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NEWS FROM THE COLLEGE OF ARTS & BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
Spring 2022
From the Dean Greetings from the College of Arts and Behavioral Sciences. It is my pleasure to give you an update about what ABS faculty, staff and students are doing. ABS remains a vibrant college, with our 14 academic departments continuing to deliver high-quality programs in the arts, humanities, social and behavioral sciences. We also provide the university and larger community with a wide variety of cultural events, including concerts and recitals, theatre productions, art exhibitions, poetry readings and invited guest lectures. Many of these events are made possible through the generosity of our alumni and friends. When the COVID pandemic hit we had to move all of our classes to an online format. It was a challenging time for both faculty and students, but they rose to the task, and students were able to continue to receive the high-quality instruction they have come to expect from our ABS faculty. The faculty and students in Music and Theatre were even able to present live performances virtually on sites such as Zoom and YouTube. This year our in-person classes were back, and it has been wonderful to feel again the excitement that comes with having students on campus. When Dr. Norman Wika and our marching band were heard rehearsing outside on campus last August, it signaled that we were indeed getting back to a sense of normalcy. Our classrooms, labs and rehearsal spaces have been filled with activity. The forensics team, the Model U.N. team and our nationally ranked moot court team participated in their annual competitions, and theatre and music students held performances. The campus feels alive, and I hope that when you have the chance, you’ll come back to campus and join us for some of the many Arts and Behavioral Sciences events we will schedule. Marc Peretz Dean, College of Arts and Behavioral Sciences Keep an eye on 2022-2023 events Theatre Show Schedule: https://www.svsu.edu/theatre/showschedule/ SVSU Bands Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/SVSUBand SVSU Music Department: https://www.svsu.edu/musicdepartment/ (Click “Events Brochure”)
AT A GLANCE • 19% of SVSU students major in one of the programs offered by ABS • ABS courses generate 39% of all credits on campus • ABS courses account for 80% of general education credits • ABS students regularly excel at Moot Court, Model UN, theatre competitions and more
Departments
Art o Communication o Criminal Justice o English o Geography o History o Humanities o Modern Foreign Languages o Music Philosophy o Political Science o Psychology o Rhetoric & Professional Writing o Sociology o Theatre
COLLEGE NEWS Staff Updates Say Hello This year ABS welcomed four new faculty members to our college: • Dr. Deborah Ward, assistant professor of psychology, comes to us from the University of Buffalo where she completed her Ph.D. in social and experimental psychology. • Dr. Collin Wood joined the Music Department as an assistant professor (one-year temporary appointment). Previously at The Ohio State University, Dr. Wood is teaching music theory and jazz. • Dr. Kevin Lorentz, assistant professor of political science (one-year temporary appointment), previously taught at the University of Michigan Flint and is teaching courses in public administration and political science. • Mr. Joshua Kirby received his M.F.A. from the University of Idaho, where he also taught. He joined the Art Department as an assistant professor (one-year temporary appointment) and will be teaching courses in the Graphic Design program.
Say Goodbye The College of Arts and Behavioral Sciences said goodbye to several of our long-serving faculty members who retired: • Thomas Canale (Art) • Lynne Graft (English) • Ruth Sawyers (English) • Kerry Segel (English) • James Sullivan (English) We congratulate our colleagues on their retirement and thank them all for their service to ABS.
SUPPORT FOR CARDINALS Former Dean Establishes Teaching Award Dr. Judith Kerman, former dean of ABS and professor of English, has established the Judith Kerman Faculty Teaching and Mentoring Prize in Technology and Culture. The award supports faculty doing research involving a multi-disciplinary project that is humanistic in nature and focuses on the influence of technology on cultural and social change or disruption. Dr. Kimberly Lacey, associate professor of English, was the first recipient of the Kerman Prize. Judith Kerman
Today’s Cardinals are carrying on the proud tradition of Red Pride! In the College of Arts and Behavioral Sciences, and throughout the university, SVSU students are tackling challenges and building skills to prepare for success after graduation. Opportunities for academic, civic and professional engagement enrich their learning and enhance their qualifications. Private support for scholarships, programs and college initiatives increases access to these opportunities. To make a secure online gift to student scholarships, the College of Health and Human Services or where support is needed most, visit svsu.edu/give_abs or scan the QR code.
