Message from the Dean
Dr. Eric V. Martin
Greetings and welcome to the spring-summer edition of the College of Arts and Sciences' newsletter! I also want to take this opportunity to welcome the School of Interdisciplinary Learning (SIDL) and the students and alumni of the Interdisciplinary Studies B.A. degree program to CAS!
For readers who may not know, SIDL and its IDSS degree (formerly known as the BOG B.A. degree) joined CAS on July 1, 2008, following Board of Trustees’ approval of a broader internal restructuring plan for GSU. This restructuring plan placed all technology-related services at GSU in the Office of the Provost under the leadership of John Stoll, now Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, and formerly Dean of University College where SIDL and IDSS were housed. (Congratulations, John!)
At the same time, SIDL and IDSS were moved from the University College to CAS as a fourth major unit in our College, joining the Division of Liberal Arts, the Division of Science, and the Center for Law Enforcement Technology Collaboration. Pending completion of a national search for a new SIDL director, Dr. Jim Howley is serving as the Interim Director of the School of Interdisciplinary Learning in addition to his regular duties as Chair of the Division of Liberal Arts. (Thank you, Jim!)
In the coming weeks, Dr. Howley and I will be communicating extensively with CAS and SIDL-IDSS stakeholders regarding this significant organizational change. We want your collective input regarding next steps because we are committed to the long tradition of success established by the IDSS degree program, and we want to ensure this success well into the future. We know that just like the graduates of CAS’s long-standing programs in the liberal arts and the sciences, the graduates of the IDSS degree program can and do “change the world,” and we are excited by this new future together!
Please join me in welcoming the School of Interdisciplinary Learning to the College of Arts and Sciences and best wishes to all of you as the remaining days of summer begin their long, slow stretch toward fall.
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GSU Remembers
Dr. Joyce Mohberg
1931 - 2008
 Dr. Joyce Mohberg began her career at GSU in 1978 with a joint appointment in the Division of Science and the Division of Nursing. She developed the human physiology and biochemistry curriculum for the nursing, med-tech, and science programs. Her research and educational background made her uniquely qualified to create human health oriented courses.
Joyce was instrumental in the transformation of the curriculum from the early competency based programs and degrees in environmental science to the current offerings in biology and chemistry. She led hundreds of students through the chemistry programs; she took ownership of those who decided to prepare for graduate or professional school, nurturing many successful Ph.D.'s, dentists, doctors, and veterinarians. In short—she was dedicated to GSU and her students.
In recent years, Joyce developed a repertoire of chemistry demonstrations, teaching workshops in the summer for high school teachers and engaging her chemistry foundation courses with pops, smokes, bangs, and dramatic color changes. She was also interested in the everyday aspects of chemistry and nutrition and had students perform experiments with everything from soda pop to cabbage.
We have received condolences and stories of her contributions and remembrance from as far as the University of Innsbruck/Austria, in addition to many of the students that she mentored. Tina Henne, Ph.D. of St. Judes Children's Research Hospital, a previous student and friend states;
“Dr. Mohberg was more than a teacher to us; she was a cherished friend. We still quote her common sense phrases that she used so frequently. I think the way she taught her students was much more valuable than doing undergrad research in training students to be good scientist. To this day, when I catch myself using poor laboratory technique, this little picture of her pops into my head and I can hear her saying “Tina, what the heck do you think you are doing? Hold that pipet up where you can see it.”
For many of us, our favorite memories will include the ever present lab coat and the lady on the bicycle, riding home down Richton Road, come rain, sleet, or snow. As we reflect on our fondest memories of Joyce we can agree she was a phenomenal woman, scientist and teacher who touched many lives and for that we are grateful to have known her.
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Federal Recognition for GSU
Dr. Steve Shih
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The Committee on National Security Standards under the direction of the Department of Defense and the National Security Agency announced that GSU meets 100 percent of its certification standards.
GSU meets the national training standard for Information Systems Security Professionals and Senior System Managers. Coursework for the Information Security Certificate includes information security and policy, cryptography and national security, and extensive lab work in information security.
Dr. Dingbang Xu
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Drs. Steve Shih, Computer Science Program Coordinator, and Dingbang Xu, Assistant Professor, developed the program on information assurance.
They were recognized at an awards ceremony in Dallas as part of a colloquium on "Industrial Cyber Security."
