Southern Illinois University Carbondale senior Wendy Elliott was 12 years old when she realized she wanted to follow a path blazed decades earlier by famed aviator Amelia Earhart and other female pilots.
Author: Pete Rosenbery
Taegan Carpenter, an incoming sophomore at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, will embark on a new challenge this fall as a Boren Scholar, where she will spend an academic year in Taipei, Taiwan, and study Mandarin.
Leslee Lunden Lofton is making the most of an opportunity she saw in her own closet. Inspired by her own old clothes, garments at local thrift stores and an effort toward sustainability, Lofton, a senior in Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s fashion design program, is repurposing apparel as she prepares to unveil her line at the Student Showcase and Runway Fashion Show, Thursday, April 21, in Student Center Ballroom D.
Considered a preeminent scholar in global public relations practice and intercultural communication, Nilanjana Bardhan, a professor in the communication studies program, is co-author of an upcoming book that focuses on leadership in building inclusive diversity in public relations. She has presented about three dozen papers at conferences, authored, co-authored and co-edited three books and published almost 30 papers and chapters in academic journals and books.
When considering the impact that Kenneth Stikkers, a professor of philosophy and affiliated faculty in Africana and Multicultural Studies has on former students, understanding Stikkers’ selection for a prestigious mentorship award from the Caribbean Philosophical Association is easy.
Rita Medina has had various roles since arriving on campus seven years ago, and her ability to “connect with students and dedication to being there through every step in their college journey is impressive,” notes Taylor Bennett, assistant director of communications with undergraduate admissions. Medina, an academic adviser in the College of Engineering, Computing, Technology and Mathematics since September 2021, said she “enjoys the opportunity to interact more with students one-on-one and hear about their personal experiences at SIU.”
As a three-degree SIU Carbondale alumna who is working on a fourth degree, Rachel Frazier, interim director, Office of the Registrar, strives to relay those same positive experiences in working with undergraduate students and university staff.
As an academic adviser for four majors and 16 specializations within the College of Agricultural, Life, and Physical Sciences, Kathy Elson takes on many roles. She is a “life coach, mentor, and great listener” for the students, said Susan Graham, senior business manager within the college.
Students at Southern Illinois University Carbondale have the opportunity to learn — and interact daily — with internationally recognized faculty who not only are gifted instructors but also talented artists such as Pirooz Kalayeh.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale students and community members have an opportunity this June to learn about ancient history in interdisciplinary, team-taught, hands-on excursions to Greece and Turkey or Egypt and explore life’s great questions such as democracy and the afterlife.