THE MAGAZINE OF INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
SPRING/SUMMER 2022
WORLD-CLASS FACULTY
China expert Mike Chambers and Ukraine expert Barbara Skinner
is published by University Communication of Indiana State University. ©2022
PRESIDENT OF INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
Dr. Deborah J. Curtis, Ph.D. ’85
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS & UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATION Greg Goode, ’95, GR ’97
DIRECTOR OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATION & STATE MAGAZINE CO-EDITOR Mark Alesia
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATION & STATE MAGAZINE CO-EDITOR Dianne Frances D. Powell
GRAPHIC DESIGNER, UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATION Kelli Cheever
CONTRIBUTORS
Tony Campbell, Photography Jeremiah Turner, University Advancement
MAGAZINE CORRESPONDENCE: STATE Magazine University Communication Indiana State University 200 North 7th Street Parsons Hall, Room 203 Terre Haute, IN 47809 ISU-Magazine@indstate.edu 812-237-8764
SEND ADDRESS CHANGES & SUBSCRIPTION QUESTIONS TO: University Advancement Indiana State University 30 North Fifth Street Terre Haute, IN 47809 812-237-6100 800-242-1409 (toll-free) fdn-giving@indstate.edu
All photography in this magazine is provided by Indiana State University unless otherwise noted.
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SOCIAL MOBILITY ISU ranks in top 14% of nation’s universities in CollegeNet survey
NEW PROVOST Dr. Christopher Olsen, previously Interim Provost, appointed to the position full-time
PASSING OF FORMER PRESIDENT Dr. John W. Moore, who served as President from 1992-2000, died earlier this year at age 82
CONGRATULATORY RESOLUTION ISU sophomore Noah Malone, who won three medals at the Tokyo Paralympics, was honored on the floor of the Indiana state Senate
TIKTOK SCIENCE ISU biology and chemistry major is a social media hit on science
GROUNDBREAKING PILOT Alumna Willa Brown honored with display at the Terre Haute Regional Airport
Emma Burchell as Frog and Tori Behny as Snail in ISU’s production of A Year With Frog and Toad earlier this year.
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WORLD-CLASS FACULTY
TUSKEGEE AIRMAN HONORED
China expert Mike Chambers and Ukraine expert Barbara Skinner exemplify ISU quality
ISU trustee and husband start scholarship named after Quentin P. Smith
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A NEW GAME Hulman-George family donates $2 million for Hulman Center video boards
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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT It is exciting to introduce this issue of STATE magazine, which celebrates the excellence of Indiana State University’s faculty members. Faculty members are the greatest asset this institution has to offer students, but they are special for even more than their tremendous expertise, teaching, and scholarship. It is their dedication to this institution and what makes it unique. Our faculty are teachers who know their students. As one of our esteemed professors, Dr. Barbara Skinner, says in this issue, “If you have full-time faculty teaching these entry-level courses from the beginning, from freshman year, you’re getting quality. I just can’t stress that enough.” It’s inspiring to know that on our campus our students have access to world-class experts on numerous topics, including pressing issues of our day such as Skinner on Ukraine and Dr. Mike Chambers on China. During the pandemic, our faculty adapted under the most challenging conditions to deliver a high-quality ISU education to our students. We continued moving forward. That’s the Sycamore spirit, and we saw it so many times, in so many ways, from our faculty. We thank them for everything they do to make ISU the valuable educational option that it is in the state of Indiana. We are emerging from the pandemic and looking ahead to welcoming the Class of 2026 in August. There are some positive trends in enrollment projections. Students and parents are embracing the Indiana State Advantage, including the opportunity to access up to $3,000 per student, starting with this fall’s freshmen, for an out-of-classroom learning experience. We’re looking forward to the completion of Dreiser Hall’s $18.4 million renovation and the installation of new video boards at the Hulman Center, thanks to a $2 million gift from the Hulman-George family. Please share with your family and friends this sentiment we often tell people on campus and beyond: “It’s a great time to be a Sycamore!” Sincerely,
Deborah J. Curtis, Ph.D. President
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ISU RANKS IN NATION’S TOP 14% FOR SOCIAL MOBILITY Indiana State University ranked among the top 14 percent of colleges and universities nationwide in CollegeNet’s annual Social Mobility Index, which evaluates schools on “providing a conduit for economic and social advancement.” ISU ranked second out of 40 institutions in Indiana. It is the seventh straight year ISU has ranked first or second in the state. According to CollegeNet, the Social Mobility Index “measures the extent to which a college or university educates more economically disadvantaged students (with family incomes below the national median) at lower tuition and graduates them into good paying jobs. Competing around these factors, our higher education system can reverse the destabilizing trend towards growing economic immobility, advance the American Dream, and promote the public interest.” Among Indiana State’s Fall 2021 freshman class, 51 percent were firstgeneration college students and 46 percent were Pell Grant-eligible. “We’re proud to have been recognized once again by CollegeNet for Indiana State University’s life-changing education and its impact on our students,” ISU President Dr. Deborah J. Curtis said. “Improving lives and serving the public with high-quality, affordable higher education is at the core of our distinct mission.”
DR. CHRISTOPHER OLSEN APPOINTED PROVOST Following a national search, Dr. Christopher Olsen was appointed Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Indiana State University. Olsen had previously been Interim Provost. Olsen and another finalist were interviewed on campus. The search committee, chaired by Diann McKee, Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration, made its recommendation to Indiana State President Dr. Deborah J. Curtis. “Dr. Olsen has excelled at ISU as a professor, department chair, dean, and, for the past 10 months, interim provost,” Curtis said. “His wide-ranging experience, leadership, and dedication to ISU’s unique mission will help advance our university to even greater heights.” Olsen has been an ISU professor since 1999. He was Chair of the Department of History from 2002 to 2016, when he became Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Olsen said he is “thrilled and humbled” to serve in this position. “After more than 20 years here, the students, staff, and our amazing faculty continue to make me so proud to be part of ISU,” Olsen said. “I am particularly excited to help shape the Indiana State Advantage that begins with the incoming class of 2022. It’s a great time to be at ISU.
