On February 26, University of Evansville President Thomas A. Kazee and his wife, Sharon Kazee, PhD, were recognized for their years of service as UE’s 23rd President and First Lady. The Kazees were each presented with individual Sagamore of the Wabash Awards from Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb and were recognized with an Indiana Senate Concurrent Session Resolution.

According to the State of Indiana’s website, “the Sagamore of the Wabash Award is the highest honor which the Governor of Indiana bestows. It is a personal tribute usually given to those who have rendered a distinguished service to the state or to the governor. