Faculty Excellence

April 2025

McKendree Psychology Students Showcase Research at ILLOWA Undergraduate Conference

McKendree University psychology students presented their research at the ILLOWA Undergraduate Psychology Conference hosted by Western Illinois University on April 26, 2025, in Macomb, Illinois. ILLOWA is the nation’s longest-running undergraduate psychology conference and draws student researchers from Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri. https://www.monmouthcollege.edu/illowa/

Nadia Franks (Psychology, ’26) presented research conducted with Dr. Michael Hahn on how people judge the credibility of AI-generated information. The study found that participants rated statements attributed to human experts as more credible than those attributed to large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT and that belief in conspiracy theories was linked to higher levels of authoritarianism and conspiracy mentality.

Mia Wylie (Psychology, ’25), Kelsey Lyles (Psychology, ’26), and Divine Favour Ozomma (Biopsychology, ’26) presented research conducted with Dr. Guy A. Boysen examining taboo topics in the teaching of psychology. Their survey of psychology faculty revealed that many professors view topics related to identity, group differences, sexual behavior, and bias as taboo, although most still support academic freedom to teach controversial material.

 

 

 

On April 22nd, the Psi Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International hosted the St. Louis Sigma Consortium Conference. Part of the conference includes poster presentations on recent research and quality improvement initiatives. Ten posters were shared during the consortium. Three of the posters were created and presented by McKendree faculty.

Misty Dickey MSN, RN presented her DNP project titled Using Gamification to Improve Healthcare Professional Communication Skills and Job Satisfaction. This project focused on using an innovative, game-based training approach through a virtual escape room to enhance healthcare communication skills, with the goal of improving patient outcomes and staff satisfaction. Pictured is Misty Dickey presenting her poster during the conference.

Angela Gilbreth DNP, RN, CLS, EBP-C presented a poster on Incivility, the Impact, and the Ability to Overcome. The poster detailed project components including the addition of electronic devices within hospital settings to support communication practices, engagement, and recognition. Aspects on how the electronic device supported healthy work habits and engaged employees was assessed in relation to incivility practices.

Jill Parsons PhD, RN, CNE presented a poster, in collaboration with Richelle Rennegarbe PhD, RN, CENP, CPPS on Addressing the Challenges of a Rural School Nurse Workforce. The poster detailed the development of a preparation program that met the Illinois Learning Standards, National Standards, and Social and Emotional Learning Standards for school nurse personnel programs. Program development and implementation involved a systematic approach encompassing needs assessment, curriculum design, implementation science, communication, stakeholder engagement, and program evaluation.

 

 

Communication majors Grace Gross '25 and Sonia Halabi '25 presented their research under the advisement of Dr. Rich Murphy and Dr. Sara Frank at Central States Communication Association Conference in Cincinnati, OH.  Grace’s research “Uncertainty Reduction Theory: Long-Distance Romantic Relationships” was recognized as a top paper for the Undergraduate Honors Research Conference.

In addition to student research, Dr. Rich Murphy was recognized on a Top Panel explaining his experience at launching our Sport Communication track. The title of his work was "Starting from Nothing: Launching a Sport Communication Program at a Small School." Rich also debated other scholars regarding the validity of online Public Speaking courses in the panel "Doesn’t the Entire Internet Count as an Audience? It’s Up for Debate."

Dr. Sara Frank presented one of the assignments given to her Interpersonal Communication course: Dear Bogey in a Great Ideas for Teaching session. The assignment focuses on students providing advice FOR the student body, BY the student body for the McKendree Review. 

 

 

 

The School of Education has had a blast celebrating Neurodiversity Awareness Month! Neurodiversity is a concept that celebrates the different ways brains can function. They kicked things off at the One McKendree Festival, where Dr. Downard's SPE 405 class shared insights on neurodiversity, focusing on autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. They handed out fidgets, sensory stickers, and other manipulatives to offer support and accommodations. Plus, Got Your Six brought along therapy dogs!

 

The next week, students learned about sensory overload and discovered 7 tips to manage feeling overwhelmed. They even got to create and take-home mini-Zen gardens! Dr. Owens also presented information on executive functioning, and Got Your Six joined us again. Students spun a wheel to learn about executive functioning and walked away with journals, timers, and other fun prizes. They also participated in an "Easter Egg" challenge to complete and pass on to a friend.

It was a fantastic month of celebrating neurodiversity!