After more than 20 years here, the students, staff, and our amazing faculty continue to make me so proud to be part of ISU.
“I’m grateful to President Curtis for supporting me, and for having the confidence that I can lead Academic Affairs at such an important time in the university’s history. I want to thank my fellow deans and other colleagues who’ve helped me over the last ten months as interim provost. “And I have a deep appreciation for the faculty, associate deans, and chairs in the College of Arts and Sciences who’ve supported and taught me so much over the last 20 years, first as a fellow chairperson and then as Dean since 2016. Particular thanks, too, to Bassam Yousif for serving as Interim Dean this year in the College.” Olsen earned his Ph.D. in United States History, with minors in Colonial Latin American History and Political Culture Theory, from the University of Florida. He earned his master’s degree from the University of Nebraska and his bachelor’s degree from North Dakota State University. He began his career at Virginia Wesleyan College. From 2005 to 2010, while leading ISU’s history department he was also Interim Chair of the Department of African and African American Studies. Olsen’s scholarship focuses on pre-Civil War and Civil War America, particularly in the areas of political culture, sectionalism, and gender.
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Dr. Brad Balch becomes Dean of Bayh College of Education for second time Dr. Brad Balch, who had been serving as Interim Dean of the Bayh College of Education, has been named Dean. Balch was also Dean of the Bayh College of Education from 2006 to 2013. “I am so grateful that Dean Emeritus Balch has agreed to return to lead the Bayh College of Education at such a critical moment for the university,” said Dr. Christopher Olsen, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. “He has demonstrated for many years his deep commitment to education, at all levels, across the state and the nation, and he is widely regarded as a national leader
by public school professionals and administrators. “In the last year as Interim Dean he’s already reestablished close relationships with many school districts in Indiana. We are simply thrilled to have Brad back as Dean.” Balch said he’s “extremely honored” to return to his former role and that he appreciates “being entrusted to do so.” “I’m so pleased and excited to accept the Dean’s position for the Bayh College of Education,” Balch said. “No doubt, these are challenging times for the profession of
education in PK-12 and higher education. I see a bright future at Indiana State University and within the Bayh College of Education, and look forward to working with faculty, staff, students, and our essential partners in support of the College and the University realizing its full potential.” Balch is a former superintendent, principal, assistant principal, and teacher in West Central Indiana. Earlier this year, Gov. Eric Holcomb appointed Balch to the Indiana Civic Education Commission.
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As the daughter of an Army chaplain, Indiana State University history professor Dr. Barbara Skinner traveled a lot as a kid and picked up her father’s love of the world and other cultures. During her undergraduate years at Yale, she spent a semester in Leningrad, meeting warm, kind regular people who defied the cold stereotype of what was then the Soviet regime. She speaks Russian and Polish, and studies the world between the countries, including Ukraine. She reads Ukrainian and Belarusian for her research. When Russia invaded the former Soviet republic of Ukraine, Skinner, who has won two prestigious fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities, found the world’s attention focused on the place that matches her academic expertise. “It has been agonizing to watch,” Skinner said. “Ukraine had so much going for it, with a modernizing economy and energetic young people helping to create a vibrant future, and now all of that is in jeopardy. The Russian war crimes and atrocities are simply horrifying, the humanitarian crises there are heartbreaking. “As one New York Times reporter who had worked a long time in Russia remarked, it is like watching a friend you love lose their mind. Putin has destroyed Russia’s economy and place in the world, and it may never recover from this. Belarus is implicated as well. So the entire region that I study is in crisis, and the future is grim.”
Dr. Barbara Skinner
—History professor Barbara Skinner
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Skinner is a prime example of the high-quality faculty who make an ISU education so valuable and the student experience unique. She values teaching and said she appreciates making a difference with students she refers to as “personable” and “down to earth.”
BY MARK ALESIA
...if you have full-time faculty teaching these entry-level courses from the beginning, from freshman year, you’re getting quality. I just can’t stress that enough.
“I came from a family that wasn’t that well off,” Skinner said. “Army chaplains were not well paid back then. Yeah, I did get to go to Yale, but I was a total scholarship kid, and I always felt out of place there. It’s just nice to be in a place where it feels real.” What also feels real to her, perhaps more than many others, is the devastation of the war. She has been constantly checking the news and contacting Ukrainian and Russian friends. She has followed Russian opposition YouTube channels.
“I have a (Russian) family I’ve been very close to for 25 years,” Skinner said. “They’re getting older and he has Parkinson’s, and there are problems now getting medicine. The sanctions in place against Putin’s regime are hurting ordinary Russians. These happen to be people who are completely in opposition to the war and understand that it’s horrible.” That sort of personal connection to her subject is what Skinner said she wanted to share when deciding to become a professor after spending time as an interpreter in the old Soviet Union. “I wanted to pursue an academic career where I could apply my real-life experience to trying to explain this part of the world to college students,” she said. Dr. Christopher Olsen, ISU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, said Skinner is the type of professor who populates ISU’s faculty at large and the type the university recruits.
That is fantastic. What other school does that? And we’re a public university. ISU’s really trying to make things work for students. —Political science professor Mike Chambers on the Indiana State Advantage providing students up to $3,000 for an out-of-classroom learning experience.
