The 2014 United Methodist Exemplary Teacher Award was presented at the University of Evansville’s winter Commencement exercise Dec. 17, by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church to Margaret Stevenson, UE associate professor of psychology.

Stevenson has been a professor at UE since 2008, teaching courses in such areas as social psychology, research methods in psychology, and psychology and the law. She serves as advisor to many psychology majors, advising and directing some in their research projects. Stevenson is a senior thesis mentor for many students, and co-faculty advisor for the UE student PSI CHI and Psychology Club.

She was honored with the Sydney and Sadelle Berger Award for Research in 2012, and the Association for Psychological Science RISE Research Award in 2011. Stevenson is also a past recipient of the American Psychological Association Division 37’s Section on Child Maltreatment Early Career Award. She is a member of many professional organizations, including the American Psychological Association, the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, and the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. She serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Forensic Psychology and the International Journal of Psychological Studies.

During her time at UE, Stevenson has been the Honors Faculty Scholar in Residence, and has served on the Institutional Diversity Council, the Honors Program committee, and the General Education Subcommittee She has held the position of social sciences representative for UE Faculty Senate, as well as its corresponding secretary and parliamentarian.

Stevenson earned her Ph.D. and Master of Arts in social psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She received her Bachelor Science degree in psychology and her Bachelor of Science in French from Ohio State University.
 

Sister T is bringing her guitar and her friend, Sister Kati! Together they will present the "y of cl". What? Can you guess? Join us for UE senior Katie Ziebell's recipe for homemade goulash and fresh bread! Meet at the UE Newman Center Campus Ministry House just across the front oval on the corner of Lincoln and Frederick Avenues. Questions? Text UE Campus Minister Kristel Riffert at 812-760-8610. ALL ARE WELCOME! Don't be shy -- bring a friend or 2 with U! 

One person CAN make a difference! See how you can help improve our rivers and streams in Bower-Surheinrich Library - display case behind circulation desk. Also, check out the UE Storm Water webpage at http://www.evansville.edu/offices/administrativeservices/stormwater.cfm

The Department of Music begins its spring concert offerings in Wheeler Concert Hall this Tuesday evening at 7:30 p.m. with a performance by the Shepard Bass Quintet. Quintet members include Professor of Trumpet Timothy Zifer, Danny Kirgan (trumpet), Consortium Instructor Marc Zyla (French horn), Associate Professor of Low Brass Kenneth Steinsultz (trombone), and Jim Allison (tuba). Repertory for the concert will include various works for brass quintet from the late Romantic and Modern eras, as well as arrangements of more traditional and popular music. The concert is free and open to the public. 

Are you are interested in making a real IMPACT in the lives of your fellow students while learning about yourself and developing your skills? Consider applying to be a Resident Assistant for the 2015-16 year.

Information sessions will be January 14, 15, and 20 at 9:00 pm in Schroeder School of Business, room 71. Stop by to learn more about the position and pick up an application. Or contact any member of the Residence Life staff.

Applications and reference materials are available in editable formats and are conveniently located on our Website at: http://www.evansville.edu/residencelife/raProgram.cfm .
 

The application deadline for the upcoming Project Impact: Guatemala short-term program abroad is Friday, January 16, 2015. Late applications will not be accepted.

This program consists of a semester-long course with travel to Guatemala during Spring Break 2015. Participating students will receive 3 credits and can choose from four different semester courses: BUS 350, ID 380, NURS 395, or PH 340.

For more information about dates and costs, or to apply online, please visit: http://www.evansville.edu/studyabroad/shortTerm.cfm.

Please contact Marissa Mitchell, coordinator of short-term programs abroad, at mm353 if you have any questions.
 

Libraries resumes its regular schedule of hours for Spring Semester on Monday, January 12.

Monday: 7:30 a.m. - Midnight
Tuesday: 7:30 a.m. - Midnight
Wednesday: 7:30 a.m. - Midnight
Thursday: 7:30 a.m. - Midnight
Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday: 12 Noon - Midnight

Exception to regular hours will be announced in advance. 