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Thorn Creek Celebrates 30 Years
On June 7, 2008 Thorn Creek Wood Nature Preserve celebrated it 30th anniversary. Illinois' fifth largest nature preserve commemorated the day with an anniversary ceremony, history presentations, and guided hikes. Professor Emeritus John Mendleson has been involved in the nature preserve for most of the three decades.
Thorn Creek Wood Nature Preserve has about 2.5 miles of trails for people to walk through, and covers about 830 acres. The 30 year celebration is in recognition of the dedication of the woods as an Illinois Nature Preserve.
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Center for Law Enforcement Technology Collaboration
 The Center for Law Enforcement Technology Collaboration (CLETC) is currently engaged in several engaging activities. The Center is working with the South Suburban Association of Chiefs of Police on an upgrade to approximately 20 Video Analyst Systems© that local police departments use to analyze surveillance video files and other images for investigative purposes.
Work is underway to develop a refresher training course based on the system upgrades. The CLETC Needs Assessment Survey project received responses from 27 local police departments, and the training needs report is under development.
Preliminary findings indicate a strong preference for classes in the following areas: law enforcement technology refresher courses, video surveillance and enhancing digital images, digital file structures, and handling digital evidence. Survey respondents also expressed an interest in several non-technology oriented courses as well (for example, grant writing courses). CLETC will soon release the report, with several recommendations regarding training topics and delivery options.
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 MFA on the Move
The Master of Fine Arts program in Independent Film & Digital Imaging has increased its enrollment cap, effectively doubling the number of students it is accepting into each of its two streams in 2008.
The program's first graduate, Seth McClellan, is now working as an adjunct professor for the program, and his highly successful "King in Chicago" documentary was recently screened at the prestigious Bronzeville Film Festival.
Independent Film faculty Sanghoon Lee and Daniel Nearing are producing a digital feature film called "Chicago Heights." The experimental project is a contemporary adaptation of Sherwood Anderson's landmark American novel, Winesburg, Ohio.
The production is being undertaken during four 12-hour days per week and involves involving numerous MFA students as crew, including Keisha Dyson as a co-producer, Mercedes Kane as 1st Assistant Director, prominent local videographer Don Winter, award-winning stills photographer Dirk Fletcher, and many others. Some GSU students are also participating as actors in the ensemble piece, shot entirely in High Definition black and white. They hope to have the film edited and submitted to film festivals by the end of the year.
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Innovative Education
.jpg "Yunger") Professor John Yunger provides off campus experiences that go far beyond basic classroom biology. Students gain insight on how people live and how the environment affects them. Professor Yunger provides global learning by providing real-life experiences in Belize's rain forest. He will also accompany his student to China to conduct research.
His teaching strategies provide students with hands-on-field techniques. Professor Yunger has been taking students to Belize for the last ten years and providing invaluable research experience.
Visit the CAS website to learn more about our programs.
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New Additions
The Liberal Arts division will offer new courses this Fall in several disciplines, art, english, history, intercultural studies, and music. Four new minors have been added; Gender Studies, Latino Studies, Global Studies, and American Studies.
Visit the CAS website for additional information.
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In the Spotlight
Chip Coldren
 Professor Chip Coldren was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of the Illinois Balanced and Restorative Justice Project, a statewide coalition of educators and practitioners who work collaboratively to expand and strengthen restorative justice practices in the State of Illinois.
Coldren was also appointed as a member of the Board of F.U.T.U.R.E. Foundation Youth Services in Ford Heights - a youth service program that coordinates restorative justice programs in schools in the south suburbs.
Rashidah Muhammad
 Dr. Rashidah Jaami Muhammad, Professor of English and Secondary Education, will serve as poetry judge for the Annual Emerging Writers Competition (The Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Award and the James Jones Short Story Award). This is Dr. Muhammad's third year serving as judge. It is sponsored by the Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White, the Illinois Center for the Book and the Illinois State Library.
Visit their website to read more about the program.
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CAS Welcomes
Join us as we welcome new faculty members to the university.
Assistant Professors
Patricia Fu-Giles, Chemistry (GSU alumnus) Elizabeth Johnson, History William Kelley, Sociology David Rhea, Communications Andrius Tamulis, Mathematics Jason Zingsheim, Communications
Lecturer
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Research, Research, Research!