“She is a world-class scholar in every sense of the term—books and articles with the most respected, prestigious presses and journals, and multiple fellowships from the NEH and the (American Council of Learned Societies), something that very rarely happens,” Olsen said. “Yet, she still prioritizes teaching students at all levels, from first-year to graduate. She teaches a freshman survey of world civilization every year. That’s the experience students get at ISU that can’t be matched at smaller schools and isn’t part of most undergraduate classes at larger universities.” Political Science professor Dr. Mike Chambers, an expert on China, is another example of faculty excellence focusing on a vital part of the world. He recalled, after some encouragement from the author, impressing people at a conference and being invited to write the China article in an annual book called Strategic Asia. The previous authors were among the nation’s foremost experts on China, all of whom had prestigious private school academic credentials. The article, he said, went over well with the book’s editors who “subsequently started bringing in scholars” who weren’t the usual suspects.
Dr. Mike Chambers
(continued on page 10)
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WORLD-CLASS (continued) Chambers, who received his Master’s and Ph.D. at Columbia University, won ISU’s Theodore Dreiser Research and Creativity Award in 2007, but said he is mostly interested in teaching. “I got into academia not so much for the research but for the teaching after teaching high school for a couple years,” Chambers said. “I taught four years at St. Olaf College, a small liberal arts college. It’s about the teaching. Of course, I’m committed to research and scholarship, too, but teaching is the big part, and that’s what Indiana State is as well.” Chambers said he can’t wait to get back to taking students to China, and he loves the Indiana State
Advantage pillar that, starting with this fall’s freshmen, will offer up to $3,000 to students for an out-ofclassroom learning experience. “That is fantastic,” Chambers said. “What other school does that? And we’re a public university. ISU’s really trying to make things work for students.” Chambers said the ability to broaden the horizons of students is a key reason he finds fulfillment as an ISU professor. “We have so many great students who just need a little bit of encouragement to get a better sense of their full potential,” Chambers said. “As faculty, we can prod them. We can put somebody on an airplane and take them from Indianapolis to Shanghai and in the span of,
Dr. Adeyemi Doss expands students’ horizons Dr. Adeyemi “Ade” O. Doss, an Assistant Professor of Multidisciplinary Studies and Faculty of the Year in the Honors College, teaches courses that focus on the Black American experience. But his classrooms are diverse for courses such as Black Masculinity and Hip Hop and Social Justice. “That’s what education’s all about,” Doss said. “It’s about expanding your experience. It’s about expanding your mind about different issues that you may not be affected by, but someone else may be. It’s about critical thinking.” Doss said that as an undergraduate at Earlham College he took a mix of courses including sociology, Arabic, and international relations. “I broadened my horizons and my way of thinking,” he said. “A lot of employers are looking for students who can think critically, who can think outside the box. We’re such a technological society that we forget about the art of thinking, the art of dialogue, the art of writing and communicating.”
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Said ISU Provost Dr. Christopher Olsen: “Dr. Doss is just a fantastic teacher and scholar. His approach to teaching is what a university education is all about— pushing your comfort zone as a person and engaging with new, sometimes uncomfortable ideas. We all benefit when we challenge ourselves to think differently about subjects that are part of our core personality or everyday lives: gender, class, and race, for instance. Dr. Doss teaches about topics that can be difficult for some students but he does it in a way that is thoughtful and respectful to different opinions. We’re lucky to have him at ISU.” Doss, from Gary, Indiana, earned his master’s and doctoral degrees from Indiana University. His wife, Dr. Darleesa Doss, is an Associate Professor in Applied Health Sciences.
pandemic, Doss taught himself how to paint portraits using oil. He said his mother instilled in him a love of art. She and his father made sure the future professor took education seriously.
In class, Ade Doss eschews Powerpoints and concentrates on dialogue to “tease out already embedded knowledge that sits inside of (students), even though they may not see it.”
“As a child, my father would surround me with books and take me to his community lectures and speeches, which he would frequently give on topics such as the richness of African culture,” Doss said. “He used to, and still does, remind me of the importance of educating oneself in order to empower oneself.”
Doss makes art as a hobby and in his Holmstedt Hall office he has paintings he created. During the
you know, 24 hours, we can say: ‘Here you go. You’re in China now.’ It’s a great feeling as a professor to be able to open up the students’ eyes to literally a world of possibilities.” Olsen said it’s part of what makes ISU unique. “Students can travel to China with faculty like Professor Chambers—that’s amazing, and it’s just not happening elsewhere to any extent like it happens here,” he said. “The Indiana State Advantage is only going to make experiences like this more common, and within the reach of all of our students. “These are life-changing opportunities and we want all students, not just those from more privileged backgrounds, to have the chance to work with faculty
like these and to have that one moment, that one experience that changes their lives forever.” Skinner agreed, saying the measure of a faculty member at ISU is different than at a flagship university. “You know, it doesn’t really have to do with who got their degree where, it’s how well are you teaching,” Skinner said. “And if you have full-time faculty teaching these entry-level courses from the beginning, from freshman year, you’re getting quality. I just can’t stress that enough. “That’s what people need to know about ISU: I see you. It’s not about how many publications (professors) write. It’s about, from the beginning, (students) get this real professional introduction to the field.”
Dr. Ann Rider receives ISU President’s Medal Ann Rider, Ph.D., professor of German, is this year’s recipient of the President’s Medal, Indiana State University’s highest award for faculty. The recognition was presented to Rider on April 21 during the Faculty Recognition Banquet in honor of her outstanding teaching, scholarship, and service to Indiana State University. Rider joined the ISU faculty as an assistant professor of German in 1992 after earning a Ph.D. from Ohio State University. Over the last 30 years, she climbed up the ranks to full professor and the past six years served as chair of the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. The Japanese program, internships, and curriculum in languages and cultures were developed under her tenure. Rider also previously served as associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and her efforts paved the way for innovative curriculum and changes to the culture of assessment. She has chaired the University College Council and has served on various committees drafting and
guiding policy and curriculum with major impact at ISU. “I see myself as a collaborator,” Rider said, “and when people get together to make good things happen, I want to be there.” ISU has high academic standards, Rider says, taught by faculty who are actively engaged with their teaching and provide one-on-one support to students while at the same time doing research and service. This is what differentiates ISU from other universities; students are guaranteed mentorship and support to reach those standards. “We do it all,” she said. “I don’t know any good faculty members here who are not passionate about their students, their students’ success, and bringing what they do, what their research interests are, what their passions are to the classroom.” Rider teaches German language classes and introduction to the study of languages and cultures. Her research expertise is Holocaust pedagogy and has taught classes on Holocaust studies with ISU’s Honors College. She believes in teaching
students how to think critically and in promoting cross-cultural understanding — going beyond grammar and vocabulary into the critical analysis of language and culture. “Dr. Rider’s contributions to Indiana State University are numerous and significant,” ISU President Dr. Deborah J. Curtis said. “We are grateful for her exceptional service to the university and our students, as well as her unwavering dedication to our mission.”
