Tony Pozdol

Friday, April 22, 2016

It’s getting to be that time of year again! As the end of the semester rapidly approaches, 91Porn is celebrating a slew of accomplishments by its students, faculty, staff and alumni. Read about the latest faculty book, a relief effort for earthquake victims and two separate alumni who are making news for their musical work with Chicago students.

Around the Commons

Teaching with hip-hop

Tony Pozdol didn’t exactly launch his college career as standout scholar. (You really need to .) Now one year since earning his Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education-English, Pozdol is teaching ninth-grade English with cutting-edge curriculum that he developed as a Northeastern student. In March, his work with Assistant Professor of Educational Inquiry and Curriculum Studies Alison Dover was published in English Journal.

Rally in Springfield

Northeastern faculty, staff, students and alumni joined hundreds of others from colleges and universities around the state in Springfield on April 20 to participate in a rally to urge our state government leaders to quickly find a funding solution for higher education. On April 22, SB2059 passed both chambers of the Illinois Legislature to provide stopgap funding for the public universities, community colleges and about 40 percent of the MAP funds.

Journey to Cuba

History Librarian Edward Remus was one of five librarians from Illinois who visited Cuba in March in a first-ever study tour to bring Library and Information Science students from the United States to Cuba. They participated in a symposium hosted by the University of Havana, attended the 16th annual international convention and fair and sustained an ongoing dialogue on the legacy of the Cuban Revolution in the present.

Going to the movies

Paul A. Schroeder Rodríguez, chair of the Department of World Languages and Cultures, has , “Latin American Cinema: A Comparative History.” The book, a 10-year labor of love, traces Latin America’s national cinemas through every major cinematic period in the region, from the silent period through the digital age.

Relief for Ecuador earthquake victims

In collaboration with the Consulate of Ecuador in Chicago, Northeastern is collecting donations as part of the earthquake relief effort. Donations will be accepted from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. in the Student Lounge through May 5. The Office of Student Leadership Development and the Student Government Association will serve as volunteers. The greatest need is for non-perishable food items, tents, sleeping bags and first aid kits and supplies.

A boost for civic leadership

Northeastern has been awarded a $1,400 by Illinois Campus Contact to support the University’s efforts to engage its diverse student body in the electoral process and enhance civic learning and democratic engagement opportunities for its students. The funds will be applied toward internal outreach efforts and election programs designed to increase voter registration, voting rates, and understanding and awareness of the issues.

Take a bow

President Sharon Hahs has announced a number of employee awards for the academic year 2013-14. The Teaching Professional and Resource Professional Excellence Awards for achievements and contributions to the academic community went to:

Teaching/Performance of Primary Duties

  • Sarah Cordell, Mathematics
  • Sarah Orlofske, Biology
  • Emily Rumschlag-Booms, Biology

Research/Creative Activities

  • Sangmin Bae, Political Science
  • Chielozona Eze, Social Work, African and African American Studies
  • Jon Hageman, Anthropology
  • Travis Heath, Music
  • Scott Hegerty, Economics
  • Christina Madda, Educational Leadership and Development
  • Adam Messinger, Justice Studies
  • Dragan Milovanovic, Justice Studies
  • Gerardo Moreno, Special Education
  • Ana Nieves, Art
  • Vida Sacic, Art
  • Angela Sweigart-Gallagher, Communication, Media and Theatre
  • Masami Takahashi, Psychology
  • Mickie Wong-Lo, Special Education

Service

  • Jennifer Banas, Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Athletics
  • Pamela Geddes, Biology
  • Francisco Iacobelli, Computer Science
  • Eleni Makris, Educational Inquiry and Curriculum Studies
  • Aaron Schirmer, Biology
  • Katy Smith, Secondary Education
  • Melinda Storie, Geography and Environmental Studies

The Instructor/Academic Support Professional/Academic Resource Professional Excellence Award for achievements and contributions to the academic community went to:

  • Melanie Bujan, Communication, Media and Theatre
  • Jamie Farrell, Music
  • Nawaf Habib, Biology
  • Robert Jadin, Biology
  • Mindy Ugolini, Special Education

And there’s more!

  • Linguistics Professor Richard Hallett and alum Majed A. Alasasleh (M.A. ‘15 Linguistics) presented their paper, “Effects of (phono-)kinetic typography on L2 lexical acquisition,” during the annual meeting of the on April 9-12 in Orlando. Hallett also presented a single-authored paper, "Hospitable vocabulary? A Critical Discourse Analysis of phrasebooks."
  • The Office of Student Leadership Development will host a series of events for from April 25 through May 1.
  • The 2016 is now posted online.