The 14th Annual GSU Student Research Conference was held May 21, in Sherman Recital Hall, organized by Dr. Shelly Kumar, Professor of Chemistry. The conference provided students with an opportunity to present their research work before an audience of their peers and a forum to highlight research accomplishments at GSU.
Each college provided a moderator who hosted students from their college: CAS moderator, Dr. Frances Kostarelos; CBPA moderator, Dr. Akkanad Isaac; CHP moderator, Professor Cynthia Carr; COE moderator, Dr. Maribeth Kasik. The keynote speaker was Dr. Theodore L. Steck, M.D., Chair, Environmental Studies Program and Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Chicago. His topic was "Saving the Environment".
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James Madison Fellows
The James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation of Washington, D.C., has announced the selection of 58 James Madison Fellows for the year 2008. For the second year in a row, one of GSU graduates in Political and Justice has been awarded the James Madison Fellowship as Senior Fellows.
Erica Bray-Parker, a Social Studies teacher at Glenbard North High School, is a graduate of our Political and Justice Studies program. Erica was also involved in Governors State’s Model United Nations program.
Patrick Usher, a Social Studies teacher at Carl Sandburg High School and a current Political and Justice Studies graduate student, was awarded the fellowship last year and is currently attending the Summer Institute.
This national fellowship program is extremely competitive with only 50 high school teachers selected each year as Senior Fellows.
Beyond the financial assistance that the awardees are granted, the James Madison Fellowship program brings the participants to a Summer Institute at Georgetown University (Washington D.C.) where they take graduate classes on American politics and the Constitution.
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Farewell...
Pat Krasnodebski, University Lecturer for the Communications Program, will retire August 30.
Todd Rohman and Marjorie Justice, Professors of English, have accepted higher learning positions in the St. Louis area. We wish them well.
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Art Takes Its Place
The College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Office and the library are the most recent locations to showcase faculty and student artwork. Read below to see other locations where the art faculty will exhibit their work.
Javier Chavira
 Javier Chavira, Professor of Art, was invited to create a painting that will make its debut at the national group exhibition titled "A Declaration of Immigration" hosted by the National Museum of Mexican Art. The exhibition opened on Friday, July 4 and runs through September 7.
Professor Chavira’s work will also be represented at this year’s Rockford Midwestern a juried biennial hosted my the Rockford Museum of Art, Rockford, IL. The exhibition opened July 11 and continues until October 5.
Jeff Stevenson
 Jeff Stevenson, Adjunct Professor for CAS Art Programs and Manilow Park has been invited to showcase his work at the Chicago Art Open, a centerpiece of Chicago Artists' Month.
The Chicago Art Open features the work of approximately 300 artists in all mediums, including painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, mixed media, video, and installation. The 11th Annual Chicago Art Open, the largest survey of Chicagoland visual artists, will be held October 3-19, at the Merchandise Mart.
Bastien Desfriches Doria
 Artists in Residence International is welcoming French born artist and CAS faculty member, Bastien Desfriches Doria to Atlanta for the completion of his newest series of work "Scenes de Genre".
"Scenes de Genre" is a series of large-scale photographs by French born artist and educator Bastien Desfriches Doria. Bastien is the recipient of the 2007 AIRI Artist-in-Residence Award, a three-week residency stay and exhibition in Atlanta. This show will be the first installment of his newest series of photographs, featuring work shot at various locations throughout the metro area during his residency.
Scenes de Genre opened in Atlanta Georgia May 31, 2008, at the Eyedrum Art & Music Gallery.
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Upcoming Events
Gallery Exhibitions
Harley McDaniel - Installation Sculpture
July 14–31
Visual Arts Gallery
Governors State University
Gallery Hours: Monday and Wednesday, 11 a.m. to
4 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 2 to 7 p.m.
PH: 708.534.4021
Distinguished Lecture Series
Dr. Derek Eamus from the University of Wales will lecture on the "Leaf to Catchment Scale Fluxes of Water and Carbon: Measurements and Models," August 12, 3:30 p.m. in Sherman Recital Hall.
Memorial Service
Dr. Joyce Mohberg, Friday, September 19, 2008, in Sherman Recital Hall,
3 to 5 p.m.
GSU 2nd Annual ArtsFest
Save the date! ArtsFest will be held Thursday, November 6, throughout the university campus. It will consist of interactive open studios and a collaboration of Art Programs, English Programs, Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park, Independent Film and Digital Imaging, the Art Forum and Student Life.
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