 

 

 

On the evening of April 22nd, the Division of Nursing’s Psi Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International hosted the Sigma St. Louis Consortium Conference. The Sigma St. Louis Consortium includes seven schools: Chamberlain University, Goldfarb School of Nursing, Maryville University, McKendree University, Southern Illinois University (SIUE), Saint Louis University (SLU), and University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL). The consortium conference is an opportunity for the seven schools to collaborate on research and innovation for a yearly presentation. During the evening, close to 50 nurses attended The Hett for poster presentations, dinner, and an engaging presentation by presenter and comedian Nurse Nancy Norton. Nurse Nancy engaged the audience through a lifetime experience of bridging laughter with creative problem solving. Through her engaging presentation, the power of humor reinforced innovative concepts in healthcare. 

 

 

 

McKendree University psychology students Mia Wylie (Psychology ’25), Kelsey Lyles (Psychology ’26), and Divine Favour Ozomma (Biopsychology ’26) have coauthored a peer-reviewed article on mental illness stigma in the academic journal Stigma and Health. The journal, published by the American Psychological Association, features original research on how stigma affects the health and well-being of people with mental and physical illnesses.

The article, titled “Affordance Management and Schizophrenia: A Reanalysis of the General Social Survey,” outlines research conducted with their research supervisor, Dr. Guy A. Boysen as part of research practicums in psychology and the Honors program.

The study tested affordance management theory, a psychological explanation for how stereotypes affect perceptions of social groups, using data from the nationally representative General Social Survey. The results showed that Americans stereotype individuals with schizophrenia as violent and express a stronger desire for social distance from them than from individuals with depression. The study also found increased support for segregating treatment of people with schizophrenia, such as hospitalization. According to the authors, the findings demonstrate that fundamental concerns about safety help explain mental illness stigma and offer a new way to explain longstanding trends in attitudes about mental illness.

Journal Info: https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/sah

 

 

English major Jasmine Gates has been awarded a Gyo Obata Fellowship for Arts Management by the Gateway Foundation in St. Louis. As the Gateway Foundation notes, the fellowship provides students with "direct experiences with local arts institutions" and "immerses students in the work of arts administration, introducing this field to those who may never have considered it a career pathway." Fellows are employed for 10 weeks over the summer with various local nonprofit arts organizations in the St. Louis region. Jazz will also receive an $8,000 stipend as part of the fellowship award.

She is currently a senior at McKendree and has already learned some arts management in her role as an editor of Catalyst, McKendree's student-run creative writing and visual arts magazine, advised by Dr. Jenny Mueller.

 

 

 

McKendree Psychology Students Present Research at the 2025 MPA Convention in Chicago

McKendree University psychology students Mia Wylie (Psychology ’25), Kelsey Lyles (Psychology ’26), and Divine Favour Ozomma (Biopsychology ’26) presented two research posters at the Midwestern Psychological Association’s Annual Convention on April 10–12 in Chicago, IL. The students collaborated with their research supervisor, Dr. Guy Boysen, as part of Psychology Research Practicum and Honors Practicum courses.

The first poster, entitled Affordance Management and Schizophrenia Stigma in the General Social Survey, tested affordance management theory using data from a large, nationally representative sample. The results showed that people stereotype individuals with schizophrenia as dangerous and prefer greater social distance from them compared to people with depression. The research is the first to use national data to support affordance management theory in explaining mental illness stigma.

The second poster, Taboo Topics in the Teaching of Psychology, surveyed full-time psychology faculty to identify topics considered taboo or sensitive to teach. Results indicated that although certain topics (e.g., race, gender, and group differences) were more likely to be labeled as taboo, there was no universal agreement on which topics crossed that line. Despite recognizing the existence of taboos, most faculty supported the academic freedom to teach them.

 

 

The Division of Nursing hosted Barnes Jewish Christian (BJC) Memorial Hospital Leadership Symposium on April 11th from 9:00-3:00 pm. BJC is a leading healthcare organization. The theme of the symposium was It Starts With You! Close to sixty leaders from Memorial Belleville and Shiloh were present to engage in the conference and lunch. The presentations focused on enhancing leadership communication effectiveness during challenging times. Holly Cook from Carle Hospital, presented on retaining the nursing workforce. A visual thinking strategy presentation from the St. Louis Art Museum included how to incorporate visual strategies into practice. Nursing faculty, Misty Dickey, Megan Holtmann, and Danielle Shubert presented key leadership communication components including use of virtual escape rooms and tackling difficult conversations. Through the collaborative partnership, continuing education credits were obtained and provided to attendees. Excellent feedback from attendees was received during the conference.

