2020 News
2020 Spring and Summer Excellence and Distinctions
Dr. Tatum Thomas, Associate Professor, SCPS Dean
- Appointed to the DePaul Institute for Restorative Academic and Civic Engagement Planning Committee
- Published “Shaping the Future of Higher Ed with Short-Term Credentials”, appearing in The Evolllution: A Modern Campus Illumination (03/17/2021)
- Presented with colleagues J. Blossey, J. Harris, R. Mackinnon, S. Pardys, and M. Selph, “Women in business: Overcoming challenges in the workplace [Panel discussion]. Driehaus College of Business. May 11, 2021
- Presentation with Alex Hernandez and Dr. Shelia Thomas, on the topics of education using cutting-edge benchmarking data, fueled by the UPCEA Center for Research & Strategy. Virtual presentation, hosted by the UPCEA Annual Conference, UPCEA Institutional Representatives Annual Briefing: The Pandemic's Domino Effect on PCO, April 7-9, 2021, Washington, DC 20036.
- Presented at the 2020 Marketing and Enrollment Management Seminar, in collaboration with Suzana Diaz Rosencrans and Stephanie Platteter. 12/2/2020.
Patrizia Acerra, MA, SCPS Assistant Director, Academic Advising
Dr. Marisa Alicea, Professor
- Appointed Interim Director of SCPS Undergraduate Program
- Proposal submitted in Spring for the BA in Nonprofit Management degree, was approved by Committee on Curricular Programs (CCP). SCPS now offers this course.
- Awarded an Undergraduate Research Assistant grant: Research project titled -Reframing Radicalism: Women leaders in Chicago, Puerto Rico, the Yucatan and Kenya.
Joseph Cunniff, Adjunct Professor
- Celebrates 36 years of teaching in the arts for DePaul and his 40th year of writing about the arts in Chicago.
Susanne Dumbleton, Professor Emerita
- Spring publication, Isn’t it time everyone had enough?” appeared in the in the Chicago Sun Times, May 2020.
- Taught at the Newberry Library: "Little Women: Lots of Troubles; Jolly Stories."
Christine Hayda, MS, Program Manager, Academic Services
- SCPS representative at the ILACADA annual conference, September 11, 2020: “Best Practices in Advising Adult Students in the Time of Covid”.
Dr. Dan K. Hibbler, Associate Professor
- Appointed by President Esteban to the President’s Diversity Advisory Committee
Dr. Deborah Holton, Professor Emerita
Dr. John Kimsey, Associate Professor
- Received the SCPS's Excellence in Teaching Award at the Fall 2020 Academic Convocation.
Dr. Caroline Kisiel, Associate Professor
- Published “Designs for embodiment and soul: Offerings for adult learners in the twenty-first century college classroom”, in Phenomenologies of grace: The body, embodiment and transformative futures. London, UK: Palgrave Macmillan. (2020)
- Awarded a Dean’s Innovation Grant to facilitate three virtual Community Engagement Network (CEN) events in Summer and early Fall 2020 in collaboration with DePaul colleagues and emeriti: In collaboration with Dr. Marisa Alicea, and John LittleJohn, Adjunct Faculty, Director of SCPS Adult Men of Color Initiative: “A Front Porch Conversation about Adult Men of Color as Learners,” (July 27, 2020); “A Tribute to Arthur W. Checkering (April 1927-August 2020)” (September 25, 2020), moderated by Professor Emerita, Dr. Catherine Marienau; and “Empowering the Vote in Communities: Awareness, Understanding and Action” (September 28, 2020), a collaboration with DePaul Associate Professor, Dr. Christina Rivers.
Labor Education Center
- Hired its first student worker, Makayla Jackson. Makayla is a student at DePaul majoring in Psychology and minoring in African and Black Diaspora Studies. She is also a DePaul Leadership Scholar.
- Awarded $48,000 from the Regina V. Polk Scholarship Fund for Labor Leadership to run LEC’ youth programs.
Dr. Catherine Marienau, Professor Emerita hosted several podcasts:
Dr. Zoab Mirza, Adjunct Faculty
Doug Murphy, MA, Adjunct Faculty
- Appointed Dean of Operations and Special Educational Initiatives at the Moody Bible Institute.
Dr. Susan Reed, Professor Emerita
Telisa Robinson-Davis, Retention Coordinator
- Nominated for Supervisor of the Year. Telisa was recognized for her mentorship, interest in employee development, and contributions to the DePaul community as a DePaul supervisor for peer mentors.
