingduring spring semester.Evansville resident WilliamP. Sonntag collected the posterswhen he was a high schoolstudent living in Chapel Hill,North Carolina, during the’40s. He and his wife Maryluhave presented the collectionto the USI Foundation. It willbe permanently housed in theUniversity Archives/SpecialCollections of Rice Library.The exhibit will include selectedposters from the 64-itemcollection.Government agencies publishedposters for widespreaddistribution during the war tomotivate citizens to wage waron the home front. The postersreminded people to buy warbonds, give blood, and otherwisesacrifice for the war effort.Merchants and restaurant ownersexhibited the posters, andthey were displayed in libraries,schools, community buildings,factories, and bus and train stations.Artists and illustrators,including Norman Rockwell,contributed to poster designs.Sonntag said he collectedhis first poster from a merchant.“I happened to be in astore where one was on display.I heard them say theywere going to throw it awaywhen they finished with it.I asked if I could have it,”he said.Then he began askingothers around town to saveold posters for him when theywere replaced with new ones.The posters appealed to himbecause they were colorfuland informative.Sonntag is retired as ateacher and librarian for theEvansville-Vanderburgh SchoolCorporation.Leon Helguera, Mexican, (1899–1970)Reproduction Poster for the U.S. GovernmentPrinting OfficeCirca 1940–45Norman Rockwell, American, (1894–1978)Reproduction Poster for the Saturday Evening Post

10001-02050NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONU.S. Postage PaidUSIV07-90318600 University BoulevardEvansville, IN 47712-3596University of Southern IndianaNew quadrangle fountainThe spray from a fountain gracing the newcampus quadrangle reaches as high as 14feet. The fountain can be illuminated andprogrammed for a variety of displays. Itoperates daily from 6:30 a.m. to midnight.34 December 2007