Focus Newsletter - University of Southern Indiana

Del Doughty, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Liberal Arts

A Word from the Dean

Last summer, the New York Times put out a list of the top 100 books of the 21st century, as selected by writers, poets, critics and staffers from the Times Book Review. I had read eight of the top 20, so I felt okay about myself but also felt I could do a little better, so I immediately started to fill in the gaps.

The Times’ top book was Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend, one that I’d been meaning to read but hadn’t got around to. So, I got around to it. As many of you know, My Brilliant Friend (now a MAX series) is the first of four novels that tells the story of a lifelong friendship between Lena, the narrator of the novels and her friend Lila. They meet as children in a poor Naples, Italy neighborhood in the 1950s. They are friends and rivals, sharing confidences while competing to be best-in-class in their primary school. Lena is smart; Lila is also smart, but she comes with a little more je ne sais quoi, a little more something-something. She teaches herself how to read and her thinking is original, bold and exceptional.

Spoiler alert: look away now and skip to the next paragraph if you are still reading the book/watching the show.

Lena does better in school than Lila. Or rather, she goes farther. At a key point in their schooling, their primary teacher, Maestra Oliviero, advocates for each of them to their respective families to continue their education. Lila’s family rejects the teacher’s arguments, unwilling to invest anything in their daughter’s formal learning. Lena’s family begrudgingly accepts it and so they support her. With her parents behind her and her teacher and even her friend Lila, Lena goes on to successively higher levels of education and attains the kind of success that she aspires to. That much of the story is positive and inspiring.

Around the same time that I dipped into Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels, I picked up Relationship-Rich Education: How Human Connections Drive Success in College, by Peter Felten and Leo Lambert. It was one of those cool serendipitous pairings that makes each book a little better. Felten and Lambert posit that relationships can be just as important to student success, if not more so, than what students choose to study and learn as undergraduates. Study after study shows that college graduates who had mentoring relationships with faculty are far more likely to find their undergraduate experience satisfying than those who played college as a solo enterprise.

Lena succeeds because one small advantage—family support—boosts her to another level, where she receives a little more support and continues to make connections. She builds a network: family, teachers, friends, classmates, people who know people. It’s a multiplier effect. Her academic career embodies a lot of the principles that Felten and Lambert espouse, namely:

Educational journeys do not follow a linear curve that moves steadily up and to the right. There are dips and stumbles. A web of student-student, student-faculty, student-staff relationships help students make it through the setbacks and get back on track.

Students thrive when they are “relentlessly welcomed.” Academic journeys have multiple starts: Fall Semester freshman year; Fall Semester second year; Spring Semester junior year, etc., when no one is really paying attention to you, and you wonder if you’re really going to finish. The college experience, in other words, has many starting and starting over points and students need people to meet them with encouragement at these navigational junctures.

Every student should explore questions of meaning and purpose with peers and mentors they trust. If college becomes too much about getting the grades and acquiring credentials, then students are just accumulating a junk drawer of skills with no over-arching purpose.

I like to think that we’re pretty good at developing meaningful relationships with most of the students who we teach here. But if relationships are important, they’re too important to leave to chance. What would it look like if we became intentional about ensuring every one of our graduates left USI with a team of devoted mentors and peers?

What's New at the College?

New Archaeology Lab

The University of Southern Indiana’s World Languages and Cultures Department recently moved its Archaeology Lab to the former computer lab in the lower level of the Liberal Arts Center. The Archaeology Lab was previously housed in the Public Safety building but has now found a new permanent home.

The lab will provide more hands-on learning experiences for students, including analyzing the collections held by the University and washing and cataloging artifacts from summer field excavations. This lab will also be used for ANTH 401: Lab Methods in Archaeology so students can learn how to identify and analyze the different types of archaeological artifacts one might find in this area.

Read more

Social Work Department celebrates major milestones in 2024!