 

 

 

Dr. Jenny Mueller is exhibiting four mixed-genre works, combining postcard imagery and poetry, at the Residency on the Farm "2 x 2 and a Little Bit More" alumni show at Tristine Walker Imagery in Chicago. The gallery show runs April 5-May 3. Jenny is planning to read poetry at the show's opening reception on April 12.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Brittany Dobill presented at the spring 2025 Marketing Management Association conference.  The title of Dr. Dobill's presentation was Enhancing teaching, learning, and engagement: Reasons to implement video quizzes in the college classroom.

 

 

 

 

March 2025

HIS 345: America By Ear with Dr. Shelly Lemons took a field to the National Blues Museum in St. Louis on March 26, 2025. Students enjoyed engaging and interactive exhibits on the history of blues music through the 20th century to the present. After the museum, the group lunched at Snarf's on Washington Ave. Dr. Lemons said, "It's important to me that students are able to experience the museum spaces we have so close to us! The Blues Museum is a perfect fit for our class, which uses songs and lyrics to understand modern American history."

(Students at Snarf's left to right: Austin Herrera, Elizabeth Bocock, Bradley Thomas, and Jack Taulman)

 

On Account of Peculiar Conditions
Finding Leadership While Chasing the Gloom Away

Dr. Shelly Lemons, History, presented at the Women’s History Month Town Hall for Scott Credit Union in Edwardsville on Tuesday, March 25th.  She shared research from her current book project “Chasing the Gloom Away” and linked the experiences of USDA Home Demonstration Agents to her own present-day experiences in leadership.
In the early 20th century, the US Department of Agriculture worked to make farm life attractive to young people and their families. The USDA Extension Service organized farm bureaus (for men and boys) and home bureaus (for women and girls) to help rural communities maintain, survive, and thrive. In 1914, Congress passed the Smith-Lever Act which created a funding stream to support programs like home demonstration, targeting farm wives and the farm home for marketing modernity and technology to rural America.

Lemons explained, “Home Demonstration Clubs (HDCs) were local clubs of farm women who worked with an HD agent to “demonstrate” new skills to improve all sorts of things in their farm life; things like gardens, canning and food preservation, clothing, and home beautification. Through those skill shares, they also build relationships, foster community connection, and afford opportunities for leadership among local women.”
For this talk, Lemons focused on three HD agents: Lois Grant, Elizabeth Crane, and Ivy Matter. As agents, they served as the connectors of USDA information, conduits of technology, and promoters of female agency to rural populations. Each had a distinct style and focus, and each worked to connect information and people.

The agents worked in one of the most depressed areas of the state and in the middle of the Dust Bowl and Great Depression. The local residents needed emergency-level help when agents first arrived in 1934. But by the end of the decade, the continued work through HDCs not only improved the situation of residents in a practical way but also afforded opportunities to develop the whole person through psychological and social benefits from HDC participation. On account of peculiar conditions—the Dust Bowl, rural isolation, and the Great Depression—HD agents and the HDCs they mentored offered varied paths for leadership and connection to the Panhandle communities of 1930s Cimarron County, Oklahoma.

Lemons connected her own leadership experiences to those of HD agents in field. Just like Grant, Crane, and Matter, current leaders must build relationships, share skills, and utilize technologies. Lemons stated, “I often imagine the way I feel about AI in my classes and professional life might be a bit like how the women felt using that pressure cooker for the first time: if this goes bad, it could be a real mess!  But I also wonder if, like the HDC women, once you learn how to use the new technology, it really is a tool that can improve your quality of life. And yes, you might make a big mess the first few times, too. And that is okay! It’s part of the process of learning.”

As a final takeaway, Lemons said, “Leadership is about building relationships. Good leaders consider and reflect on how their decisions impact those around them. If Grant, Crane, and Matter can lead women in rural Cimarron County, Oklahoma in the Great Depression AND the Dust Bowl, then surely we can find our way in the 21st century. We, too, are experiencing peculiar conditions. And we, too, can find our way through the storm to chase away the gloom.”

 

 

February 2025

Courtney Winkler's ENG 111 and 112 classes participated in State Senator Erica Harriss' annual "Valentines for Seniors" Card Drive.  These cards will be delivered to residents in facilities across the 56th District.

 

Dr. Kelly Stewart presented Administrator Academy AA 4072, Hop on Board the Energy Bus for a Ride to a More Positive You, in Effingham.  Eighty-seven administrators werein attendance.  

Participant comment - “I didn’t know how much I needed to hear Dr. Stewart’s message until I listened to her. She is a beacon of light that shines down on school leadership.”

