After an extensive national search, the College has appointed Ali Riaz, Associate Professor of Politics and Government, to serve as the new Chair of the Department. “I’m delighted to appoint Professor Riaz to serve as the new academic leader of the Department of Politics and Government,” said Dean Olson. “He will bring fresh perspective and vision to one of our strongest departments in the social sciences.” Riaz was the first recipient of the Dean's Award for Scholarly Achievement (in 2005), the highest award given by the College for research. In 2006, he was named an Outstanding College Researcher. He is the author of several publications, including the newly-published Paradise Lost? State Failure in Nepal.

Over 1,100 students of the College of Arts and Sciences received their degrees this past Friday evening as part of the university’s 148th annual commencement. The College conferred 932 baccalaureate and 177 graduate degrees. President Bowman, Provost Presley, Dean Olson, and College faculty and staff were joined by several University dignitaries, including Carl Kasten, Chair of the Board of Trustees, in congratulating the Illinois State University College of Arts and Sciences Class of 2007. “Commencement signifies achievement of goals set years earlier and accomplished through hard work and dedication,” Dean Olson told the graduating class. “As students in the College of Arts and Sciences, you became educated in the arts, the sciences, and the social sciences, thus opening your eyes to wonderful new bodies of knowledge.” Click Read More for more photos.

As this academic year ends, six College faculty members have announced their retirements. Retiring are Willard Bohn, Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures; Frederick Drake, Department of History; Daniel Graybill, Department of Psychology; Jamal Nassar, Department of Politics and Government; Charles Thompson, Department of Biological Sciences; and Arnold Wolfe, School of Communication. Combined, these faculty members have served the College for nearly 150 years! We wish them well. Click Read More for more photos.

This year two civil service employees and three administrative professionals in the College of Arts and Sciences are retiring from Illinois State University. Retiring from civil service are Nancy Doss, Administrative Aide in the Department of Biological Sciences; and Marilyn Kammler, Graduate Secretary in the Department of Psychology. “I would like to say that Illinois State University, and especially the Department of Biological Sciences, has been a wonderful place to work for nearly 21 years,” Doss said. “It will be the many relationships and happy memories I will take with me.” Click Read More for More Photos.

Professor Anne Bettendorf, Department of Biological Sciences, received the Faculty Member of the Year Award from The National Society of Collegiate Scholars: ISU Chapter (NSCS). As the recipient of this award, Bettendorf was formally recognized at the first-year student induction to NSCS, received a personal stipend, and had a $5,000 contribution made in her name to the general scholarship fund. "Anne is a teacher of the greatest compassion for her students, and she genuinely cares about their academic progress as well as their personal well being,” said Dr. Tak Cheung, Department Chair of Biological Sciences. “Students admire her dedication and commitment, and they respect her for the high standards that she sets for them. The Department of Biological Sciences is most fortunate having Anne on our teaching staff." Since 1998, Bettendorf has been the Biology General Education Course Coordinator and the Coordinator of the Biology Department Graduate Students TA Training Program. In 2005, she also received the Distinguished Professor Award from the Student Education Society.

Dr. Mike Sublett, Professor of Geography, received his PhD from the University of Chicago and joined the Illinois State faculty in 1970. During his 37-year career at ISU, Sublett has produced numerous books, articles, and professional papers, as well as several maps and atlases. He has served as the coordinator for the required internship program for Geography undergraduates since 1987 and was department chair for a ten-year period from 1978 to 1988. In his teaching, Sublett says he still most enjoys reading required student logbooks and finding out that the lights are still going on for students as they listen to lectures, participate in team projects, and conduct their individual research projects. “Mike has been the anchor of the Geography program for nearly four decades,” said Dr. Dave Malone, Chair of the Geography-Geology Department. “His dedication to the program and our s   Read More...

Following this issue, CASNews will begin its regular summer schedule of monthly publication, with issues published on the third Monday of June and July. Please look for summer issues of CASNews on June 18 and July 16. Weekly publication will resume with the beginning of fall classes on August 20.