Academy: Recognizing Faculty Excellence
Following the Faculty ...
Psychology Course Finishes Semester with a Campus Service Project
December 7th, students in PSY 375 Psychology Testing and Measurement completed a campus service project. In the course, students learned how to create, interpret, and evaluate psychological measures. To provide a service to the university, they consulted with the Counseling Service to solve an assessment problem. The students formed teams to research ways that the Counseling Service could screen clients for trauma. They presented their final recommendations to the Counseling Service staff during finals week, and the staff will select the measure that best fits their needs.
Representative Rodney Davis Visits via Zoom
Representative Rodney Davis (R-IL 13th District) visited with Dr. Ann Collins' Congress class and Dr. Neil Quisenberry's Juvenile Delinquency class. via Zoom on Tuesday, November 23.
Timothy Richards Ph.D authored an article titled "Teacher Preparation and Strategies for Supporting Students
with Mental Health Issues." The manuscript is being published in the forthcoming edition
of Critical Issues in Teacher Education. Research in this area provides many practices
teachers can use to assist students with issues, plus understand the correct strategies
they and school personnel can use to assist students.
Ann V. Collins, Ph.D. published an article titled “Red Summer and Early 20th Century Race Massacres.” In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Oxford Research Encyclopedia of American History. Oxford University Press. The article was published on November 29, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199329175.013.842
Successful Mathematics Preview Day
Dr. Heather Dye and Dr. Alan Alewine held their first Mathematics Preview Day on November 5, 2021. The day began with breakfast, followed by attending three mathematics major classes, lunch, a campus tour, and then pics with Bogey.
Students Honor the Wampanoag and Their Own Ancestors
Dr. Lauren (LT) Thompson's Minorities in America courses hosted a "Green Corn Ceremony" on Monday, November 22nd. Many Indigenous Peoples celebrated the first corn harvest of the season in August. This is loosely translated to become known as the "Green Corn Ceremony." One of these nations were the Wampanoag. They are known as the "people of first light" because they lived (and some remain) on what is now Cape Cod. In 1620, the Wampanoag people saved the starving, sickly Pilgrims and aided them in developing homes, food, and a settlement that became known as Plymouth. To celebrate their survival, the Wampanoag invited the Pilgrims to celebrate the "Green Corn Ceremony" with them in the Fall of 1621. That was exactly 400 years ago. Once European settlements became stronger, Indigenous Peoples, including the Wampanoag, were forced to convert, wiped out by disease, driven off their homelands, or murdered.
Dr. Thompson's classes began with Indigenous Peoples history in August and worked their way to present day, covering the history and experiences of all ethnic and racial minorities in the US. For the Thanksgiving holiday, students' celebrated by cooking & bringing in food from their ancestors. Since we all come from elsewhere but are living on Indigenous land, the class dedicated their feast to those who once lived on the land we now stand: the Mississippian, Miami, Osage, Kaskaskia, and Peoria.
Fall Faculty Showcase
On November 18th, the Faculty Colloquium Committee hosted an Inagural Fall Facutly Showcase to highlight the excellent research of our MCK faculty. Twelve McKendree faculty presented their research including published works, current works in progress, and dissertation research. Below is a list of our twelve faculty members and their presentation titles.
Dr. Brittany Dobill
Thematic Atmospherics Within Small Coffee Shops: A Study
Paul Worrell
Creativity and Wonderment: Applying Waldorf Education to Information Literacy Instruction
Dr. Martha Patterson
The New Negro, A History, 1887-1965
Dr. Mike Louison
The Science of Fishing: Minimizing Physiological Stress for Fish Caught by Catch and Release Anglers
Dr. Robyn S. Swink
Feminism, Gender, and Race in Women's Comedy: The Political Potentialities of Pleasure
Dr. Jill Parsons
Fear of Falling in Long-Term Care Residents: A Mixed Methods Approach
Dr. Jessica Campbell
Enjoying the Moment: Queer Delight in Victorian Fiction
Dr. Katie Alford
Explicitly Teaching Listening in the Classroom
Dr. Jenny Mueller
Bathers, A Researched Essay
Dr. Brian Frederking
The Security Council and the Liberal Order
Dr. Shelly Lemons
How Word Got Around: An Examination of the Little Blue Books and Public Discourse on VD in Modern America
Dr. Heather Dye
Knot Groups
The Model UN Experience
On November 15th and 16th, under the leadership of Dr. Brian Frederking, McKendree hosted the Model United Nations conference. For the last 52 years, McKendree has been a host site for this conference. This year, 13 schools joined the experience on campus. Model UN provides students with an opportunity to learn how the UN operates and to practice their public speaking, debate, negotiation and team leadership skills. The Model UN program has grown to play a vital role in building relationships with local high schools and recruiting new students.