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Dr. John W. Moore, Indiana State University’s ninth President, who served from 1992-2000, died in March at age 82. “President Moore was a leader whose vision, dedication to students, and belief in opportunity helped define Indiana State University as the unique and impactful place it is,” ISU President Dr. Deborah J. Curtis said. “His many accomplishments will continue to be felt at ISU for generations to come. We send our thoughts and prayers to his family.” During Moore’s presidency, ISU built the Richard G. Landini Center for Performing and Fine Arts, the John T. Myers Technology Center, and Oakley Place at the southwest entrance to campus. Moore appointed the university’s first female vice president, first female athletic director, and first Black head men’s basketball coach. Among the major initiatives launched under Moore’s leadership were the President’s Scholars Program, Student Academic Services Center, Lilly First-Year Experience Program, reading and math centers, a student ombudsperson program, and the Course Transformation Academy. Moore created divisions of Enrollment Services, Lifelong Learning, and Information and Computing Services. He started ISU’s first comprehensive marketing program and created a magazine to promote the university.
He was also responsible for introducing a new mascot, Sycamore Sam. The John W. Moore Welcome Center on campus was named in his honor in 2012. Moore’s family requested any memorial donations be made to ISU’s John W. Moore and Nancy A. Moore Endowed Scholarship at indstate.edu/give. Donations can also be mailed to the Division of University Advancement, 30 North Fifth Street, Terre Haute, IN, 47809. The phone number is 812-237-6100. The family held a Celebration of Life event on May 15.
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TRUSTEE AND HUSBAND START SCHOLARSHIP TO HONOR TUSKEGEE AIRMAN “It is our goal to exemplify the lessons we learned from the life and legacy of Quentin Smith, Sr., and continue to ‘pay it forward,’” Cynthia Powers said. “Hopefully, this will inspire others to join us and further endow this scholarship or create others so that here at ISU we can provide not just one but many scholarship funds for students in our Aviation Technology program.” Said Quentin Smith, Jr.: “Like my father, who didn’t initially embrace being a pilot, I hope that students who benefit from the endowment will recognize that aviation can be an honorable and beneficial career pursuit whether it is in the military or industry.” Quentin P. Smith, Sr., received Indiana State University’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2012. He passed away in 2013 at age 94. “We are extremely grateful for the generosity of Cynthia and Mamon Powers to forever connect Quentin Smith with Indiana State University and our aviation program,” ISU President Dr. Deborah J. Curtis said. “He made historic contributions to our state and nation and we are proud to further honor his legacy.”
Tuskegee Airman and ISU Distinguished Alumni Award winner Quentin P. Smith, who died in 2013, shown posing with the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor. Indiana State University trustee Cynthia Powers and her husband Mamon have given $150,000 in honor of alumnus and Tuskegee Airman Quentin P. Smith, Sr., who was a First Lieutenant among the 101 Black officers arrested for challenging segregation at an Indiana airfield during World War II. Thurgood Marshall, who would become the first Black Supreme Court justice, won the officers’ release. Years later, Smith received the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor. The protest at Freeman Field in Seymour is credited as a major factor in President Harry Truman officially integrating the U.S. Armed Forces in 1948. The gift establishes the Quentin P. Smith, Sr., Endowed Aviation Scholarship. ISU’s Board of Trustees approved the naming of the Quentin P. Smith, Sr., Observation Deck at the ISU Flight Academy at the Terre Haute Regional Airport.
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Smith graduated from ISU in 1940 with a degree in social studies education. He served as a pilot and flight instructor during World War II. Following his military service, Smith spent five decades as a guidance counselor and administrator in the Gary Community School Corporation. He served on the Gary City Council and was president of the Gary/ Chicago International Airport Authority Board. “I am thankful that we at the College of Technology get to be a part of bringing Mr. Smith’s story to future generations at Indiana State,” said Nesli Alp, Dean of the College of Technology. “In learning about his dedication to country and community, our students will see greater possibilities for their lives as leaders, aviators, and educators.” Said Andrea Angel, Vice President of University Advancement and CEO of the ISU Foundation: “We are proud to lift up Quentin’s amazing story to inspire generations of Sycamores to follow in his footsteps. As a part of Cynthia and Mamon Powers’ philanthropic leadership, they will help inspire others to support the scholarship during Give to Blue Day.”
Pictured from left to right: Speaker of the House Todd Huston, President Curtis, Zion Malone, Sen. Kyle Walker, LaTasha Malone, Noah Malone, Kyle Malone and Rep. Tonya Pfaff.
Sycamore sprinter Noah Malone honored on floor of state senate Indiana State University sophomore Noah Malone received a congratulatory resolution on the floor of the state Senate for winning three medals at the Tokyo Paralympics. Malone, who is legally blind but has some peripheral vision, won silver medals in the 100 and 200 meters and a gold as part of the universal relay, a co-ed event where athletes with different disabilities compete as one team. Malone is also a sprinter for the Sycamores in NCAA competition. The resolution read in part, “Malone’s inimitable spirit, perseverance through adversity, and general excellence shows, as he has said, that when ‘you have something that motivates you or inspires you, there’s always a way to get it done.’”