In the media

Starring in The Mash

Amina Chaudhri, assistant professor of Elementary Education, was the in Northeastern’s partnership with The Mash, the Chicago Tribune’s weekly publication for teens. Chaudhri answered questions about studying to become a teacher, best practices for time management and the one trait her best students have in common.

School of Rock

featured Tony Esposito (B.A. ’07 Music), who teaches music at Onahan Elementary School in Chicago. Esposito has led eight students in founding Raven Street, a rock band that includes a couple of Beatles songs in its repertoire. “Lot of enthusiasm surrounding this band lately," Esposito told DNAinfo Chicago. “And there are no shortage of talented kids at this grade school.”

Also in the media ...

  • quoted Assistant Professor of Anthropology Siobhán Cooke in a story about new research that sheds light on the history of primates in the Americas.
  • featured Ensemble Español with a story about its 40th anniversary celebration.
  • hosted Professor Emeritus of Economics Edward Stuart to talk about the Panama Papers.
  • reported that graduate student and ENLACE fellow Jesus Sanchez was a featured speaker during the Latin@ Student Empowerment Conference.
  • reported that Lee Jackson (B.A. ’02 Nontraditional Degree Program - Board of Governors) has been selected as the new director of Niabi Zoo, located in Coal Valley, Ill.
  • reported that Northeastern’s Department of Music will participate in the Avondale Restaurant Crawl on June 1.
  • featured a the March visit by Northeastern Social Work students in its monthly newsletter.

To do

NestFest

The Northeastern Programming Board will present , featuring Chicago artist Phenom, on April 22. Northeastern’s own Eagles Dance Crew will serve as the opening act.

NEIU Alumni: All Access

Young entrepreneur Jose Fulgencio (B.A. ’10 Political Science) will return to Northeastern to on how to build a business plan for your life. The event is part of the NEIU Alumni: All Access series. Fulgencio has founded several start-up companies, including Meso Bio, Oye! Help Me and LDMS Media.

Talking about Ensemble Español

Ensemble Español founder Dame Libby Komaiko and Artistic Director Irma Suárez Ruiz will participate in a free April 27 with Joel Hall of Joel Hall Dancers & Center and Hema Rajagopalan of Natya Dance Theatre. “Conversations on Chicago Dance: Founding and Sustaining a Company” will take place in from 6-7:30 p.m. in Ruggles Hall at Newberry Library. Komaiko and Suárez Ruiz also will participate in panel discussion on April 26.

Kosciuszko Foundation Lecture

The Polish and European Academic Center for Exchange and Research and the Department of World Languages and Cultures will host the Kosciuszko Foundation Lecture, “Wills as Tools of Power in the Late Medieval Urban Community of Krakow,” by KF fellow Jakub Wysmulek of the University of Warsaw and the Polish Academy of Sciences. The event, scheduled for 7 p.m. April 26 in LWH 4006, is free and open to the public.

Arbor Day

Northeastern will celebrate its new designation at 3 p.m. April 28 in the University Commons. (Not coincidentally, April 28 also happens to be Arbor Day.) Activities will include tree planting, a tree scavenger hunt, learning about the various benefits of trees, and the hug-a-tree campaign. Share your hug-a-tree moments by posting tree-hugging photos to the with the hashtag #NEIUtreehug!

Mark your calendar!

  • , through April 29, Fine Arts Gallery
  • Junior Recitals, 4 p.m. April 22, Recital Hall
  • Noche de ESTRELLAS, 5 p.m. April 22, El Centro
  • Senior Recitals, 7:30 p.m. April 22, Recital Hall
  • 7:30 p.m. April 22 and 2 and 7:30 p.m. April 23, Stage Center Theatre
  • Piano Showcase, 7:30 p.m. April 25, Recital Hall
  • Biology Department Plant Sale, noon-3 p.m. April 26-28, BBH 337 (Greenhouse)
  • , 2:30 p.m. April 26, Pedroso Center
  • Percussion Showcase, 3:05 p.m. April 26, Recital Hall
  • Graduate Lecture-Recital, 7:30 p.m. April 26, Recital Hall
  • , 7:30 p.m. April 26, Auditorium
  • , noon April 27, Pedroso Center
  • NEIU Wind Ensemble, 7:30 p.m. April 27, Auditorium
  • Senior Recital, 3 p.m. April 28, Recital Hall
  • Voice Showcase, 7:30 p.m. April 28, Recital Hall
  • Thursday Night Live: Sadie and the Stark, 10 p.m. April 28, Student Lounge
  • NEIU Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. April 29, Auditorium

#FollowFriday

Take in some TRIO

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Do you have a story tip? Let the public relations office know!
Mike Hines, Director of Public Relations, m-hines@neiu.edu, (773) 442-4240