There are available jobs through federal work-study offered by the Office of Financial Aid for UE students. Eligibility is based on federal need as shown through the FAFSA. Download the Application. Applications may also be obtained at the UE Office of Financial Aid, Olmsted Hall, Room 116. Questions regarding eligibility and job availability should be directed to Hilary Morales at hm38@evansville.edu.

A paper by Yasser Alhenawi, assistant professor of finance, and co-authored by Sudha Krishnaswami, professor of finance at the University of New Orleans, will appear in the Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance. The paper is titled “The Impact of Synergies on Mergers Value.” The authors investigate whether and to what extent synergies affect value in Mergers and Acquisitions Transactions. Controlling for self-selection and endogeneity biases, the evidence indicates that merger synergies materialize over time, but differently in unrelated and related mergers. Market power, economies of scale and scope, and internal capital market activity contribute to enhancement in value only in unrelated mergers. In contrast, related mergers are motivated by a need for facilitating technology and innovation transfers.

Richard W. Maass, assistant professor of political science, has published an article appearing in the January issue of Diplomatic History, the top journal of that field. Titled "'Difficult to Relinquish Territory Which Had Been Conquered': Expansionism and the War of 1812," Maass' article aims to finally put to rest the myth that the United States launched the War of 1812 to annex Canada. It is available online here: http://dh.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2014/01/06/dh.dht132.abstract 

The University of Evansville women’s basketball team (7-7, 2-1) looks for their 10th consecutive home win when the Aces host the Bradley Braves on Monday night. The game is set for a 7:00 p.m. tip at the Ford Center in Evansville, Ind. UE is seeking their sixth straight home win to begin the season, most since 2006-07. Evansville also hopes to claim their second consecutive conference victory.

The Aces will honor school chaplain Tammy Gieselman, Neu Chapel, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Nazarene Missionary Baptist Church and other various religious groups/figures during halftime of the game.

UE yielded a season-low in points in their last game, a 63-38 victory over the visiting Loyola Ramblers on Thursday night at the Ford Center. The Aces defense held the Ramblers to just 28.3% shooting. Guard Sara Dickey and forward Mallory Ladd each totaled 19 points in the win, the second consecutive conference victory for Evansville.

With Ladd’s next rebound, she will have 500 for her career with UE.

On the stat sheet, Evansville’s Dickey (17.6 points per game) and Ladd (15.5) are both averaging double figures. Robinson is securing 7.8 rebounds per game, a team-high. Ladd also has the most assists (41) and blocks (12) of anyone on the squad. Dickey and guard Taloni Reese are both tied for a team-best 24 steals this year. UE is averaging 64.7 points and 33.3 rebounds per game. The Aces make 41.0% of their field goals, 35.9% of threes, and 65.4% at the free throw line.

Bradley (1-13, 0-3) enters this contest on a seven-game losing streak including a 64-50 loss at Indiana State on Friday night. Guard Michelle Young scored a team-high 14 points in the contest with 10 made free throws in the defeat.

Statistically, forward Whitney Tinjum has a team-high 15.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Young is also in double figures with 14.3 points per game and leads all Braves with 29 steals. Forward Tamya Sims averages 2.2 blocks per game as guard Sameia Kendall has the most assists for Bradley with 31. The Braves average 58.9 points and 34.4 rebounds per game. Bradley shoots 34.7% from the floor, 24.4% beyond the arc, and 72.2% at the free throw line.

Evansville is projected to finish fourth in the MVC preseason poll, their highest projection since 2008-2009. Dickey was also named to the preseason All-Conference team. The Aces are guided by fourth year head coach Oties Epps. Bradley was voted to place last in the MVC preseason poll but did not have any players named to the preseason team. The Braves are led by third year head coach Michael Brooks. Bradley is ahead 25-17 in the all-time series vs. UE but the teams split their meetings last season.

Tickets can be purchased over the phone at 812-488-ACES (2237), in person at either the Carson Center or Ford Center ticket office, or online via Ticketmaster.com.

With fouls mounting up and the game in the balance, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team was able to stand tall to earn a 66-56 victory at Bradley on Saturday afternoon at Carver Arena.

D.J. Balentine led all scorers with 22 points and his recorded double figures in all 16 games this season for the Purple Aces (12-4, 2-2 MVC). Egidijus Mockevicius finished the day with 14 points and 14 rebounds en route to his 11th double-double of the year.

