Retired faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences gathered on Tuesday, September 4 for their annual luncheon in the Bone Student Center. Associate Dean Ann Beck welcomed the group, and Dean Olson provided a College update that highlighted a number of recent accomplishments of emeritus faculty. The occasion provided an opportunity for retired faculty members to greet long-time friends and colleagues and celebrate their achievements. There are nearly 250 living emeriti of the College of Arts and Sciences. Professor and Dean Emerita Virginia Owen observed in closing remarks that it had been a pleasure to see everyone again and invited them to return at the “Same time, same place, next year.” Click Read More for more photos.

College office staff joined students and staff of the English Language Institute (ELI) on Thursday to celebrate the Institute’s 20th year of providing intensive instruction in English as a Second Language and American culture. Under the auspices of the College of Arts and Sciences, the ELI provides a special non-degree intensive program (20-hours per week) in English as a Second Language with equal emphasis on both communicative and academic needs for international students who wish to increase their English proficiency for college-level work and for international students on exchange programs. ELI includes cultural activities in its intensive program to facilitate the transition of international students into university life in the United States. Since its inception, ELI has served over 1,300 students from 57 countries, representing Africa, Asia, Europe, South America, and North America. Enrollment for Fall 2007 is 24 students, and they come from nine different countries. “Students come to ELI with the goal of improving (or developing) their English language skills so that they can then meet a variety of academic, professional, and personal goals," said Dr. Kasia Stadnick, ELI Director. Click Read More for more photos.

Stewart Winger, Assistant Professor of History, will be the featured speaker at Dinner with the Professors on Tuesday, September 18 in the Old Main Room of the Bone Student Center. Winger, whose areas of specialization are the United States Civil War and Reconstruction, will discuss world-renowned historian Doris Kearns Goodwin’s recent best-selling book, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. This event, sponsored by Senior Professionals and the Alumni Association, will begin with cocktails at 4:45 p.m., followed by dinner at 5 p.m., with Winger’s lecture and time for questions scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Goodwin herself will then present “Leadership Lessons from Abraham Lincoln,” at 7 p.m. in Braden Auditorium as part of ISU’s Sesquicentennial celebration. Her presentation is free and open to the public. A section of seats in Braden Auditorium will be reserved for those attending the Dinner with the Professors presentation.

Jamie Brown, a senior majoring in Mass Communication with a focus in radio, is the winner of the prestigious Bayliss Radio Scholarship for the 2007-2008 academic year. The scholarship, awarded by the John Bayliss Broadcast Foundation, is a highly competitive scholarship of $5,000 towards tuition. Brown, a Washington, Illinois resident, is currently the General Manager at WZND, ISU’s student radio station. She also works at Connoisseur Media in Bloomington as an on-air talent for WIHN. Brown is the fifth ISU student to receive the Bayliss Radio Scholarship in the past six years. In order to receive the scholarship, students must demonstrate superior achievement in radio while maintaining a 3.0 grade point average or higher. Brown was also the recipient of a National Broadcast Education Association scholarship this past spring.

Shamira Gelbman joins ISU as an Assistant Professor of Politics and Government. She is completing her PhD at the University of Virginia. Gelbman received her MA from the University of Virginia and her BA from Hunter College, CUNY. Her research is on race, social movements, and democratization in the United States and South Africa. At Virginia, Gelbman taught both American politics and Spanish courses but has spent the last two years away from teaching while she completed research for her dissertation. “It’s wonderful to be back in the classroom again,” she says, “especially with students as engaged and diligent as the ones I’ve encountered here at ISU.” In her free time, Shamira enjoys swimming, crossword puzzles, foreign language study, and weightlifting.