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Dean Olson, Ron Fortune, and Tim Hunt
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Ron Fortune, Professor of English, delivered the College of Arts and Sciences Spring Lecture on Tuesday night. Tim Hunt, Chair of the Department of English, introduced Fortune to an audience comprised of friends and colleagues. “In my 34 years of teaching and administration, he is the most thoughtful and generous mentor of junior colleagues I have ever known,” Hunt remarked, at which point English faculty members for whom Fortune served as mentor and friend spontaneously applauded. Fortune’s talk, “'Scattered Impostures': Writing and the Work of Literary Forgery,” focused on the history and study of literary forgery. Following a question-and-answer session, Dean Olson presented Fortune with the College's medallion signifying that he is a College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Lecturer. Click Read More for more photos.
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David Copperfield and Joseph Zompetti
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Communication professor Joseph Zompetti was given a personal tour of David Copperfield’s International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts on April 25. Copperfield invited Zompetti to the museum because the professor has written about the rhetorical effects of magic. Zompetti is also planning on writing a book about the rhetoric of magic which the visit to the museum will help facilitate. “Meeting David Copperfield was inspiring in itself,” Zompetti said. “But witnessing the vast amounts of historical information and artifacts located in the museum was mind-blowing. It will definitely help me in my research.”
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Barry Tolchin, Stefanie Pipis, Scott Kording, Jennifer Zang, and Mick Hall
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On Saturday, April 26, the Illinois State University Pre-Law program celebrated the eighth Annual Pre-Law Awards Banquet. Students, parents, faculty, staff, and University alumni gathered in the Old Main Room for the banquet honoring eight distinguished students of the Pre-Law program. Justice Sue Myerscough delivered the keynote address. The banquet is sponsored by the Attorneys Advisory Board—a group of over 70 attorney alumni who support the University’s pre-law program through advising and mentoring and by providing financial support. Illinois State’s Mock Trial Attorney Coach, Mick Hall, a 1989 graduate of Illinois State, member of the Attorneys Advisory Board, and attorney with the Hall Law Group, Ltd. in Peoria, presented the Mock Trial Awards. The awards for Mock Trial Outstanding Witness went to Stefanie Pipis and Jennifer Zang. Laura Smith and Alex Turner were honored with the Outstanding Attorney Awards. The Barry S. Tolchin Mock Trial Leadership Award, which honors the mock trial team member who exhibits strong leadership skills and makes significant contributions to team spirit and unity, was presented to Tom Ponce. Click Read More for more photos.
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Politics and Government Students at UN
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A group of ten ISU students led by faculty advisor Noha Shawki of the Department of Politics and Government participated in the National Model United Nations (NMUN) conference in New York City April 22-26. This year, the ISU delegation represented Switzerland. Each student represented the alpine nation on one of seven committees and spent spring semester researching Switzerland’s position on three economic, social, humanitarian or security issues that were debated in his/her assigned committee at the Model UN Conference this year. These issues included a variety of global problems, such as promoting alternate sources of energy, combating the spread of illicit drugs, protecting water resources, and addressing the external debt crisis. Students also researched Switzerland’s position on these issues and studied the rules of procedure of the United Nations so they could effectively argue Switzerland’s positions. The experience allowed students to gain public speaking experience and improve their research skills and their knowledge of the United Nations.
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| Miranda LaBatt |
Miranda LaBatt, an MA student in the English Department, is the recipient of the Illinois TESOL-BE (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages—Bilingual Education) Graduate Scholarship. The scholarship, which is presented annually to a graduate student presently enrolled full or part-time in an accredited college or university program in TESOL or bilingual education or a practicing ESL/bilingual education professional with concrete plans to enroll in relevant graduate coursework, was bestowed on LaBatt at the ITBE Annual Convention in Naperville earlier this year. LaBatt, who has been a graduate teaching assistant in the Intensive English Program at the English Language Institute since the spring 2007 semester, is also the winner of this year’s Excellence in ESL Award. The award recognizes outstanding performance in the TESOL program in both course work in the English Department and teaching in the English Language Institute. LaBatt has accepted a position at Toyo University’s Special English Program in Tokyo, Japan. She will begin working there as an English instructor in September. “I am very proud of Miranda,” said Dr. Kasia Stadnik, Director of the English Language Institute. “She is a gifted teacher, and I know that she will be successful in her new position in Japan.”
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Renée M. Tobin
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Renée M. Tobin, assistant professor of psychology, joined the ISU faculty in 2002. Her research primarily focuses on personality and social development with a special interest in emotion regulation processes. Her work has appeared in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Psychological Science, Journal of Personality , and the Handbook of Personality Development. Tobin is the recipient of a 2008 University Research Initiative Award, a 2007 College of Arts and Sciences Research Enhancement Award, and a 2007 University Teaching Initiative Award. She is a certified school psychologist in the state of Illinois. Tobin currently serves as Faculty in Residence at ISU's University Assessment Office, where she is examining student engagement data and related outcomes.
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Marsela Lee and Rebekah Nestel
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Marsela Lee and Rebekah Nestel, two ISU seniors majoring in English, have completed a semester-long internship in the CASNews office and will graduate from Illinois State University on May 9. They completed the internship, Professional Practice: Internship in English, as part of the requirement of the undergraduate Publishing Studies emphasis in the English department. The internship places students in hands-on experiences to practice skills and apply classroom learning. “Internships provide students opportunities for entry-level professional work experience in which they can apply their formal education and extend their learning in ways that the classroom alone cannot provide,” said Dr. Gerald Savage, director of the English Studies Internship Program. “English majors who have completed internships consistently credit the experience in helping them find good jobs using their English education after they graduate.”
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