Rendering of the Pedroso Center expansion

Friday, November 28, 2014

It may have been a short holiday week, but Northeastern Illinois University’s list of accomplishments is long. From appointing a dean to the College of Business and Management to raising funds for a local community in need, here are the news, notes and events from around the University.

Around the Commons

Pedroso Center expansion breaks ground

Northeastern broke ground Nov. 24 on the expansion of the Angelina Pedroso Center for Diversity and Intercultural Affairs. Attended by President Sharon Hahs, Vice President for Student Affairs Frank Ross, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Juan Guardia and Angelina Pedroso herself, the ceremony kicked off an expansion to include the women’s resource center and LGBTQA resource center, which currently are housed in separate offices. The project also will create additional programming space for students, a gender-inclusive restroom and a lactation room.

Michael Bedell appointed dean

Michael Bedell has been appointed as dean of Northeastern Illinois University’s College of Business and Management, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Richard Helldobler announced Nov. 26. The appointment is effective Dec. 1, 2014.

Action on immigration

At the invitation of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, President Sharon Hahs attended President Obama’s appearance Nov. 25 at the Copernicus Center in Chicago’s Jefferson Park community. Three days earlier, she also joined U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez and Emanuel on stage for a rally at Benito Juarez Community Academy in Pilsen.

Hive grant for CCAS

The Center for College Access and Success and its partner, YOUmedia, have been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Hive Chicago Fund for Connected Learning, independently administered by The Chicago Community Trust. The grant will support the new Model for Connected Learning program to bridge the gap between in-school and out-of-school learning by empowering high school students to use digital technology and newly acquired skills to complete classroom assignments as well as projects that explore their personal interests.

Supporting our neighbors

With the assistance of a $2,500 matching gift from the NEIU Foundation, the Northeastern community raised $6,030 last week for Friends of Peterson Elementary, which continues to accept donations to help families affected by the recent deadly fire a few blocks from the main campus.

From Northeastern to Princeton

When Desmond Jagmohan went to high school in the Edgewater community of Chicago, it was no sure thing that he one day would attend college. Now he doesn’t want to leave. The Northeastern alum now is a political theorist at Princeton University, essentially a post-doctoral fellow who will become an assistant professor of politics in 2016.

And there’s more!

 

  • “Learn in the city, lead in the world.” Check out this new video for the NEIU Foundation’s Leader Fund, made by graduate assistant Carrie Reffitt.
  • President Sharon Hahs submitted a video to the Albany Park Community Center stating her support during the organization’s funding campaign.
  • At the invitation of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Hahs also attended a Nov. 20 welcome breakfast honoring the installation of Archbishop-designate Blase Cupich.
  • Northeastern alum Christine H. Crosby (B.S. Earth Science '07) is the first author on a paper published in the November 2014 issue of Geology, the research journal of the Geological Society of America. Crosby is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Minnesota.
  • In anticipation of finals, the Ronald Williams Library will be open for extended hours from Monday, Dec. 1 through Friday, Dec. 12.

In the media

La Mujer de la Semana

Christina Gomez, professor of Sociology and coordinator of the Latino and Latin American Studies Program, was featured Nov. 12 on the 750 AM radio show “Mujeres Sin Censura.” The program focused on Latina/o students and issues of immigration. She was named “La Mujer de la Semana” (Woman of the Week).

Commentary on Ferguson

Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies Director Conrad Worrill was quoted in a Final Call story about the unrest in Ferguson, Mo., after the Nov. 24 grand jury decision in the police shooting case. “We must protect our communities, we must build our own institutions, and we must raise our children in our own traditions,” he said.

Also in the media ...

  • Director of Scholarships Michelle Morrow was a primary source in a Mash story about how high school seniors can better polish their college applications.
  • CBS DC quoted Political Science department chair Jeffrey Hill in a story about what President Obama’s immigration action means for Republicans.
  • Polish Daily News and Polvision ran stories about the Nov. 14 Polish-American Heritage Awards Celebration on the main campus.
  • Juan Moreno, architect of the new El Centro location, is featured in the latest edition of Negocios Now Magazine.
  • Sociology student Jessica Davis was featured in a Guardian story about part-time workers.

To do

‘The Nutcracker’

The Ruth Page Civic Ballet’s holiday performance of “The Nutcracker” returns to the main campus Dec. 6-7. This enchanting story of Clara and the magic nutcracker is a holiday favorite you may not want to miss. The Chicago Tribune listed this performance in its "Nutcracker" overview of the city.

Put a bow on it

Start your holiday shopping beginning Dec. 1 at the Student Holiday Art Sale. The sale will be open from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 1-4 and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 5. All proceeds will go directly to the students.

Mark your calendar!

#FollowFriday

Social (Work) media

It’s Thanksgiving weekend; have you checked the Social Work department’s Twitter or Facebook feeds lately? The department posts volunteer opportunities in the Chicago community and information about activities on and off campus related to social work and career advising. Additionally, the Social Work department uses Facebook as a place to connect ideas from the real world to concepts that are covered in class, such as postings from news or research sites about poverty, education and social policy.

Do you have a story tip? Let the public relations office know!

Mike Hines, director of public relations, m-hines@neiu.edu, (773) 442-4240