Roosevelt University - RU in the Community

RU in the Community - May 2007

Roosevelt University student Willis Wu presented Mayor Richard Daley with pins from the 2008 Beijing Olympics during a ceremony at City Hall on May 23. Paul Green, the Arthur Rubloff Professor of Policy Studies, made arrangements with the Office of the Mayor for 21 Chinese students from Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics to attend a City Council meeting and meet with the mayor. Wu is the leader of the Chinese group. The students are studying for a Master of Public Administration degree from Roosevelt.

President Chuck Middleton hosted a breakfast on May 24 for employees in Roosevelt's Department of Physical Resources. After a wide-ranging conversation, Middleton (center rear) and his assistant, Cheryl Gouldsby, posed with the staff.

Emma Krabbenhoft, daughter of Alan Krabbenhoft, associate professor of Finance, threw out the first pitch at a Roosevelt University Family Day at Alexian Field on May 27. Roosevelt is sponsoring eight Schaumburg Flyers games on Sunday afternoons this season.

Administrators in the 2006-2007 RU Perspectives program meet with President Chuck Middleton in May to discuss what was learned during program sessions held throughout the year. Pictured (from left) are Deonna Alexander, assistant registrar for course scheduling; Tim Mollenkamp, financial analyst; Mary Gabioud, ETRC coordinator in Schaumburg; President Middleton; Tara Hawkins, coordinator of the graduate program in training and development; Danuta Kania, assistant registrar; Clara Gong, human resource analyst; Laura Janota, associate director of public relations; and Mary Grigar, outreach coordinator for the Counseling Center.

Kathleen Kane-Willis, acting director of the Institute for Metropolitan Affairs, presents findings from the new report “Through a Different Lens: Shifting the Focus on Illinois Drug Policy” during a drug-policy forum held Tuesday at the University. About 50 people attended the presentation and panel discussion.

President Chuck Middleton was the featured speaker at a luncheon meeting of the Niagara Foundation on May 17. He talked about “Roosevelt University’s Commitment to Diversity in the Globalized World.” The luncheon forums provide a venue for nonpartisan discussions focusing on inter-cultural awareness and understanding among Chicago’s ethnic and civic communities.

On May 19, the Chicago Chapter of the Fulbright Association held its annual farewell luncheon in the Congress Lounge of the Auditorium Building. Chicago chapter board members and Fulbright veterans from the Chicago area congratulated and bid farewell to more than 30 Fulbright scholars and students from all over the world who have successfully completed their one year research and study in Chicago. President Chuck Middleton (center) welcomed the participants and encouraged the international Fulbrighters to spread the Fulbright peace making mission after they return to their home countries. Photo courtesy of Rubee Li Fuller.

During Roosevelt University’s Commencement on May 11, Hermann Buff, consul general of Switzerland in Chicago, receives a hood from Pamela Trotman Reid (left), provost and executive vice president and Lynn Weiner, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Mr. Buff was the Commencement speaker and received a Doctor of Humane Letters degree honoris causa. More than 1,000 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students received Roosevelt University diplomas.

Eric Klinenberg, associate professor of sociology at New York University, presented the third annual Matthew Freeman Lecture on May 10 in the Sullivan Room. Dr. Klinenberg discussed his new book, Fighting for Air: The Battle to Control America’s Media, which analyzes the decrease in independently owned radio and television stations and newspapers in the United States.

The inaugural meeting of the Rho Chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta, the international sociology honorary society, was held at Roosevelt during May. Twenty students were inducted into the society at a reception for students and faculty.

Mary Hendry, vice president for Enrollment and Student Services, welcomes students and their families to the annual Franklin Honor Society Induction and Reception on Tuesday evening. Approximately 175 students were inducted into the society, which recognizes graduating seniors who achieved a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.

Irene Phelps (second from left), president of the Siragusa Foundation, which has generously provided scholarships to Chicago College of Performing Arts (CCPA) students for the last 19 years, meets with (from left) Tyler Hodges, a freshman voice performance major and scholarship recipient, Kelsey Erdahl, (BM, '06) a graduate harp performance major and scholarship recipient, and James Gandre, dean of CCPA. During Phelps' luncheon visit, both Hodges and Erdahl thanked Phelps and the Siragusa Foundation by giving musical performances.

Barbara Katz Rothman discusses her book, <i>Weaving a Family: Untangling Race and Adoption</i>, at the annual Mansfield Lecture on May 3. Katz Rothman's book also was Roosevelt's One Book One University selection this year. The lecture was sponsored by the Mansfield Institute for Social Justice and Katz Rothman was introduced by Heather Dalmage, associate professor of sociology and director of the Institute.

Barbara Katz Rothman discusses her book, Weaving a Family: Untangling Race and Adoption, at the annual Mansfield Lecture on May 3. Katz Rothman's book also was Roosevelt's One Book One University selection this year. The lecture was sponsored by the Mansfield Institute for Social Justice and Katz Rothman was introduced by Heather Dalmage, associate professor of sociology and director of the Institute.

Graduate sociology student Rashonda Ross presents a poster about a class project she did on "Patterns of Gentrification in Old Town and Lincoln Park" during the University's Graduate Research Day held May 1 in Congress Lounge. In addition to the presentations, dissertation and thesis awards were presented to students during the first annual event.

More than 80 Roosevelt students learned about job and internship opportunities during a career fair held at the Schaumburg Campus on April 24. Sponsored by Roosevelt's Student Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management and the Office of Career Services, the event attracted organizations such as Northwest Special Recreation Association and companies such as Baxter, Discover Financial Services, Verizon and AT&T. Photo by Maureen Doyle courtesy of Lisa Amoroso.

Numerous educational and fun events took place during Roosevelt's annual Bring a Child to Work Day on April 26. Children participated in activities such as the meaning of the Chinese calendar, dancing the salsa and learning about expression through music. In the picture above, a Roosevelt science student helps Dasialen Redmond and Daniel Weathersby conduct a chemistry experiment on pressure and expansion through the use of marshmallows.

Roosevelt's Schaumburg Campus hosted a sectional competition last month in the Illinois High School Association Journalism Tournament. The winning team of reporters and editors, pictured above, was from Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire. About 175 students from 12 area high schools competed. This is the second time Roosevelt hosted a sectional competition. Linda Jones, chair of the Department of Communication, was site manager for the event. Photo by James Robinson courtesy of Linda Jones.