 

 

 

Dr. Payear Howell translated the book Data Sleuth Using Data in Forensic Accounting Engagements and Fraud Investiations by Leah Wietholter for Chulalongkorn University bookstore in Bangkok, Thailand. Leah will visit Hett as a distinguished speaker on April 8, 2025.

 

 

 

 

 

January 2025

Alongside colleagues at the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center, Dr. Mike Louison has published a pair of papers examining the behavioral and physiological response of fish to microplastic exposure. The citations are below:

Schindler, M.S., Pennington, P.C., Dell, A.I., and M.J. Louison (2025, In Press). Short-term microplastic exposure fails to affect swimming performance or body condition in juvenile golden shiners Notemigonus crysoleucas. Canadian Journal of Zoology.

Cannon, M., Pennington, P.C., Montaňo, I., Schindler, M.S., Dell, A.I., and M.J. Louison (2025, In Press). Foraging response of bluegill Lepomis macrochirus to microplastics and subsequent impacts on swimming performance. Animal Behaviour.

 

Dr. Jennie Winters will present at the NCTM Regional conference. One session about research on teachers using standards-based rubrics to monitor student progress. The second session, co-presented with Adjunct Faculty member Bryant Hale ('19 EdD from McKendree ), addresses their latest research on using visual models for word problem-solving.

 

December 2024

Dr. Jenny Mueller has been awarded an artist residency in June 2025 by Hypatia-in-the-Woods in Shelton, Washington. Jenny will live on-site as the artist resident while working on completing the manuscript for her third book of poetry.

 

 

 

 

Students in "Economics of Pizza and Other Victuals" visited Peel Pizza in O'Fallon, IL.  They met with the owner and the general manager, who addressed the students' questions about the establishment.

 

November 2024

Dr. Nikki Owens and a group of McKendree teacher candidates attended the 2024 Project LEAD Fall Forum at the Illinois State University Alumni Center where they listened to an excellent keynote speaker,  Dr. Mahmood (2024 Illinois Teacher of the Year) interacted with teacher candidates from across the state and learned how to be impactful teacher leaders! It was such a great event and our McKendree teacher candidates were shown great hospitality by Project LEAD by serving them lunch, and formally recognizing and celebrating our anticipated spring graduates. 

                              

 

Dr. Timothy Ros, had the pleasure of accompanying Tatiyana Fridge and Bendix Schroeder, two members of McKendree University’s Entrepreneur Club, to events during the 2024 St. Louis Startup Week. This weeklong celebration of entrepreneurship brought together innovators, business leaders, and aspiring entrepreneurs from the region and beyond to share insights, strategies, and opportunities for growth within St. Louis's entrepreneurial ecosystem.

St. Louis Startup Week serves as an essential platform for celebrating and fostering entrepreneurship, offering dynamic talks, panels, workshops, and networking opportunities. By attending this event, McKendree students gained invaluable knowledge and connections that will benefit both their professional and academic journeys.

 

October 2024

Dr. Timothy Ros recently led an engaging webinar on the intersection of Generative AI and Academic Writing. This session provided attendees with valuable insights on maintaining academic integrity while leveraging AI tools in scholarly work. This session explored ethical guidelines and best practices for using generative AI responsibly in academic research. Participants gained an understanding of methods to incorporate AI tools thoughtfully, ensuring that originality and rigor remain at the forefront of their writing.

Throughout the webinar, Dr. Ros and his co-facilitators presented real-world examples, examined potential challenges of AI-assisted writing, and reviewed publisher guidelines, creating an open forum for discussions on AI’s impact on academia. One attendee remarked, “This was a wonderful seminar, and I appreciate the information. It was helpful, resourceful, and insightful. I would love to keep engaging in these important conversations and see how AI will continue to impact research in the coming years.”

This insightful session underscored the need for ongoing dialogue on integrating emerging AI tools in academic settings, paving the way for further conversations on innovation and integrity in scholarly work.

 

 

Dr. Shelly Lemons is an invited speaker for the University of Central Oklahoma's "Making Meaning in the American West" lecture series. She along with her co-investigator, Dr. Steven Kite (University of Arkansas--Fort Smith) will be conducting a workshop and presenting a public lecture on oral history and their current book project, "Chasing the Gloom Away."

https://blogs.uco.edu/clanews/making-meaning-in-the-american-west/

 

 

Dr. Brittany Dobill attended and presented at the Marketing Management Association Fall Conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  The conference was held in September.  Dr. Dobill was part of a panel speaking on Fostering Student Creativity in Marketing Education.  Dr. Dobill also served as a session chair at this conference.