Sen. Kyle Walker read the resolution after which senators gave Malone a standing ovation. It was the highlight of ISU Day at the Statehouse, where 28 students mingled with lawmakers while promoting their campus organizations and their research at tables in the Statehouse atrium. ISU President Deborah J. Curtis was among the university leaders at the event.
about 60 lawmakers who talked with students. Malone, from Fishers, Indiana, was accompanied at the Statehouse by his father Kyle, his mother LaTasha, and his sister Zion. ISU Athletic Director Sherard Clinkscales and sprint coach Anthony Bertoli were also present.
The tables included the Honors College, the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, the American Democracy Project, and individual students explaining their scientific research. Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch and local legislators Sen. Jon Ford, Rep. Tonya Pfaff, and Rep. Bob Heaton, were among
Rep. Bob Heaton talks with student Katelyn Rusiniak at ISU Day at the Statehouse earlier this year.
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HULMAN-GEORGE FAMILY GENEROSITY BRINGS NEW VIDEO BOARDS TO HULMAN CENTER The Hulman-George family has made a $2 million gift to Indiana State University for a new scoreboard and an array of other high resolution video boards at the Hulman Center. “On behalf of the entire HulmanGeorge family, we are proud of our long-standing commitment to the community through the Hulman Center,” said Tony George, an ISU alumnus. “It was the passionate commitment of Tony Hulman for the community to have a place for public meetings and gatherings. Over the past 50 years, great memories have been created, and the recent renovations will ensure another 50 years of guest experiences enjoyed. We are happy to provide support for the information and communications system that will enhance the experience for all who attend events at the Hulman Center.” The boards, expected to be installed during the summer, will vastly improve on the current video boards, which have been in use for the past 13 years. “Visitors to the Hulman Center for all kinds of events will notice a big difference,” said
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Nancy Rogers, Vice President of University Engagement. “It will make a significant impact on the experience of being in the Hulman Center.” President Deborah J. Curtis thanked the Hulman-George family members for their longtime support of ISU. “The Hulman-George family has been a generous benefactor of Indiana State University for generations,” Curtis said. “We are so grateful that they have decided to support this spectacular addition to the building that carries their name. It will touch many thousands of people for everything from commencements and sports to concerts and community events.” The new video boards will come from Daktronics, a leading supplier of audiovisual systems for sports, business, and transportation. In the middle of the arena, the Hulman Center will have two hanging video boards measuring more than 14 by 24 feet and two hanging boards measuring more than 9 by 16 feet. For basketball, the 14 by 24 boards will face the
sidelines and the 9 by 16 boards will face the baselines. The 9 by 16 boards are bigger than the current boards and can be moved to hang from other parts of the arena for different events. That, however, is only the start. New boards will be installed above the floor-level openings at the four corners of the arena. There will also be two new scorers tables with video boards in front. The north and south ends of the arena, between the two levels of seating, will have ribbon boards measuring more than 96 feet wide. “This generous gift by the George family showcases the commitment and priority that the university has toward Indiana State men’s and women’s basketball and athletics as a whole,” ISU Athletic Director Sherard Clinkscales said. “All of the enhancements allow us to put the finishing touches on one of the top basketball facilities in the Missouri Valley Conference. It sets both the men’s and women’s basketball programs up for success and will help create a fantastic environment for our home games in the future.”
The Hulman Center opened in 1973 and received a $50 million renovation that finished in 2020. The renovation included a new exterior facade and a glass entrance at the south end that adds square footage and event/ meeting space; new restrooms and concession stands; a multipurpose suite overlooking the floor; new lighting and improved
acoustics; and efficient new utility systems.
Van Halen, Tim McGraw, and Kenny Chesney.
The facility has been host to countless ISU sports events, including the 1979 men’s basketball team that featured Larry Bird and finished second in the nation. Concert performers at Hulman Center have included Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, KISS,
The Hulman Center is used for ISU and high school commencement ceremonies, the Special Olympics, fund-raisers, dinners, meetings, speeches, and other community events.
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ISU recognized for its commitment to firstgeneration students The Center for First-generation Student Success, an initiative of NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education and The Suder Foundation, has recognized Indiana State University with The First-gen Forward designation. This designation identifies ISU among the institutions of higher education that have demonstrated a commitment to improving experiences and advancing outcomes of firstgeneration college students. As a result, ISU will receive professional development and community-building experiences, and access to the center’s research and resources for its faculty and staff.
BY DIANNE FRANCES D. POWELL
Dr. Rana Johnson, Associate Vice President for Inclusive Excellence and Strategic Initiatives
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“Many first-generation college students choose Indiana State University and we prepare them to take on life’s opportunities,” said President Deborah J. Curtis, Ph.D. “This recognition is made possible by our outstanding faculty and staff who provide quality support and programs dedicated to serving firstgeneration college students. It reinforces what we know: that an ISU education opens doors to opportunity and social mobility.” First-gen Forward is the first recognition program for higher education institutions’ commitment to firstgeneration student success. Fifty-three institutions, two in Indiana, are honored with this designation this year.
The Indiana institutions are ISU and Purdue University Northwest. Other institutions honored include California State University - Fullerton, Johns Hopkins University, Penn State University, Oklahoma State University, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “ISU is among an impressive list of schools providing resources to support firstgeneration student success and degree completion,” said Rana Johnson, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Inclusive Excellence and Strategic Initiatives. “This is the result of cross-campus collaboration. It takes a village to retain and graduate students.” “The designation not only offers resources to firstgeneration students but also provides professional development to ISU leaders that support our students,” she added. Said Dr. Sarah E. Whitley, assistant vice president, Center for First-generation Student Success: “The Center is pleased to welcome Indiana State University into the 2022-23 First-gen Forward cohort. Through the application process, it was evident that ISU is not only taking steps to serve firstgeneration students but is prepared to make a long-term commitment and employ strategies that foster an environment of success for this important population.”