A Visit with The History Guy
On Wednesday, November 10th, Dr. Allie Helfrich, Dr. Brittany Dobill, and Dr. Rich Murphy's business and communication classes attended a masterclass discussion with Lance Geiger: the History Guy on YouTube, Lance discussed the marketing and communication side of his business addresssing how he got his start and became a YouTube sensation.
Dr. Katherine Alford authored an article called, Teaching listening as a form of empathy building. Voices from the Middle, 29(1) 36-39 (2021).
The article is about how middle school teachers can and should explicitly teach listening in their English Language Arts classrooms as a means of developing more empathetic and engaged students.
Remembering Dr. Frank Spreng
The annual Frank Spreng Memorial BBQ was held on October 22, 2021 by the School of
Business faculty. Dr. Frank Spreng was an emeritus professor of Economics at McKendree
for 30 years. In his 30 years, he was a Professor of Economics, Chair of the School
of Business, and started the MBA program.
Frank had MBA, Ph.D., and J.D. degrees and enjoyed teaching students very much. He
would impart knowledge on numerous subjects in all of his courses.
Frank had hundreds of ties and wore a different tie almost every day to commemorate a sporting event, holiday, or other special event. Therefore, during the Memorial BBQ, School of Business Faculty give away ties and scarves to students to honor Frank.
Dr. Spreng retired in 2017 and passed away in 2018.
Preparing for the Future! Political Science Department Hosts Law School Panel
On Wednesday, October 20th, Dr. Brian Frederking and Dr. Ann Collins, Professors of Political Science hosted a Zoom panel of recent McKendree graduates. The panel consisted of alum, Caden Owens '20, SLU Law School; Katherine Gemmingen '20, Pitt Law School; Taylor Ganz '20, SLU Law School (Marines/JAG); Jared Jones '17, SLU Law School, Hinshaw and Culbertson Law Firm. The former students offered advice to McKendree's current students for how to prepare for the LSAT and shared their experiences in law school.
Busting Psychological Myths
Students in Dr. Boysen’s Honors Introduction to Psychology course are writing blogs this semester busting psychological myths. Two myths have been busted so far, nine more myths will be busted during the second half of the fall semester.Check out these mythbusters:https://populardelusionblog.wordpress.com/
Dr. Guy Boysen is an author on three chapters in a new book from the American Psychological Association that came out in August outlining professional suggestions for how to teach an Introductory Psychology course. Dr. Boysen authored a chapter that discussed teaching the course in a setting like McKendree (which is also named in the title of the chapter).
https://www.apa.org/pubs/books/transforming-introductory-psychology?tab=2
Additionally, his work on the chapter stemmed from his previous involvement on a national working group that met in Washington DC to set a national agenda for the course.
https://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/undergrad/introductory-psychology-initiative
Dr. Shelly Lemons' Research Reminds Us the Journey is Just as Sweet as the Destination
Dr. Lemon's has a new article coming out in the next issue of Kansas History, but the story behind the article reminds us that sometimes the journey is just as
sweet as the destination! Please take some time to read Dr. Lemon's story:
This piece actually has a pretty interesting "McKendree story" behind it. While the initial research was a grad school "rabbit hole," I picked it up again in Fall 2019. I was teaching HIS 110: Historical Methods, and I made a deal with my students that I would work on a professional research project while they did their research projects. (the whole point? The historical research process is the same--no matter where you are in your career. Intro students and professional historians all follow the same steps.)
That got me back into the project.
Then in Spring 2020, I was part of a faculty writing group with Martha Patterson, Rich Murphy, and Katie Alford. We agreed to work on a professional project and hold each other accountable. I picked this one. My colleagues read some drafts and helped me to refocus the piece. Then COVID hit. But I didn't stop working. I continued to refine the narrative and build upon my earlier research. I submitted the draft to Kansas History for consideration in July, 2020 and got a revise/resubmit! Success!!
I actually even used the piece again for a unit on professional writing and feedback for the HIS 110 class in Fall 2020. That group of students read the draft and the reviewers' comments as part of our class assignments.
THEN Blamo!! November 18, 2020: I was in a terrible car accident.
Once I was back home and starting my recovery (January 2021), I worked with the journal editor, Kristen Epps, to move forward with the article revisions. The anticipated publication date was for Winter 2021/2022. But after she saw the revisions, the editor asked to move the publication date up to Autumn 2021 instead.
And now here we are! I should have the proof pages next week, and the article will appear in the Autumn 2021 issue as one of three academic pieces.
I am very proud of this work, and I am so pleased to be able to share its publication with my McKendree family. It really is a part of my McKendree Story.
Make sure to check out Dr. Lemon's article in press in Kansas History's Autumn 2021 issue!