Additionally, during the spring 2024 semester, McKendree students in Dr. Brittany Dobill's Advertising and Promotions class collaborated with local company-Lebanon Seibert Electric-to boost their marketing efforts.
Working closely with the business to promote its generators, students created a comprehensive advertising campaign that included strategy development, advertisement creation, and implementation of social media campaigns.

 

 

Allium: A Journal of Poetry and Prose, a literary journal published 

by Columbia College in Chicago, has nominated Jenny Mueller's poem "From 'The Large Glass'" for a 2025 Best of the Net Prize. Winning work will be included in the annual Best of the Net Anthology (Sundress Publications) in 2025.

Note: "Allium: A Journal of Poetry and Prose" and "Best of the Net Anthology should be in italics" (not quotation marks) if published/printed.

 

 

Dr. Allie Helfrich recently attended the Marketing Management Association Conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she made significant contributions to the field of marketing education. She participated in a panel titled “Innovative Strategies for Teaching Social Media Marketing,” sharing innovative approaches and best practices with fellow educators. Additionally, Dr. Helfrich presented a compelling paper titled “Why Your LMS System Should Be Your

 Student’s Best Friend and Probably Yours Too!” which highlighted the critical role of Learning Management Systems in enhancing student engagement and academic success. Her insights and expertise were well-received, making a notable impact on the conference attendees. This was Dr. Helfrich's 3rd year presenting at the conference.

 

 

 

 

Former McKendree Alums, Andres Marquez and Laura Winkeler, visited Dr. Jean Sampson's MBA Global Organizations class on October 1. Andres is  the Vice President -Corporate Accounts at Ecolab and Laura is the National Partner Manager-WWT @HItachi Vantara.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Sampson also had Tanner Wolk and Braxton Weaver join her BUS 450 class and her Principles of Management course.  Tanner is the Sales and Hiring Leader in Southern Illinois for Federated Insurance.  Braxton is the Regional Marketing Manager for Federated Insurance.                                                                                                 

 

September 2024

Students in Ms. Warner's Honors British Literature classes at Edwardsville High School had the unique opportunity to experience an inspiring lecture by English professor Dr. Nichole DeWall from McKendree University on Friday, September 13.  During her lecture, DeWall shared her passion for the Old English language and Beowulf, an Anglo-Saxon epic poem, that the students will begin reading next week.

 

 

 

On September 12 and September 13, Drs. Guy Boysen, Sara Frank, Allie Helfrich, Mickey Schutzenhofer, and Tami Eggleston participated in an online workshop.  The institute was hosted by AAC&U and was entitled, "The 2024-2025 Institute on AI, Pedagogy, and the Curriculum."  The team will share what they learned in future activities to ensure that McKendree is using AI in appropriate and innovative ways.

 

Dr. Tami Eggleston continues to be very engaged with the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).  This summer Tami served as a Team Chair for a university on their Open Pathway, participated on a Review Panel for Quality Initiative Proposals for three colleges, and completed a Federal Compliance review.

 

 

 

Dr. Timothy Ros had a book review published in a special edition of New Horizons in Adult Education and Human Resources Development. The review, titled "Book Review: Practicing Oral History with Military and War Veterans by Raynor S.," appears in the special issue on "Enhancing Veterans' Transition to the Civilian Workforce: Strategies for Meaningful Employability."

This special issue is particularly significant as it aims to provide a platform for veterans and organizations to recognize the mutual benefits of hiring veterans. The focus is on offering research-grounded strategies and best practices to facilitate meaningful employment for veterans within the civilian sector. This includes addressing the critical role of human resource development specialists, especially in relation to veterans as marginalized employees.

The significance of this special issue extends beyond academic discourse. It contributes to the well-being of individuals who have served their country, enhances workforce diversity, and fulfills societal obligations to support those who have sacrificed for the common good. Moreover, it presents an important opportunity for professionals in human resource development, adult education, workforce education, and training and development. These professionals can advocate for and promote the recruitment and retention of veterans, enhance career development pathways, support diversity and inclusion efforts, and design and deliver culturally relevant training programs sensitive to veterans' unique needs.

 

Dr. Kelly D. Stewart, Associate Professor from the School of Education, had a busy summer working with K-12 schools.  She conducted 9 Administrator Academies across Illinois, including The Power of Positive Leadership at Belleville Township High School District.  She leads seven professional development training sessions for five regional education offices and two school districts across most of southern Illinois.  She ended her summer by giving 9 Back to School Speeches across Illinois, from the Big Hollow School district,  just south of Wisconsin, to Shawnee College in Ulin, Illinois, just 30 miles from Cape Girardeau, Missouri.