ISU UNDERGRADUATE SHARES SCIENCE WITH MILLIONS ON TIKTOK Katelyn Rusiniak, a senior biology and chemistry major from Saint John, Indiana, is posting TikTok videos of her activities using a stream table in the Science Building and one of her videos has reached 3 million views. A stream table is used to demonstrate and simulate water-related concepts and principles. The popular video, which Rusiniak titled Maze, shows erosion. Rusiniak is pleasantly surprised by the reaction to the video and was thrilled to learn that there are many people interested in science. “I thought this was a niche thing,” she said. “I never expected this.” The company that made the stream table found her video and reached out with gifts. The company now follows her posts and engages with them regularly. Rusiniak posts regularly. Other videos about science concepts that she posted on TikTok are collectively getting hundreds of thousands of views. Her account, @kt.rus.007, now has 23,900 followers. She says it’s exciting to see viewers get the “aha” moment when they learn something new from her videos. “It’s cool to see other people get interested in science and especially science that they can see around them,”
she said. “Everyone has a creek or a drainage ditch and everyone can see a culvert that has riprap on it and understand that it’s there to prevent erosion. It’s helping them connect the dots between the science behind the stuff they see every day.” Rusiniak and Ph.D. student Kathryn Mudica gave a presentation at the West Branch of the Vigo County Public Library on their research on the water quality of the Wabash River as part of programming related to the Smithsonian’s Water/Ways exhibit. Both students conducted the research under the guidance of Dr. Jennifer Latimer, chairperson and professor of Geology. Rusiniak is a SURF fellow (Sycamore Undergraduate Research Fellowship) and has participated in the SURE (Summer Undergraduate Research Experiences) program.
FRATERNITY DONATES RARE BOOK TO CUNNINGHAM MEMORIAL LIBRARY A limited edition reprint of Frederick Douglass’ 1845 autobiography is joining Indiana State University’s library collection. The book, “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave,” one of only 60 copies reprinted, was presented by The Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity to the Cunningham Memorial Library Special Collections Department. The book includes prints drawn by (continued on page 22)
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Edward A. Pease
Rare Book (continued) Moser depicting the life and struggles of enslaved people in the United States. Douglass was a formerly enslaved man who became a prominent leader in the abolitionist movement, which sought to end slavery before and during the Civil War. Douglass’ autobiography describes his time as an enslaved worker in Maryland. The book was given to Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity by its advisor, Edward A. Pease, former chair of the ISU Board of Trustees, for its extensive library and education center in The Grounds at Seventh and Locust. Because of the scarcity of this edition of the book, the fraternity decided to donate it to the Rare Books & Manuscripts unit of the Special Collections Department so it can be better preserved and made available to scholars. During the event to mark the donation, Crystal Mikell Reynolds, Ph.D., gave a brief presentation on “The lost history of Frederick Douglass and his involvement in Terre Haute, Indiana, 1868 1888.” Pease said the donation was a great kickoff to Black History Month and “a permanent contribution to understanding one of the great American civil rights leaders of the nineteenth century.”
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A tribute to aviation pioneer Willa B. Brown is on display at the Terre Haute Regional Airport. The display featuring Brown’s awards and other memorabilia — including Brown’s 2009 ISU Distinguished Alumni Award — was unveiled in an event led by airport and city officials, local historian Dr. Crystal Reynolds, and Brown’s family.
BY DIANNE FRANCES D. POWELL
Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett read a proclamation declaring March 25, 2022, as Willa Beatrice Brown Day in Terre Haute and in the proclamation referred to her as “a singular hometown heroine and a national treasure.” Brown was the first Black woman to earn a private pilot’s license, a commercial pilot’s license, and an aircraft mechanic’s license in the United States; the first Black woman to run for Congress; and the first Black female officer in the Civil Air Patrol. The Terre Haute native graduated from Indiana State Normal School (now Indiana State University). Family members spoke at the event. Joycelyn Murff, Brown’s great-niece, said the family was raised with the motto of faith, family, and country. “What are you going to do for your faith, family, and country when you grow up?” their Aunt Willa often asked. Murff proudly shared that her grandson — currently a chemistry student at ISU — is the second member of the family, after Aunt Willa, to attend the university.
Willa B. Brown will be inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame 2022 class this fall. Attendees were encouraged to learn more about Brown’s life and accomplishments. ”I attended the Willa B. Brown event because the successes of women in early aviation are often overlooked, and Willa Brown was such a powerhouse,” said Evelyn Reed, a senior Professional Aviation Flight Technology student. “I think it’s so cool that she was able to advocate for that many people, both women and African Americans, and achieve as much as she did in one lifetime. It’s absolutely inspiring.”
With Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett beside her, Laurel Hallie Rae Hall (above) cuts the ribbon at the unveiling of the Willa Brown display at the Terre Haute Regional Airport; Albert Crombaugh and Jennifer Mixon (top left) pull back a curtain to reveal the display for their late family member Willa Brown; the display includes awards, pictures, articles, and other items that belonged to Brown including the Distinguished Alumni Medal from ISU (middle left); Willa Brown’s family receives the proclamation declaring March 25, 2022 as Willa Beatrice Brown Day in Terre Haute (bottom left).
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Arthur Feinsod and two ISU alums reunite for Nebraska production PHOTO COURTESY OF NEBRASKA REPERTORY THEATRE
Dr. Arthur Feinsod, Charles Adams, and Andy Park
Indiana State University theater talents made quite the impact on Lincoln, Nebraska. Dr. Arthur Feinsod, ISU emeritus theater faculty and former Artistic Director of Crossroads Repertory Theatre, directed the production of Our Town at the only fully professional theater company in the state of Nebraska, the Nebraska Repertory Theatre.
