Friday, October 30, 2015

It isn’t quite Halloween yet, but more than 100 Chicago Public Schools students got to play the role of architect this week at El Centro. We’ve got more on why they flocked to the Avondale location, plus news of another big grant—this time for the Department of Counselor Education.

Around the Commons

Field trip to El Centro

Northeastern alumna Joselyn Galvez (B.A. ’12 Mathematics and Secondary Education Certificate: Mathematics), who is a seventh-grade math teacher at Frank W. Reilly Elementary School in Avondale, brought more than 100 students to El Centro on Oct. 27 as part of a learning unit called Future City. The students received a personal tour of the building from architect Juan Moreno (pictured above leading the tour). “It’s so important to expose these young people to a college or university environment, especially at an amazing environment like this,” said Maria Luna-Duarte, interim director of El Centro. “It’s so high-tech, and they can feel like this is something they can aspire to.”

A grant for rehabilitation counselor education

The Department of Counselor Education has been awarded a five-year grant by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services totaling $950,000. The Rehabilitation Long-Term Training Program grant will allow Northeastern to provide training leading to a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling addressing a number of key national concerns, including the shortage of rehabilitation counselors with master's degrees.

Meanwhile, another award for El Centro

El Centro was honored at the Chicago chapter of the American Institute of Architects annual design awards on Oct. 23. The chapter selected 36 winners from 285 entries, according to the Chicago Tribune’s story about the event.

And there’s more!

  • If you missed last week’s announcement that Northeastern is part of a new $17.4 million grant from the National Cancer Institute that will help three Chicago universities work together with many of the city’s underserved communities, be sure to watch the video and visit the Chicago Cancer Health Equity Collaborative website.
  • The College of Business and Management’s Soy Entrepreneur business plan competition entry deadline has been extended to Nov. 6.
  • The Pedroso Center will host a Day of the Dead altar through the month of November.
  • The College of Business and Management will host a graduate programs open house on Nov. 5.
  • “Engage Your World with Global Studies, Anthropology, and Latino/a and Latin American Studies” will introduce students to the merits of each program on Nov. 4.
  • Ensemble Español will hold auditions for male dancers ages 18-28 on Nov. 7.
  • The Department of Art will host a gathering at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 2 in the ceramics studio for faculty, students and anyone who wants to hear the latest from the department.
  • Thomas J. Tobin, coordinator of learning technologies in the Center for Teaching and Learning, was a presenter at the EDUCAUSE Annual Conference in Indianapolis on Oct. 27.
  • Communication, Media and Theatre Department Chair Tony Adams will speak at the University of Edinburgh on Nov. 5 about the use and importance of forgiveness.

In the media

Keeper of the plants

Ed Hedborn (M.S. ’84 Biology) was featured in the Daily Herald for his work as manager of plant records at Morton Arboretum. “The arboretum is charged with collecting every kind of woody plant in the world and (seeing) if it will thrive here in Lisle,” Hedborn told the Daily Herald. “We have plants from all over the world, from the Georgian Republic to the state of Georgia.”

Also in the media ...

  • DNAinfo Chicago published a story about the College of Business and Management’s Soy Entrepreneur competition.

To do

Jean B. Carlson Memorial Lecture

The Daniel L. Goodwin College of Education will host professor and author Kevin Kumashiro for the fourth annual Dr. Jean B. Carlson Memorial Lectureship on Nov. 3. Kumashiro is dean and professor of the School of Education at the University of San Francisco. A leading expert on educational policy, teacher preparation and educational equity and social justice, Kumashiro will discuss the topic of school reform and the implications of blaming school professionals for the issues faced in education today.

Want to visit Cuba?

Senior Library Specialist Ellen Larrimore has invited Northeastern students, faculty and staff on a nine-day group trip to Cuba. Highlights of the trip will include visits to Havana, a community day-care center, a national park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and more! The trip is being organized through Education First Study Tours. Pricing, full itinerary, payment options and sign-up information are available online. Contact Larrimore with any additional questions at (773) 442-4402 or e-larrimore@neiu.edu.

Mark your calendar!

#FollowFriday

In the business of business

The College of Business and Management is hosting the “Soy Entrepreneur” business plan competition with a $2,500 top prize, and the honorary chair is none other than U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk. Like the college on Facebook to learn more and keep up with its activities.

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