Leyfane J. Thomas, MA Communications Coordinator
- Appointed to the Faulty and Staff Alumni Committee, (August 2020).
- Re-appointed to the University’s Student Commencement Speaker Selection Committee (September 2020).
- Earned certifications in Project Management, Social Media Strategies and Marketing, Marketing Communications, Instagram, Facebook Foundations and Pivoting to Virtual Events.
R. Craig Sautter, Adjunct Faculty
Winter 2020
Dr. Donald Opitz, Interim Dean
- Appointed Guest Editor of the Topical Collection, Women, Gender, Sexuality and Biology of the Journal of History of Biology and;
- Appointed to the Nominations Committee of the Division of History of Science and Technology, International Union of History and Philosophy of Science and Technology.
Patrizia Acerra, MA, Senior Academic Advisor and Adjunct Faculty
Kamilah Cummings, MA, Dr. Kenya Grooms, Nicholas Hayes, MFA and Steffanie Triller Fry, MFA, along with former Associate Professor, Dr. Michelle Navarre Cleary, co-authored and published:
Molia Dumbleton, MA, Adjunct Faculty
- Published short story “What You Have Been Told” was nominated and recently selected by The Sonder Review, for the 2020 Best Small Fictions Anthology.
Christine Hayda, MS, Adjunct Faculty and Program Manager
- Presented It Takes a Village: Launching and Retaining Successful on Site Bachelor Degree Cohorts, (along with DePaul EMM colleagues) at the Adult Recruitment and Retention Conference, Madison, WI. Mar 9, 2020.
Nicholas Hayes, MFA, Adjunct Faculty and Assistant Director, OPLA
Dr. Sara Kimble, Associate Professor and Undergraduate Program Director
Gina Orlando, MA, CH, Adjunct Faculty
- Authored and published Stress Reduction. In the DePaul Magazine, Vol 1, Issue. 412027 Winter 2020. Feb 15, 2020, Master Class pg. 11.
Dr. Jessica Cook-Qurayshi, Director, Labor Education and Jessica Espinoza, BA, Associate Director, Labor Education presented:
Dr. Lisa Saye, Adjunct Faculty, authored and published:
Dr. Gabriele Strohschen, Professor Emerita, authored and published:
- By Means of Critical Theory: Informed Emancipatory Education – An Essay on Realities and Possibilities” in V. Wang. (Ed), Handbook of Research on Ethical Challenges in Higher Education Leadership and Administration with IGI Global Publishing.
- Authentic Assessment, Implementation, and Evaluation in Social Movements: Considerations for Educators and her former mentee, SCPS Alumnus (MAAPS ‘19) and recipient of SCPS Student Excellence Award (2019), Dwayne Small published "The hidden curriculum in public schools and its disadvantage to minority students” in the International Forum Of Teaching and Study Vol.16 No 1, 2020, Atlanta, GA., Am. Scholars Press.
- Co-facilitated a dialogue on the themes of white cultural identities, power, privilege, and internalized racism and how to identify and heal communities for the Muncie and university faculty. SCPS Alumnae, Deborah McPhee (MAAPS ‘18) and Doreath Lomax (MAAPS ‘17) were participants; “Beyond the classroom: When engaging students in service-learning leads to social change and Mentoring with colleague Dr. Vincent Wiggins. Ball State University. Feb 2020.
Shana Wills, MA, Adjunct Faculty
Staff Recognition Awards
- Patrizia Acerra, MA, Adjunct Faculty and Senior Academic Advisor;
- Nicholas Hayes, MFA, Adjunct Faculty and Assistant Director, OPLA;
- Sandy Rodriguez, Marketing Communications Specialist
- Leyfane Thomas, MA, Communications Coordinator, Student Engagement, Enrollment Services.
July 17, 2020 SCPS Interim Dean, Donald Opitz virtual celebration
SCPS faculty, staff, students and friends, celebrated virtually, Dr. Donald Opitz, his leadership and contributions as SCPS Interim Dean. Although, Dr. Opitz’s tenure as Interim Dean, ended June 30, 2020, he will remain a vital member of SCPS full-time resident faculty and instructor.
June 30, 2020 Student Excellence Awards
On June 12, 2020 the Student Excellence Award Committee, presented a range of honors for undergraduate students, staff and alumni at its annual awards celebration, held virtually. A culminating event for DePaul's adult learners, the ceremony celebrates SCPS’s graduates both near and far. SCPS awards are an inspiration to strive for excellence. The awards recognizes excellent work by ‘committee-stage’ students and are consistent with the culture and philosophy of SCPS. Awards are made each spring for the Advanced Projects, Externships, and products of Advanced Electives, Research Seminars, Capstone, Applied Inquiry Projects; Integrating Projects; and Culminating Projects.