University of Southern Indiana social work faculty are thrilled to celebrate the remarkable milestones of the USI Social Work Program—50 years of social work at USI, 40 years of the Bachelor of Social Work degree and 30 years of Master of Social Work (MSW) degree, alongside the inaugural year of the University’s online MSW option. These achievements represent not just a long-standing commitment to excellence in social work education but also a profound dedication to making a positive impact in the Evansville community and Tri-state region.

For five decades, the USI Social Work Department, housed in the College of Liberal Arts, has been a cornerstone in shaping compassionate and skilled social work professionals who are dedicated to improving lives and fostering social justice. In 1974, shaped from increasing needs in the community and advocacy from community leaders, social work at USI began as a concentration in sociology. Ten years later in 1984, the Bachelor of Social Work degree emerged with a dedication to improving the lives of vulnerable populations. The MSW program, now celebrating its 30th anniversary, has built upon this foundation, preparing advanced practitioners to tackle complex social issues with expertise and empathy.

This year, the 50th anniversary, is particularly exciting as the College of Liberal Arts introduces its online MSW option. The online MSW expands access to our high-quality education and allows faculty to reach a broader audience. This new format reflects the University’s commitment to adapting to the needs of students and the ever-evolving landscape of social work.

“The Social Work Department at USI plays a crucial role in the Evansville community, providing essential services and support through our undergraduates and graduates who work tirelessly to address social challenges, advocate for vulnerable populations and drive meaningful change,” says Dr. Jay Dickerson, Chair of the Social Work Department. “As we mark these significant milestones, we celebrate the legacy of our past, the achievements of our present and the promising future of social work education at USI. Our journey is a testament to the strength and resilience of our community and the transformative power of social work.”

The Social Work program, in collaboration with the local community, trains students to help others help themselves through teaching theory and skills in the classroom and in the field. It is also designed to ingrain compassion and empathy in all students so they can effectively help their community and learn to adapt to new social issues that arise.

“My time in the Social Work Department has been a profound journey of growth, compassion and purpose,” says Aaron Pryor BSW '10, M '14, Assistant Director of Counseling and Psychological Services and Adjunct in Social Work. “From where I stand, the future looks bright, and it will continue to do so as long as programs like the one at USI empower those they serve.”

This Spring, social work faculty, students and alumni will gather for the annual Social Work Conference to celebrate these milestones and learn from other social work professionals and organizations.

To learn more about the USI Social Work Department and its achievements, visit the USI Social Work website.

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Featured Story

USI Social Work students awarded funding to combat mental health professional shortage

Twenty Master of Social Work degree-seeking students at the University of Southern Indiana have been selected to receive a stipend from the Department of Mental Health and Addictions (DMHA) Mental Health Internship Program. The funds come from the American Relief Plan and are distributed by ASPIN (Affiliated Service Providers of Indiana, INC.). Each Fall and Spring Semester, DMHA awards funding to master’s level students in mental health fields from accredited Indiana schools to address the mental health workforce shortage in Indiana. The program is limited to 150 master’s level students enrolled in a mental-health focused graduate program and placed at a designated not-for-profit agency for internship/practicum.

USI and the Social Work Department extend congratulations to the following students who received notification that they were selected to receive these funds: Josie Betsch, Leah Bowers, Patrick Campion, Jami Cates, Stephanie Duncan, Kylie Dunlap, Tori Fetter, Andrea Graber, Kara Gourley, Jasmine Hall, Dylan Haskins, Haylee Hedrick, Claudia Hutchison, Jerrica Magill, Anna Mleczko, Faith Peak, Thea Petry, Hannah Pettijohn, Ian Stephenson and Marissa Veal.

“I am so excited to hear so many of our students applied for and were granted this stipend,” says Bonnie Rinks, Director of Field Education.

The Social Work Department and students are grateful for both the financial assistance and needed support this money gives students.

“This additional financial support will help reduce some stress off my shoulders and allow me to focus more on my internship and education than working a job,” says Hutchison. “I’m thankful for this opportunity.”