BUILDING SKILLS SVSU Alumnus Honored With Endowed Scholarship Wilbur Charles “Chuck” Martin, III, is remembered by his family, friends and fellow alumni for his infectious personality and positive energy. The 2013 graduate of SVSU (B.A., criminal justice) passed away in June at the age of 34. Chuck was a proud Cardinal. He was a member of the SVSU football team and played a key role in revitalizing the Organization of Black Unity (OBU), a student organization that remains active and vibrant on campus today. He served as its president and was one-third of the promotion and entertainment business, “3 Kings LLC,” that hosted the group’s unforgettable annual ice breaker activities. Chuck also helped capture other memorable moments on campus and in the Saginaw community through his photography. During his college years, he was an entrepreneur and also worked as an officer with the Wolverine Juvenile Detention Center. After graduation, Chuck continued his career in the juvenile detention field in his hometown of Detroit. His last entrepreneurial endeavor was Martin’s Property Services LLC, a certified building and construction contractor and property manager in Southeast Michigan. The SVSU Black Alumni Association held a celebration last fall, where they presented to the group a plan for a scholarship in Chuck’s memory. The Martin family has generously made a gift of $15,000 to establish the fund. If you would like to help Chuck’s family and friends build The Wilbur Charles “Chuck” Martin III Memorial Scholarship, donations may be made by visiting the SVSU Foundation’s giving page and designating “Chuck Martin Memorial”: http://www.svsu.edu/foundation/give
SCHOLARSHIP IMPACT Holly Bill, Botz Fellowship Holly Bill graduated from SVSU in December with her Bachelor of Arts in “I would like to give psychology. The next step will be graduate school to those who support complete her ultimate goal of earning her doctorate in scholarships and special psychology to help people struggling to improve their programs for students mental health, especially those dealing with anxiety, depression and trauma. like the Botz Fellowship Holly was an honor student at Birch Run High School, a a massive thank you.” first-generation college student whose family strongly encouraged her to pursue a college education. Having funded her education with loans, two jobs, scholarships and a lot of determination, she achieved that goal. Holly explained what brought her to SVSU. “I was attracted to SVSU because of its affordability, location and the programs that are offered.” As a successful student in the College of Arts and Behavioral Sciences, Holly was eligible for the Botz Liberal Arts Fellowship. This leadership development and internship program was established by Janet M. Botz, an SVSU alumna (B.A. 1974) who believes strongly in the potential of liberal arts students to make meaningful contributions in the business world. Jan’s SVSU degree in sociology and English served her well through her distinguished 28-year career in management with the Dow Corning Corporation and her position as vice president for public affairs at the University of Notre Dame. She now operates her own consulting firm. Holly agrees the skills she has learned studying psychology translate well into a business and professional setting. Continued on back
Holly Bill, continued “Skills I have learned include effectively communicating points and ideas to other individuals, keeping calm in stressful situations and effective ways to motivate myself and others. With these skills, I believe I would be a great team player for a company while helping my coworkers improve their performance as well.” Holly applied her skills to an internship with the Saginaw County Department of Public Health during the pandemic. Among her responsibilities was tracking COVID-19 in the county’s schools. She is grateful for the experience that has boosted her chances for a successful transition to graduate school. “The Botz Fellowship gave me the opportunity to gain research experience, improve my research skills and experience working in a professional setting. (It gave) me the opportunity to make connections and gain experience required for getting accepted into graduate school.” Inspired by her experience, Holly advises other students, “If you are hesitant about applying for scholarships or other programs such as the Botz Fellowship, my advice is to just do it! You have nothing to lose but a lot to gain. By acting on one opportunity there is a chance that many more will follow.” On behalf of herself and her fellow students, Holly has a message for our generous alumni and friends: “I would like to give those who support scholarships and special programs for students like the Botz Fellowship a massive thank you. Their generosity has allowed me as well as many other students to further our academic careers and has given many the opportunity to make professional connections. The acts of these individuals definitely do not go unappreciated.”
“If we really want to face and solve the problems of this complex, multifaceted, diverse and complicated world, we need a generation of students who are strong in all the C’s: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity and global competency.”
―Jaime Casap, Education Evangelist at Google
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