Del Doughty, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Liberal Arts
A Word from the Dean
I needed a haircut, so I went to the barbershop early one morning. It was a new place that had just opened. As usual, I walked in with a novel because you never know how long the wait might be.
Turns out that I was first in, so the barber—a young man no more than 30 years old—said, “I can take you now if you’re ready.”
I sat down in the chair with my book on my lap.
“What are you reading?”
“Oh, some novel about ancient Rome.”
“First triumvirate or second?” he asked. “I just finished a novel about the first, but I’m curious about Augustus.”
We proceeded to talk about Roman history, Stoicism and Dante’s Inferno. Soon he ran out of hair to cut, and so our conversation came to an end. But what the what? I couldn’t believe the conversation that we had. It was not even 7 a.m. on a Saturday morning and this man had chopped the outside of my head while working on the inside.
When he swiveled me around in the chair, I saw that he had done an artisanal job on the sorry canvas offered by my aging head. I walked out of the shop feeling great about him. He never said he was a future, current or former student. He was, far as I knew, just a curious guy who cut hair and read books.
___
In my role, I interview a lot of job applicants. In former days, I used to ask a lot of questions. Nowadays, I ask very few. Instead, my main goal is to tell a story —my favorite USI story— and observe how people take it in. It’s the origin story, and it’s worth recounting now.
Back during World War II, Evansville became a hub of military-industrial production. We produced Thunderbolts and LSTs. The latter played a role in decisive battles like Normandy. The city was proud of its fighting spirit and its contribution to the effort.
After the war, that market tanked and a long economic malaise settled in. Manufacturing diminished. As firms like Chrysler, International Harvester and Hoosier Cardinal shuttered or moved elsewhere, Evansville lost upwards of 20,000 jobs.
And then, in the early 1960s, some local business leaders figured out a way forward. Evansville, these leaders decided, needed an affordable public option for higher education. But their idea met with resistance across the state and even here in Evansville. Many of these civic leaders possessed no formal education themselves, but understood the value of a college degree and what that kind of education would mean for the region.
Let’s sit with that fact for a moment and appreciate it.
In spite of the resistance they faced, these leaders channeled that old fighting spirit and held fast to their cause. The decisive moment seems to have come in February 1965, when Mayor Frank McDonald backed the idea at a public meeting on the topic. Few knew that, at the time, McDonald was negotiating an agreement with Indiana State to open a branch campus here. He announced the deal two months later, in April, and that Fall, just over 400 students were enrolled in the fledgling institution in the old Centennial School building leased from area businessman D. Mead Johnson for $1 a year. There were no labs, screens or HVAC systems, and only two full-time faculty members.
You probably know the rest. ISU-E became USI in 1985, which meant it stood on its own two feet and became its own place, i.e., no longer the little sibling.
I wasn’t here for any of that, but I know the story thanks to people like David Bower and Jennifer Greene, who schooled me on our history. I’m proud to be part of this place and this story. When I hear, in our alma mater what? Song? Pledge?, that we are “on these grounds by the people, for the people endowed,” I’m inspired because it jibes with the feeling I get walking around campus. And that’s why I like sharing this story with others.
Have a good summer, everyone.
What's New at the College?
Microcredentials are coming to the College of Liberal Arts this Fall!
You may be wondering what microcredentials are and what they will do for you. Microcredentials are designed to further your education without the full year or more of commitment to a degree and without taking any pre-requisites. These specific microcredentials will allow you to customize your education, further your career and/or switch to a brand-new career. The abbreviated schedule allows you to conveniently upskill or reskill at a lower cost than a career certificate or a major/minor.
The College of Liberal Arts is offering four online graduate microcredentials in Fundraising, Nonprofit Professional, Policy Making and Program Evaluation, and two undergraduate microcredentials in Public and Nonprofit Leadership and State and Local Government.
More details are to come this summer, and enrollment will begin this Fall Semester.
Featured Story
Congrats Class of 2025
Commencement Ceremonies were held Friday and Saturday, May 9-10, and you could feel the happiness in the air. Our graduates have put in the hard work, and they are now ready to take on their next challenge, whether it be joining the workforce, graduate school or a multitude of other paths. Before moving on though, they took a moment to reminisce on memories at USI with me.
What is your favorite memory at USI?
Emilee Wilson, Communication Studies
“My favorite memory of USI is of all the people I met through the Communication and Media Department. The connections I’ve made have allowed me to grow in my education and as a person. My time here truly wouldn’t have been the same without the professors and classmates I formed relationships with.”