Internships allow students to apply their knowledge and gain valuable clinical skills from experienced licensed clinical social workers. The learning that takes place within this final year is invaluable for a student’s preparation to enter practice upon graduation.

“With this extra time off, I will be working to gain more experiences within my internship, (and) gaining the most out of this placement as I can.” says Fetter.

“My financial needs have been a large barrier in prioritizing school. Because I have the sole responsibility of supporting myself financially, my schoolwork has at times been put on the back burner,” says Hall. “The ASPIN award will allow me to prioritize school and take a small step back from work to ensure my academics are coming first during my last year of school.”

This funding helps students to feel more connected, supported and recognized for the effort and sacrifices they are making to become competent mental health professionals.

“I am so incredibly grateful to have been chosen as a recipient and to have others believe in my ability to positively contribute to the field of social work and mental health care," says Mleczko.

“Just as my USI education and internship experiences have facilitated me in gaining the skills needed to work in this field, this award will help to further build my career as a social worker,” says Hedrick.

Rinks says the money will also be available again for the Spring 2025 semester and hopes more students will apply.

To learn more about the USI Social Work Department and its achievements, visit the USI Social Work website.

Alum Spotlight:

Kris Pickett '10

BS in History

Where are you from?

I’m originally from Saint John, Indiana, but am currently based in Shenzhen, China

What brought you to USI?

There were a variety of factors that drew me to USI. I had attended one of the college tours my senior year of high school and was attracted to the manageable class sizes. I was equally attracted to the amount of green space that USI boasts, especially the disc golf course. I think, however, what ultimately brought me to USI was the affordability compared with other universities in Indiana.

What clubs or extracurricular activities did you participate in?

USI ultimate frisbee; Model UN; Phi Alpha Theta national history honors society; T.A. US History; International Club

How did USI or the History Department prepare you for your career?

There are countless ways that the USI History Department prepared me for my professional career. If I had to whittle it down, I believe it first and foremost gave me the tools necessary for understanding and examining the world through multiple lenses. I consider it a great fortune to have had the opportunity to work under the tutelage of many incredibly talented professors including, but not limited to: Dr. Casey Harison, Dr. Michael Dixon, Dr. Donald Pitzer, Dr. Tamara Hunt et al. Given the intimate class sizes at USI, I felt a close connection to my professors and saw them not only as educators, but mentors as well.

It also prepared me intellectually for a career in education. I’ve worked both in the classroom and administratively at the high school level for over a decade and the knowledge, experience and training I received at USI prepared me for that.

USI and the History Department were fundamental in giving me a more cosmopolitan view of the world. It wasn’t just through the classroom that I was afforded that opportunity. I was a member of the International Club and met students from all across the globe. It was also USI that gave me the opportunity to be an exchange student in Holland my junior year. It’s difficult to understate how invaluable and transformative that experience was to the trajectory of my life.

Last, but certainly not least, by having such a tight knit community, USI gave me the space to develop lifelong connections and friendships.

What advice would you give to current or prospective USI students?

Of course, I would encourage students to take full advantage of all of the clubs, events and other activities available to you. They’re wonderful ways to nurture passions and/or develop new ones. Additionally, the green spaces at USI offer ways to appreciate nature and decompress from the demands of class. Looking back, I think that if I could have done anything differently with my time at USI it would have been to take more leadership in extracurricular activities or in creating new ones. They’re a wonderful way to put what one learns into practice.

Finally, if you have the bandwidth to do so, try and take a class or two that’s outside the purview of your focus. I know that this option isn’t viable for everyone, but I had the great fortune my senior year to have received a grant and have an open slot in my schedule that I used to take an art class. It was something that I found great value in.

Anything else you would like to include?

Place an emphasis on learning a second language. It’s the greatest investment you can make in yourself.

Student Spotlight:

Samantha Fleischaker '26

BA in Political Science

Samantha Fleischaker has been selected as the Student Member of the Indiana Commission of Higher Education and will serve a two-year term through June 30, 2026. She is the first Student Member of the Commission from USI since 2002.