“We challenged our guys to execute better at the under 4 timeout and they did. We had to deal with a lot of different things today with fouls and different lineups,” UE head coach Marty Simmons said. “I am proud of the way our guys responded. We still had way too many turnovers and gave up some offensive boards, but it is good to come out of here with a win.”

Neither team was able to find its rhythm early in the first half. The teams combined for seven turnovers in the first four minutes as the Aces held a 5-4 lead. With the score tied at 11-11 midway through the opening frame, the Aces made their first significant run of the contest. Evansville hit five shots in row to take its largest lead at 22-16. Their defense in the opening minutes was stellar, holding Bradley to 2-of-12 from the field to begin the game.

Balentine had three shots in row before Taylor Stafford capped off the stretch with his third 3-pointer of the year. UE continued to lead by six with seven minutes left (24-18) before the Braves went on a 10-4 run to tie it up at 28-28 four minutes later. It was the Omari Grier show as the junior hit six of his eight attempts in the first half to notch 13 points.

It was Balentine easing the pressure for UE in the final stretch of the half, posting six points in the final 2:48 to finish the period with 15 and send the Aces to the locker room up 36-32. The teams combined for 18 turnovers in the half. UE shot 59.1% in the frame while Bradley checked in at 42.9%. Aside from Grier, the rest of the Braves squad hit just six out of 20 attempts in the half.

Bradley hit its first two shots of the second half to knot the score at 36-36. On the next possession, Blake Simmons took his first shot of the game, draining a three that sent the Aces on a 9-1 run as they took their largest lead of the game at 45-37 inside of the 16-minute mark. Simmons struck again just minutes later as another trey gave the Aces a 9-point lead at 48-39.

An 8-1 stretch by the Braves saw them cut the gap to just two at the halfway point of the latter stanza at 49-47. Grier wrapped up the run with his seventh bucket of the tilt. Over that stretch, the fouls also started to pile up for UE as Simmons, Mislav Brzoja and Duane Gibson each were called for their fourth. The UE offense was 1-10 with a pair of turnovers as BU made its way back.

Jaylon Brown ended the stretch with 6:21 left as his shot gave UE a 53-48 lead. That edge reached seven at 57-50 with under four minutes left as Balentine hit his first shot of the half.

At the 2:05 mark, Balentine struck again. Rewind to two minutes prior as the Aces turned the ball over, but were able to force a jump ball. That paid off a few possession later as another jump ball gave possession to UE and Balentine hit an and-one to give the Aces their first double figure lead at 62-51. Bradley got within eight in the final moments before the Aces clinched the 10-point win.

Evansville shot an impressive 53.3% in the game, including 59.1% in the first half. UE was also credited with 17 assists on 24 makes. Brzoja posted 10 points and 7 rebounds to complete the double digit scorers.

Leading the Braves was Grier, who tallied 15. Tramique Sutherland registered 12 while Josh Cunningham had 10 points and 9 rebounds.

Following a trip to Missouri State on Wednesday, the Aces return home next Saturday to face Wichita State at 1 p.m. at the Ford Center. Tickets are available by calling 812-488-ACES or by visiting the ticket offices at the Carson Center on the UE campus or Ford Center. Fans can take advantage of a special 4 for $44 ticket deal where you receive a ticket to the game against the Shockers as well as the contests versus Southern Illinois and Indiana State. The final game of the 4-pack is your choice of any of the February home games (Illinois State, Missouri State, Bradley and Drake).

Faculty/staff can now pick up tickets for the Women's Basketball game on Monday, January 12. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. 

Tickets for Saturday's men's basketball game against #16 Wichita State are now available. Please be advised that all faculty/staff will be required to sign off when picking up their 2 complimentary tickets. This will be the policy moving forward for the remainder of the season. Go Aces! 

The Intramural Department is looking for experienced basketball players/officials to help out with officiating intramural games this spring. If you are interested, email Seth Woodason at sw227@evansville.edu. Or, you can come to the Carson Center room 113 on Monday, Jan. 12 or Tuesday, Jan. 13 from 7 pm-8 pm.