Maddie Mattingly, Sociology
“My favorite memory at USI was changing my major to sociology. The Sociology Department is full of amazing educators and students. I have met the best people and I will never forget my memories with them!”
Coleman Hertel, Interactive Media Design
“My favorite memory probably has to be the experiences I’ve had with my friends during the hour between classes. We’d play games, usually Pokémon, and share memes, laughing a lot before heading to class.”
Claire Kifer, Visual arts K-12 & French Studies
“My favorite memory at USI is staying until midnight at the Ceramics Studio making art with friends.”
HarMonee Baltzell, Spanish Studies
“Performing in Pippin was one of the best times I had on campus! It was so much fun. I also had a lot of fun with the friends I made while working as a tutor in the Miller Language Lab.”
That’s the wonder of graduation. You look back on the past, but are faced with the future. You’ve been in school for many years then one day you’re done, and you wonder; what’s next? Some of our graduates let us know what’s next for them.
What are your plans after graduation?
Christan Manning, BSW
“I will be beginning the journey to get my MSW this summer and graduating this time next year. I am in talks of beginning work as a generalist social worker at the Lawrence County Health Department, where I interned during my BSW program. I hope to be working with the pregnant and postpartum women with substance use disorder population. They are opening an inpatient home, "The Healing House" and I am hoping to make my way as a substance use disorder provider there.”
Claire Kifer, Visual arts K-12 & French Studies
“I am going to be moving to Fishers, Indiana to be an art teacher at Hamilton Heights Elementary School for K-4th graders.”
Coleman Hertel, Interactive Media Design
“I will look for internships, but I’d like to do freelance and commission work. I’ll keep my normal job, so I can make art.”
Maddie Mattingly, Sociology
“After graduation I plan to travel all over with friends and family. My degree is forever, but my youth is not!”
Emilee Wilson, Communication Studies
“After graduation I plan to move back home to the Indianapolis area and get a job working in social media marketing.”
Let’s wish the Class of 2025 luck on their next adventure!
Alum Spotlight:
Nicholas Smith ‘17
B.A. in Theatre
Hometown: Evansville, Indiana
What brought you to USI?
USI’s theatre program was quickly growing. With the brand-new Performing Arts Center on the way, and a smaller students-to-professor ratio, it felt as if I would have a lot of hands-on opportunity. This turned out to be exactly the case as the University began using state-of-the-art technology, I was able to lead in many ways through my studies.
What clubs or extracurricular activities did you participate in?
Most of my time was taken up by the theatre department in one way or another; I fully immersed myself in it. When I wasn’t designing lighting for the stage productions, I was also acting in them and working as a student employee leading our lighting shop.
How did USI prepare you for your current job and/or career?
USI gave me the tools and hands-on experience with equipment and practices I would be using for years to come. It also paired students with professors who are experts in their field and helped to prepare us for the challenges we would later face in our careers. More than that, we were given the opportunity to lead in production positions, an experience that not every university offers. We were working and collaborating not only with other students on projects, but with professors and professionals out in the field.
Were there any faculty members that made an impact on your life or career path?
I can honestly say almost every professor I had in the theatre department made an impact on me. They imparted wisdom, and life skills, aside from their class teachings. They also did their best to directly prepare us for what we could expect outside of school, whether we chose to pursue further higher education or join the workforce immediately. The professors of the theatre department treated us not just as students, but fellow artists, and that is a refreshing aspect of any program.
What made you want to work at the Sphere?
Much like my other choices, I believe I decided to pursue a career at the Sphere in Las Vegas due to its industry leading technology and opportunities. The venue is doing production in a way no one else has before, and I am challenged to grow and learn more every day.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Getting to create in such an interesting and challenging venue is extremely rewarding. Even the simplest of tasks have to be approached in a much different way in the Sphere, so every accomplishment is that much more impactful. The production team at the Sphere is also full of some of the most talented and intelligent people in each discipline; working alongside them has been a great learning opportunity.
What advice would you give to current USI students?
Take advantage of every opportunity you are able, use the resources provided to you, and make community!
You will only get out of the program what you put into it, but that said, you can gain so much. The network you create in college can follow you for the rest of your life and help open so many doors. Finally, try not to stress the little things, we all have moments where we feel lost, or feel imposters in our own skin. We are all constantly growing, evolving, and learning, and as long as you keep an open mind and keep working toward what is important to you, you’ll wind up exactly where you’re supposed to be.
Anything else you would like to include?
Thanks to everyone who’s helped me along my journey, friends, professors, family. None of us accomplishes these things alone, and I’m so grateful for all the opportunity I’ve been given.