A native of Celestine, Indiana, and graduate of Jasper High School, Fleischaker is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy and holds a 3.9 cumulative GPA. She is the President of the Political Science Society and serves on the Student Government Executive Board as Attorney General. She is also involved in numerous organizations including Campus Outreach USI, Pi Sigma Alpha and the Asian Student Union.

As the new Student Member of the Commission, Fleischaker is passionate about providing accessible resources to all students interested in higher education. She brings a unique perspective to the Commission as a Frank O’Bannon Grant recipient and strives to give back to higher education by providing those same opportunities to other students.

"With the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, I am able to better understand public policy that is affecting students in real-time. At the state level, I can represent not just Southern Indiana, but all Hoosiers! Focusing on the importance of access to higher education and providing even more resources for students is a deep passion of mine. As the student member, I can vote for the betterment of Indiana students. I hope for the remainder of my two-year term that I can continue to encourage all students to strive for new horizons in education."

The student member of the Indiana Commission for Higher Education is responsible to convene with and serve as a full voting member of the Commission. The student member serves on the Student Success and Completion Committee and is responsible for participating in monthly meetings in correlation with regular Commission meetings.

Featured Events:

USI to host 95th annual Indiana Academy of the Social Sciences Conference October 4

For the first time since 1986, the University of Southern Indiana will host the annual Meeting of the Indiana Academy of the Social Sciences (IASS) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, October 4 in Carter Hall, located in University Center West.

Dr. Melissa Stacer, Professor of Criminal Justice Studies and the Director of Master of Arts in Criminal Justice, is the current President of IASS and championed for the location of the 2024 conference to be at USI.

“The Annual Meeting is a wonderful opportunity to present scholarship, a time to get together with old friends and make new friends and is a comfortable, safe space for our undergraduate and graduate students to present posters and interact with scholars,” says Stacer. “The Annual Meeting is intimate and vibrant with scholarship from a large variety of disciplines.”

The conference theme is A Beacon of Hope: Social Science Providing Light in Turbulent Times. Registration check-in and a continental breakfast starts at 7:30 a.m., and concurrent sessions, including poster presentations, will be held in the morning and afternoon. The keynote address, titled Mobilizing Discord on the U.S.’s Many Borders: Critical Social Science and Geopolitical Complexity, will be given by Dr. Margath Walker, Professor of Geography and Geosciences at the University of Louisville at 10:45 a.m. in Carter Hall D.

The USI Criminal Justice Department and College of Liberal Arts are co-sponsoring this event.

For more information about specific presentations, schedule updates and registration, visit https://www.iass1.org/home.

Second Undergraduate Psychology Research Conference

Are you an undergraduate student working on research related to psychology?

If you completed your research or proposed project either as an independent study or class project, you’re encouraged to share your findings in a supportive, professional environment.

Submit your abstract before October 1.

Learn more

College of Liberal Arts Achievements

Dr. David Hitchcock, Chair of World Languages and Cultures Department:

Published an article in the Spring 2024 edition of the journal Teatro: Revista de Estudios Escénicos (at Connecticut College): "Para descubir el mármol en la niebla: el teatro de Ruiz Pleguezuelos y el rechazo de la subjetivación tecnológica.”

Currently editing Miscelánea indigesta, a collection of essays on the drama of José Moreno Arenas, scheduled for a late September release by Editorial Alhulia in Spain.

Scheduled to deliver a virtual keynote lecture, titled “Volviendo a conocer a una maestro después de un cuarto de siglo: reflexiones sobre el genio de Francisco Nieva,” through the Centro Dramático Rural (Mira, Spain) on September 21, in celebration of the centennial of the subject of my dissertation.

Presenting a paper on October 25 at Brigham Young University's Symposium on the Pursuit of Signs and their Meanings in Iberian and Ibero-American Literature. Language, and Culture, titled “Utopian Echoes: Considering Plays of Meaning Inspired by a Place Called New Harmony.”