McKendree's ALL IN Continues to Shine
On Tuesday, September 28th, to honor National Voter Registration Day, our ALL IN Committee
registered eleven students to vote!
For the second year in a row, McKendree University was recognized on Washington Monthly's
list for America's Best Colleges for Student Voting! A special thank you to McKendree's ALL IN committee for their work on increasing responsible citizenship through voter registration
on our campus! Check out the list of schools recognized here. 
Dr. LaMora and Dr. Schutzenhofer hosted a biology booth at a STEM event on Thursday, September 16th. The STEM event was for all third-graders in the Collinsville School District (approximately 400 students). The third grade students worked with the professors and several McKendree students during their visit to the booth to learn about infected and healthy lungs and had opportunity to build their own model of a healthy lung to take with them. Dr. Dunlap also hosted a booth with several chemistry students.
On September 9th, Biology students got their feet wet by assisting professional biologists from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Dr. Michael Louison and Vertebrate Anatomy students participated in research concerning fish populations in Richland Creek (Belleville, Illinois).
Faculty Scholarly & Creative Activities Report
Engaging in research activities with faculty is a remarkable way to learn outside of the classroom. Take a look at a few highlights from our many outstanding faculty and student research projects, read or print the 2019-2020 Faculty Scholarly & Creative Activities Report, or visit the Faculty Directory to learn even more. At McKendree University our faculty are the R-E-A-L deal.
Archive
2018-2019 Faculty Scholarly & Creative Activities Report
2017-2018 Faculty Scholarly & Creative Activities Report
2016-2017 Faculty Scholarly & Creative Activities Report
2015-2016 Faculty Scholarly & Creative Activities Report
2014-2015 Faculty Scholarly & Creative Activities Report
2013-2014 Faculty Scholarly & Creative Activities Report
2012-2013 Faculty Scholarly & Creative Activities Report
Responsible Citizenship
At McKendree University many of our students and faculty are committed to service
and participating actively in society. Dr. Ann Collins teaches and regularly states that she "has the best job on campus." Dr. Collins encourages
students to become informed citizens and vote. She also organizes trips to the state
capital for students to see government in action.
Engagement
Dr. Jean Sampson believes in truly engaging her students. In addition to learning about business in
the classroom, she also encourages students to get involved outside of the classroom.
Recently four McKendree students conducted research on illegal trafficking on fishing
boats and won the Student Ethics Competition hosted by the International Assembly
of Collegiate Business Education (IACBE).
Austin Vuichard, Erika Schutzenhofer, Jessica Muckensturm, and Danni Warren found
an ethical issue and explained it from a legal, financial, marketing, management and
economic point of view. They conducted their research online and via e-mail and created
a brochure. The students also created a Facebook page to share their research with
the world.
Academic Excellence
Dr. Martha Patterson spent the first decade of her career writing about the New Woman. In 2005, she published
Beyond the Gibson Girl: Reimagining the American New Woman, 1895-1915 with the University
of Illinois Press, and in 2008 she published The American New Woman Revisited: A Reader,
1894-1930 with Rutgers University Press.
Patterson is currently working on a book project called The Harlem Renaissance Weekly about major Harlem Renaissance writers who wrote in Black newspapers during the 1920s and 1930s. When relevant, Patterson incorporates her scholarship into her teaching, and she has hired students through McKendree's work study program to help research and proofread her work for publication.
Dr. Brian Frederking epitomizes academic excellence. He involves students with his research and is a prolific
publisher. Below are summaries of his two recent books:
The Politics of Global Governance: International Organizations in an Interdependent
World, 2010, 4th edition, co-edited with Paul Diehl, Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publications.
The United States and the Security Council: Collective Security since the Cold War,
2007, London: Routledge.
Lifelong Learning
At McKendree University we are proud of the fact that over 97% of our students pursue
graduate school or obtain careers in their fields. We value lifelong learning and encourage faculty,
staff, and students to keep exploring new knowledge. Faculty attend and present at
regional and national conferences. Recently Dr. Tami Eggleston was accepted into the American Psychological Association's Leadership Institute for
Women. Dr. Eggleston will learn about leadership theories and skills and bring this
information back to the McKendree University campus and share with students enrolled
in our newly developed Leadership Studies Minor. This minor is a joint endeavor with
Academic Affairs and Student Affairs and will afford students the opportunity to learn
about leadership research and apply this knowledge in McKendree University organizations.
Dr. Richelle Rennegarbe is assisting other nurses with their lifelong learning. She published Systemic Lupus
Erythematosus (3rded.) in October 2011. The continuing education course is published by NetCE Continuing
Education and offers five contact hours for registered nurses. The purpose of the
course is to provide nurses with the healthcare information to provide appropriate
care, guidance, and support for patient who are living with the chronic disease of
systemic lupus erythematosus and includes evidence-based practice recommendations.