BY DIANNE FRANCES D. POWELL
ISU Department of Theater graduates Charles Adams and Andy Park were also involved with the production. Park, who graduated in 2000, serves as the Artistic Director of Nebraska Repertory Theatre, and Adams, who graduated in 2014, is an actor and writer who played the role of Simon Stimson, the town’s alcoholic choirmaster.
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“While working on this production with a full company and doing so live in-person has been grand both here [Lincoln] and New York [for music workshops],” Adams said. “To me, the most meaningful aspect of this has been getting to collaborate with Arthur. He was my mentor during my ISU days…We understand how the other works and there is a true collaboration that takes place between us. You don’t find that
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often and people recognize that.” Said Park: “I remain very proud of the education I received at ISU, and the chance to work with Arthur and Charles reinforces how important it is for artists to go to a successful theater program like ISU for college. Not only did I develop the skills to pursue my career choice, but I built lasting relationships with faculty and alumni that I continue to nurture.” The production presented a reimagined version of Thornton Wilder’s 1938 play with new music by New York-based Craig Woerz, a former student of Feinsod at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. It is arranged by Charlie Alterman, conductor and music director of the Broadway revivals of Pippin and Godspell, and the first production of Next to Normal on Broadway. It is orchestrated by Jonathan Dinklage, first violinist and concert master of Hamilton on Broadway. “Thornton Wilder writes in a preface to Our Town that his play ‘is not offered as a picture of life in a New Hampshire village.’ Nor is our production,” Feinsod wrote on his director’s
note. “Our contemporary Stage Manager imagines what an early-twentieth-century Grover’s Corners might have looked like if it could have become truly inclusive and diverse, with no religious, racial, or ethnic intolerance or biasbased restrictions standing in the way of its formation, eventual appearance and daily operation. Our Stage Manager achieves – and offers us a glimpse into – a vision of humanity that lies beneath culture and individual difference.” Feinsod, chair of the ISU Theater Department from 2001 to 2009, says this is a featherin-the-cap for the ISU Theater Department and provides a glimpse of the successes of its graduates. “I still cherish my education at ISU,” Park said. “My time in the ISU Theater program was transformational. I developed practical storytelling skills and the confidence required to go forth and fight for what I want. I’ve had the privilege to create and produce theater around the country and the world, and I never would have had the success or the learned how to pick myself up after a failure without the foundation of my training at ISU.” Our Town opened on April 15 and ran through April 24. “Arthur’s vision for Our Town is a powerful reminder about how deeply we’re connected,” Park said. “We are in a season of divisiveness where folks seem to emphasize our differences over our commonalities. Our Town, as we’re presenting it on the Nebraska Rep stage, is a powerful reminder about the opportunity we have to love, embrace and support everyone in the community.”
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The impact of donor giving at Indiana State University is helping establish and advance University programs and initiatives. The philanthropic passions of our donors are improving the lives of our students through scholarships, hands-on learning, program and facility development, and much more. The John W. Anderson Foundation committed $100,000 aimed at helping the greatest needs of the University and students through the Project Success Initiative and the Fund for Indiana State. The Anderson Foundation’s support of ISU has spanned more than five decades. Steve and Gloria Bailey of Naples, Florida, donated more than $135,000 to support College of Technology initiatives, including Bridge the Gap Scholarships for the College.
Ken Senseman and Rita Burns Senseman
Edward and Lorna Brett of Terre Haute have committed $150,000 to establish the Lorraine E. Brett Memorial Scholarship, honoring Ed Brett’s mother. The scholarship will support students majoring in mathematics. Additionally, their gift will support the Cunningham Memorial Library. John and Linda Crouch of Dallas, Texas, committed $110,000 to create the John and Linda Crouch Student Life Fund to support student life. The endowed fund promotes face-to-face interactions among students by supporting campus life programs, including student clubs, co-curricular activities, intramural sports, campus recreation, club sports, and other activities.
Tim and Bobbie O’Neill
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Ken Senseman and Rita Burns Senseman of Terre Haute provided philanthropic support to establish the Burns Senseman Endowed Scholarship in Engineering and Technology to honor the legacy of Professor Emeritus Richard Lyons Burns and his wife, Ruth Virginia Naber Burns. The recognition
Jim and Sue Pajakowski
of their gift also includes the naming of the Dr. Richard Lyons Burns and Ruth Virginia Burns Lab in the College of Technology. Tim and Bobbie O’Neill of Indianapolis gave $200,000 to establish the Tim and Bobbie O’Neill Online MBA Scholarship. This scholarship supports the growth of the online MBA program in the Scott College of Business. Jim and Sue Pajakowski of Chicago made a commitment of $1.2 million to enhance the Michael Grant Pajakowski Scholarship. The couple established the endowment in 2019 in memory of their son, Michael Grant Pajakowski. The scholarship provides financial support to ISU students from Chicago. Larry and Buffy Boulet of Indianapolis established the Larry and Buffy Boulet Scott College of Business Mentoring Program. Their $250,000 gift will enhance student opportunities for peer-to-peer mentoring, young alumni engagement, professional mentoring, executive coaching, and other opportunities designed to promote career readiness. Dave and Peggy Campbell of Indianapolis made a $250,000 commitment through their estate to support the David C. and Margaret L. Campbell Scholarship for Liberal Arts and the Dwaine and Martha Woolsey - Charles and Phyllis Campbell Memorial Scholarship. Both scholarships support students studying in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Troy and Melissa Woodruff