Dr. Melissa Stacer, Director of Master of Arts in Criminal Justice, had a manuscript accepted this year. It's about incarcerated veterans creating and joining American Legion posts in their prisons.

Stacer, M.J., & Solinas-Saunders, M. (OnlineFirst, print version forthcoming). American Legion participation among incarcerated veterans. Victims and Offenders. Accepted August 1, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1080/15564886.2024.2389414

Dr. Phillip Todd, Student Publications Advisor and Instructor in Journalism, is now a Board Member with the Society of Professional Journalists, Indiana Pro Chapter.

Dr. Kristin LaFollette, Assistant Professor of English:

LaFollette has two articles forthcoming.

LaFollette will present "Human Remains, Humanizing Language, and Bioarchaeological Reports" - Technical Communication and Social Justice at the Indiana College English Association Conference in October and the Conference on College Composition and Communication in April.

"Rehumanizing Rhetoric, Recuperative Ethos, and Human Specimens: A Case Study of the Indiana Medical History Museum" - Rhetoric of Health and Medicine

LaFollette had a poem published in The Missouri Review in August. https://missourireview.com/a-recovery-by-kristin-lafollette

LaFollette and Dr. Sukanya Gupta, Director of Master of Arts in English, are facilitating a workshop on developing a medical humanities program at the Convention of the Midwest Modern Language Association in November. The theme of the conference is "Health in/of the Humanities."

Anthony Rintala, Instructor in English and Faculty Advisor for FishHook:

Volume 13 of FishHook, USI’s student-run journal of arts and literature is now available. It features poetry, prose, and art by USI students and was edited by students as well, led by Editor-in Chief Denise McKenzie.

Rob Dickes, Associate Professor of Photography and Digital Imaging:

Dickes is organizing the MidWest Society for Photographic Education Photography Conference, titled Visions of Utopia, on-campus and in New Harmony, Indiana October 17-19. Currently the MAC/PACE Galleries are holding a photography exhibition and will host a keynote speaker event with artist, Brooke Shaden.

A documentary created by Dr. Leigh Anne Howard, Professor of Communication Studies, and Dr. Dave Black, Associate Professor Emeritus of Radio and Television, Art For Science’s Sake: Stalking John James Audubon, has aired in 19 states on 47 educational channels.

Dr. Norma Rosas Mayén, Professor of Spanish, had an academic collaborative article published this year.

Godínez López, Eva Margarita y Norma Rosas Mayén, "¿Cómo termina el cuento? La reescritura como recurso para la enseñanza de los conectores en español L2 [How does the story ends? Rewriting as a resource for teaching Spanish L2 connectors]", Ciencia Latina Revista Científica Multidisciplinar, marzo-abril 2024, Vol. 8, Num. 2, p.3726-3741.

Susan Blankenship, adjunct in Political Science, had an article cited in the most recent issue of the Northwestern University Law Review.

Susan E. Blankenship & Ernest J. Yanarella, Prison Recruitment as a Policy Tool of Local Economic Development: A Critical Evaluation, 7 CONTEMP. JUST. REV. 183, 184–85 (2004)

Dr. Trent Engbers, Director of the Master of Public Administration Program, was named the recipient of the Harris Wolford Award and Americorps wrote a spotlight on Engbers to celebrate its 30th Anniversary.

https://americorps.gov/blogs/2024-09-19/americorps-30-lifetime-service-home-abroad

Yu-Li Alice Shen, Instructor in English, was recently named an Honorable Mention for the American Playwriting Foundation’s prestigious Relentless Award, which honors the legacy of the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. Her play, Image May Contain, is in the company of works by winner Dave Harris and finalist Hansol Jung and was in select judges’ Top 8 – panelists of whom include such theatrical giants as Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Lynn Nottage, and Lloyd Suh.

Shen also lent her voice to Daughters of Shandong, the debut novel by international civil rights lawyer Eve J. Chung, published by Penguin Random House. The audiobook was released in May and topped Oprah Daily’s Cool Audios for Hot Days list.

See more achievements from the College of Liberal Arts