Student Spotlight:
Joshua Talley ‘25
BS in political science with a minor in business administration
Hometown: Leavenworth, Indiana
Why did you pick your major?
I mainly picked political science to help prepare me for law school and my future career. Majoring in political science allowed me to learn more about policies and how the government works. I really feel like majoring in political science helped me prepare for law school and my future career. Additionally, I decided to minor in business administration during my second year here. I decided to do this because I have an interest in corporate/business law, so I wanted to gain some knowledge surrounding the business realm.
What clubs or extracurricular activities did you participate in?
Throughout my time at USI, I was heavily involved in Greek Life. I joined my fraternity, Kappa Alpha Order, the first semester at USI. Within KA, I was our recording secretary, which meant I was in charge of our chapter’s academics and ensuring we were maintaining a good GPA. After being the recording secretary, I was elected to be the president of KA, so I did a one-year term of being the president as well. Also, I joined the Interfraternity Council for one-year, holding the officer position of VP of Public Relations.
What are your plans after graduation?
I grew up having a rare medical condition, which is known as congenital myotonia. This is a neuromuscular condition that basically means my muscles are never able to fully relax, and it comes with several repercussions because of that. Living with this condition, it taught me the importance of standing up for oneself and advocating for others who face unique hurdles. Therefore, I am drawn to law/law school because it offers the chance to give a voice to those who may feel voiceless and to stand strong in the face of adversity.
I chose IU-McKinney Law School for several reasons. First off, growing up in a small town, I never had the opportunity to be immersed in a city as great as Indianapolis. I believe that IU McKinney Law School and Indianapolis will provide countless opportunities in order to be successful. Also, McKinney is located in the heart of Indianapolis, which I believe will give me even more opportunities to gain experience and build professional networks while in Indianapolis. Finally, IU McKinney has an acclaimed health law program, which I am heavily interested in. Therefore, all of these reasons combined persuaded me to choose IU-McKinney Law School.
What advice would you give to current or prospective USI students?
There are several pieces of advice I would give to current or prospective USI students. The first piece of advice is to get to know your professors. The professors here are all really devoted to being there for you, and they are here to help you. They are more than happy to sit down with you and work on school-related obstacles or any other obstacle one might face. By getting to know the professors personally, they are more likely to help you out later down the road.
My second piece of advice is to get involved at USI. Everyone should get involved in some sort of organization. For example, I got heavily involved in Greek life, and I know that is not for everyone, but everyone needs to be involved in something. College is supposed to be one of the best time periods of one’s life. However, you get what you put into it. By being involved, you are able to build more personal and professional connections, and you will create friendships that will last a lifetime. Being involved at USI is truly what made this the best experience of my life.
Featured Events:
TOLI Seminar
CANCELLED
Summer Academy
Monday, June 2 - Friday, June 6
Summer is the perfect time for students to explore their interests! We invite high school-age students (incoming 9th grade to outgoing 12th grade) to experience the College of Liberal Arts at USI. Summer Academy will run from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday, June 2 - Friday, June 6.
Students can pick classes from the Art and Design, Communication and Media, Geology, Psychology, Public Administration and English departments and more. Fun activities, snacks and meals are all included in this week of exciting exploration.
College of Liberal Arts Achievements
Dr. Ngoc Nguyen, Assistant Professor of Social Work, Dr. John Paulson, Associate Professor of Social Work, and Dr. Quentin Maynard, Director of Masters of Social Work Program, published an article titled, “The Impact of Religiosity and Violence Prevention Programs on Violence amongst Adolescents in the U.S.” in the Midwest Social Sciences Journal this year after a year and a half of writing, submissions and revisions.
View the article here: https://scholar.valpo.edu/mssj/vol27/iss2/9/
Dr. Amy Montz, Professor of English, published a book that started out as her dissertation in 2006, titled, “Dressing for England: Fashion and Nationalism in Victorian Novels”. It is available to preorder from State University of New York (SUNY) Press: https://sunypress.edu/Books/D/Dressing-for-England
Dr. Aaron Pryor, Assistant Director of Counseling and Psychological Services and Lecturer in Social Work, graduated Friday, May 9, with his Doctor of Education, Educational Leadership.
Jillian Jones, Administrative Associate, graduated Friday, May 9, with their Master of Public Administration, Public Sector.
Upcoming Events
MAY:
MAY 26: Memorial Day - University Closed
JUNE:
Monday, June 2 - Friday, June 6: TOLI Seminar
Monday, June 2 - Friday, June 6: Summer Academy
June 19: Juneteenth - University Closed
JULY:
July 4: Fourth of July - University Closed
2025 Language Bowl