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Campus News
OESTERLE LIBRARY: A STRATEGIC VISION FOR LIBRARY SPACE INSPIRES NEW LEARNING COMMONS
Above: South entrance rendering
Oesterle Library is undergoing a major renovation that represents far more than cosmetic changes and new furnishings.
Much of the facility is transforming into a learning commons designed to bring together campus functions that support student success. The commons project reflects a trend in academic library space to reconfigure former quiet study areas and book storage into lively, engaging and flexible spaces for social engagement, collaborative learning and services that support students. The goal behind reconfiguring the facility is to create an appealing and functional destination for students to access important resources, gain help from support staff and meet with their peers. They will find contemporary and fun furnishings, colorful branding, a “smart café” for refreshments, and information desks.
“This redesigned space reflects our vision to create an academic hub on campus to help improve student success,” said Kristin Geraty, dean of engaged learning and honors programs. “And by reconfiguring offices that promote student learning, we are creating opportunities for community collaboration and engagement. These collaborations can break down boundaries and act as catalysts for learning.” Traditional library services and stacks will be relocated to the lower level, freeing up space on the main level for the commons—a visible and convenient “one-stop-shop.” Students will easily access resources they might need, like success coaches and retention specialists in the Office of Student Success along with testing services and disability services; the Center for Career and Professional Development; the Writing and Speaking Centers; and the Office of Engaged Learning, which includes the College Scholars Honors Program and support for student research, community engaged learning, domestic study away programs and prestigious fellowships. The space will continue to house the Center for Advancement of Faculty Excellence (CAFÉ), including a new experimental classroom for faculty to explore innovative teaching techniques.
Learning Commons rendering
Engaging and flexible spaces rendering
“To support the College’s mission, we can work collaboratively to provide students with the assistance they need to not only persist to graduation, but to take advantage of everything the College offers beyond the classroom,” said Geraty. “This includes preparing each student for opportunities after graduation, challenging their perspectives and immersing them in diverse experiences.” Students who are tutors, facilitators and peer advisors in these offices will also benefit from collaborating in their work. The Oesterle Library and North Central College Learning Commons will also gain new exterior walkways and a patio at the south entry. Interior construction began in December, and the anticipated completion date is August 2022. The library is closed until construction is complete but the campus community has access to library services in Larrance Academic Center.
A musical travel ministry
Members of the Voices of Praise Gospel choir embarked on a travel ministry in January, visiting Los Angeles and San Bernardino, Calif. Student members and advisors partnered with churches in these communities to perform, host worship nights and donate community service hours. The choir also performed as part of the College’s celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. and hosted the 34th annual Gospel Extravaganza February 19 at Wentz Concert Hall. Follow Voices of Praise on Instagram @nccvop.
Gaining pediatric fieldwork experience from campus
The Occupational Therapy program has been conducting virtual handwriting “camps” for children ages 5 to 7, so students like Sami Thompson M ’23 (pictured, above) and Rohit Burra ’19/M ’23 could gain pediatric fieldwork experience. “I enjoyed the enthusiasm and energy that both myself, Sami, and everyone else who participated felt from these children,” said Burra. “We all had some great laughs and made some good progress with them in their handwriting. And using digital tools made the experience even more fun and interesting, and required more creative thinking on how to make it the most engaging for each child.”
The camp led to a research study by Lauren Stone Kelly, assistant professor of occupational therapy, to compare the group sizes and format. “The virtual setting was used initially due to COVID-19 as a level I pediatrics fieldwork placement and it was successful,” said Stone. “So I started a research study on virtual handwriting camp, which ran last summer as a large group session with undergraduate and graduate student support.” In March, Stone presented the study as a poster presentation at the American Occupational Therapy Association conference in San Antonio.
"Team Fire" looks to expand our understanding of mental health in firefighters
"Team Fire"
Psychology and general business major Lauryn Stoffregen ’22 (pictured, second from left) devoted her honors thesis project to studying the perception of requests for mental health assistance from firefighters. She was assisted by psychology major Faith Bicking ’24 (pictured, far right) and neurobiology major Amber Kulpinski ’24 (pictured, far left) and advised by Karl Kelley, professor of psychology (pictured, second from right). The group calls itself “Team Fire.”
Their goal was to figure out how best to educate the public on the mental and emotional challenges faced by firefighters based on those expectations.
“Firefighters are exposed to a great deal of trauma and due to the (perceived) ‘macho man’ culture of this occupation, many compartmentalize these experiences,” Stoffregen explained. “As a result, we see a series of mental health issues emerge, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, among others.”
Stoffregen presented a case study virtually to upper-level North Central students and they answered questions gauging their opinions on a time-off request, their perceptions of the firefighter’s personality, and what they think would happen to the firefighter in the future.
“The public has coined (firefighters) as heroes walking around in a metaphorical cape,” said Stoffregen. “The belief in firefighters as tougher or more than human, while intended to be respectful, is potentially dangerous because it minimizes the awareness and cultivation of mental health resources.
“Even if a department member recognizes that a colleague is struggling, there is the issue of not knowing what actions could help that individual,” Stoffregen said.
She found inspiration from her father, a volunteer member of the fire department in Genoa-Kingston, Ill. She plans to pursue a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and sees her honors thesis as the first step.
“I strive to spread mental health awareness in the first responder community and work with these individuals to help them cope with their traumas. I don’t want my efforts to stop after this project is over. I want to continue making a difference.”
LAURYN STOFFREGEN ’22
Spencer Paysinger shares his own poignant story
Keynote speaker for Black History Month was Spencer Paysinger, a Super Bowl champion linebacker who is now a Hollywood writer/producer. Appearing in the Wentz Concert Hall, he shared his poignant story of living in South Central Los Angeles and playing football at the elite Beverly Hills High School. He attained a scholarship to the University of Oregon and began his NFL career with the New York Giants. He’s now devoted to leveraging his success to create opportunities for young people.
Character Education program goes global
Julie Nagashima
As K-12 educators work to rebuild their schools’ cultures after the pandemic shutdown, North Central College’s Character Education Certificate has proved to be a vital tool. The certificate was launched in spring 2021 after a pilot program in fall 2020. Students returning to classrooms after time at home have struggled with how to engage with one another in a positive way. “Teachers and school leaders have been challenged to support students’ anxiety, frustrations and mental health challenges,” said Julie Nagashima, visiting assistant professor of Ethical Leadership and coordinator of the Character Education Certificate Program.
North Central College was awarded a $3.2 million grant from the Kern Family Foundation to develop principals and teachers who foster “cultures of character” in their schools. When the grant was announced in December 2018, the certificate was described as a way to enable educators to “become scholars of character development and education.” “This certificate is an exciting extension of the Leadership, Ethics & Values program’s commitment to developing leaders who are deeply committed to principle; the need for ethical leadership in our current world is very real and very urgent,” said Tom Cavenagh, Schneller Sisters Professor of Leadership, Ethics, and Values. While the grant framework never anticipated a pandemic, the online delivery is meeting a need for principals, other school leaders and teachers to deal with changes in school culture.
The certificate encompasses three modules, progressing outward from self-reflection to the classroom environment to the school culture. To date, seven cohorts totaling 93 educators have enrolled. Most participants have come from Illinois— until the spring 2022 cohort composed of an international group of educators working in Seoul, South Korea.
JULIE NAGASHIMA, VISITING ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ETHICAL LEADERSHIP AND COORDINATOR OF THE CHARACTER EDUCATION CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
Participants have experienced new ways to view their schools—and themselves. “I felt that the progression of this class helped me slowly, but deliberately, reflect on the incorporation of character education into my life,” said Danielle Salvatore M ’20, who teaches English at Plainfield South High School in Plainfield, Ill. “I was able to consider how these values can be utilized in the entire school to benefit everyone.”
AMA team returns to competition
From left: Morgan Red, Hikaru Fukuda, Sydney Sawyer, Katie McGraw, Enrica Uhlen, Kily Egan, Jordan Miller, Jamie Hoeck, Donnavieve Smith
In March, the American Marketing Association (AMA) North Central College Chapter traveled to Chicago to attend the International College Conference. To prepare for competition, the Case Team during fall semester created an integrated marketing communications plan for Amazon Prime Student. After the team was named a finalist, five members worked to create a presentation for the national competition. Kily Egan ’23, Katie McGraw ’22, Enrica Uhlen ’22, Jordan Miller ’22, and Sydney Sawyer ’22 presented in front of Prime Student leaders and others in the marketing industry. North Central’s Case Team took home third place.
In addition, AMA members Hikaru Fukuda ’22, Morgan Red ‘24 and Jamie Hoeck ’24 attended the conference and competed in the “perfect pitch” competition. Hoeck was named a finalist in that event.
The College’s AMA chapter is advised by Donnavieve Smith, associate professor of marketing.