RQAW, an Indianapolis-based engineering and architecture services firm, has committed $100,000 to establish the RQAW Civil Engineering Endowed Scholarship. The gift advances the company’s commitment to building the pipeline of professional engineers in the state of Indiana. Troy and Melissa Woodruff of Indianapolis have given $100,000 in support of cancer research at the University’s Rich and Robin Porter Cancer Research Center. Their gift named the Benny E. Woodruff Research Lab in honor of Troy’s father, who passed away from cancer in December 2018. Todd Osburn and Caroline Howe of Naples, Florida, committed to $250,000 to enhance their two endowments in the Scott College of Business that provide support for student scholarships and career readiness opportunities. Mike and Mary Blackwell of Madison, Mississippi, made a $300,000 philanthropic commitment to support ISU’s baseball, football, and strength and conditioning programs as well as the Sycamore Athletics general fund. In recognition of their gift, the Mike and Mary Blackwell Sports Performance Center was established. The Center is located in the Health and Human Services Building and serves as the hub for ISU intercollegiate athletics sports performance and training. (continued on page 28)
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GIVE TO Cynthia and Mamon Powers
Giving (continued) Cynthia and Mamon Powers of Valparaiso, Indiana, have committed $150,000 to establish an endowed scholarship in honor of alumnus and Tuskegee Airman Quentin P. Smith, Sr. The scholarship and the naming of the Quentin P. Smith, Sr. Observation Deck celebrate his commitment to educational opportunities in his life as an aviator, educator, advocate and mentor. Smith’s historic contributions to our state and nation spanned his service during World War II as an officer with the Tuskegee Airmen. Paul and Nancy Edgerton of Terre Haute committed $150,000, which includes the establishment of the Paul and Nancy Edgerton Bridge the Gap Endowed Scholarship. Susan Cunningham of Denver, Colorado, made a $150,000 commitment to establish the Susan E. Cunningham Endowed Aviation Scholarship to inspire women to become professional pilots. Cynthia and Ronald LaPorte of Clover, South Carolina, gave $136,500 in support of the Gretchen N. Weston Endowed Scholarship, which support students majoring in Social Studies Education. The Hulman-George family made a $2 million gift for a new video scoreboard and an array of other digital, visual enhancements at the Hulman Center. The new boards will be installed in Summer 2022. An anonymous $1 million gift established the President John Moore and Nancy Moore Bridge the Gap Scholarship. *Donor gifts are reflective of giving from September 2021 through February 2022.
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O BLUE DAY 2022 Indiana State University’s fourth annual day of giving on March 16 resulted in $1,334,614 for the university — a 30 percent increase over the funds raised by 2021 Give to Blue Day and a single-day fundraising record. A total of 1,845 donors from 50 U.S. states and seven countries contributed during the 24-hour fundraising event. “It was an extraordinary day for Indiana State University, and we extend our sincere appreciation to all who made a gift on Give to Blue Day,” said President Deborah J. Curtis. “It was gratifying to see so many Sycamores come together for events here on campus and in the local community to support ISU. Thanks to the generosity of alumni, friends, students, and faculty, the impact of Give to Blue Day continues to grow and advance our great university.” Overall, funds raised on Give to Blue Day support a wide array of projects, programs, and scholarships across ISU’s divisions and colleges.
BY DIANNE FRANCES D. POWELL
ISU Men’s Basketball topped the leaderboard in total dollars raised, followed by Football, Baseball, Scott College of Business Dean’s Innovation Fund, and The Fund for ISU. “Give to Blue Day boldly celebrates our culture of joyful giving and it is critical to supporting the Indiana State experience,” said Andrea Angel, Vice President of University Advancement and CEO of the ISU Foundation. “We are extremely grateful for the generosity of our donors on Give to Blue Day. Raising more than $1.3 million in 24 hours from 1,845 donors is the largest fundraising event in University history. We are thankful to all Sycamores who made gifts, provided matches and challenges for the day,
Comedian and ISU alumnus Ryan Niemiller brings laughter to his fellow Sycamores on Give to Blue Day.
and rallied support through their businesses.”
Center. Niemiller is an alumnus of ISU’s Theatre Department.
Fourteen community partners, many of which are owned or operated by ISU Alumni, participated in Give to Blue Day by hosting special promotions, encouraging donations, and contributing a portion of their sales to ISU. Terre Haute Culver’s owners Matt and Renee Bilyeu, both ISU alumni, showed appreciation for Sycamore alumni and students by participating in Give to Blue Day.
“I am pumped to get to come back to Indiana State for Give to Blue Day,” Niemiller said. “It has been about a decade since I was last doing theater at ISU. I learned how to be a performer in the Theater Department, and it’s a nice full circle moment for me to get to come back and perform again.”
“Being graduates of Indiana State, we understand the important role the university plays in our community and the endless opportunities it provides for many residents including our team members,” they said. The event was digitally driven by 438 social media ambassadors and many ISU students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Ryan Niemiller, a nationally known comedian and ISU alumnus who placed third on America’s Got Talent Season 14, performed at the Sycamore Banquet
Jeremiah Turner, Associate Vice President at ISU’s Division of University Advancement, said that Niemiller’s involvement helped to create even more excitement for Give to Blue Day and highlighted the importance of Sycamores supporting Sycamores through philanthropy. Other gatherings and games took place on campus throughout the day including the “Cash Cab” rides around campus hosted by the Student Philanthropy Organization. The next Give to Blue Day is scheduled for Wednesday, March 22, 2023.
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BASEBALL, 1962
PHOTO COURTESY OF MARTIN’S PHOTO SHOP/ISU ARCHIVES
PHOTO COURTESY OF ISU ATHLETICS/ROB GOLDBERG JR.
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BASEBALL, 2022
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Discover the history of our beloved alma mater The first volume of Daniel A. Clark’s twovolume history of Indiana State University will be published in October by IU Press. Clark, an Associate Professor of History at ISU, traces the origins of the Normal School in 1865 and the need for professional teachers. From there, he shows how faculty and students pushed the school toward the increasingly popular collegiate ideals of broadening curriculum and student extracurricular life (athletics, Greek organizations). By the 1920s, Indiana State had been transformed.