The following SCPS students were recipients of the 2020 Student Excellence awards:
- Vicky L. Arias, for "Emotional Intelligence Testing and Its Various Forms", a research proposal.
- Greg Black, for an advanced project entitled, "Form and Function: Shipping Container Architecture in a Changing Landscape"
- Patrick Bowery, a capstone project entitled, "Law Enforcement Suicide".
- Graham Bromley, an externship project entitled, "Caregiver".
- Patrick Forbes, an advanced project entitled, "Police Recruitment and Retention: Confronting the Recruitment Crisis".
- Javier Lopez, an advanced project entitled, "Cross-examining Models that Define Causes of Islamic Radicalization in the United States".
- Marisol Medina, an advanced project entitled, "Creating a Coaching Practice for Managers".
- Tiffany Parton, a capstone project entitled,"Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness: Definitions and Evaluation".
- LeMonica Rider, a capstone project entitled, "Ethnic Hair and the effects of Diversity in the Workplace".
- Michael J. Robb, a capstone project entitled, "Motivating Millennials and Management: Recommendations to Decrease Turnover and Increase Employee Retention".
- Amy Waters, a capstone project entitled, "Introverts and Leadership".
Honors of Excellence for Alumni, Students and Staff
- Charles Twichell, (BA ’14), David O. Justice Award
- Adam C. Bumpers, (BA '20), Weinberg Memorial for project, "Citizens Against Gentrification"
- LaTonja M. Dotson, (BA'20), Student Commencement Speaker
- Shirley Rice Bono, MA, Assistant Dean, SCPS Academic Services, Lifelong Learning Award
- Cynthia Flores, BA, OPLA, Staff Appreciation Award
HR Staff Recognition Award
- Patrizia Acerra, MA,
- Joseph Chen, Ph.D
- Maribel Garcia, Nicholas Hayes, M.F.A.
- Sandy Rodriguez
- Leyfane J. Thomas, MA
October 31, 2019: SCPS Open House
IT WAS TRANSFORMATIONAL!
So, one may ask, “What was?" And we will enthusiastically shout, "SCPS OCTOBER 17, 2019 OPEN HOUSE"!!!!
Students, Alumni, Family and Friends made good on the opportunity to meet and greet SCPS Interim Dean, Dr. Donald Opitz, SCPS Faculty and SCPS Staff. Program Directors, Dr. Arieahn Matamonasa (Graduate Program) and Dr. Sara Kimble (Undergraduate Programs) along with Dr. Hap Bryant (CPE) and SCPS staff, led informed conversations about credentialing and college credit, prior learning assessment, scholarship opportunities, discounts, student engagement initiatives (i.e. Men of Color, SCPS Honor Society, Dean’s List and Peer Mentoring). SCPS Open House was a perfect way to ensure that our students, alumni, family and friends were well informed about turning experiences into success at SCPS!
There were three separate, yet stimulating, inspiring, short faculty lead “sneak-peek” into learning outcomes: “ArtShare”, an Independent Learning Pursuit (ILP) option, led by Dr. Susan McGury; a motivating, pleasurable and fun course, “Leisure, Recreation and Health”, facilitated by Dr. Dan K. Hibbler and an introduction to the Center to Advance Education for Adults (CAEA), with Dr. Caroline Kisiel as the facilitator. CAEA is a network of adult learning practitioners, exchanging ideas and inspiring strategies for learning in diverse settings.
Free “Great Swag Bags” given at check-in as well as free entrant raffle ticket.
A hearty congratulations to SCPS Student, Sillisa Humphrey, as she met the Host Challenge: bring the most guests to the Open house. Sillisa won a $75.00 Gift Card. Raffle Prize winners were: 1st Place, Natalie Young (DPU Hoodie), 2nd Place, Victor Rivera (SCPS Padfolio and $15 Gift Card, Barnes and Nobles), 3rd Place, Maria Mariottini (SCPS Tumbler and $15 Gift Card, Barnes and Nobles).
Finally, as the open house participants walked among the masses … there in the distance appeared a giant, smiling DIBS! The Open House participants smiled, too, taking selfies and sharing big high-fives with DIBS. DIBS added to the fun and offered a good way to reinforce top-of-mind brand awareness! From the heart of SCPS, thank you, DIBS!! Go Blue Demons!!!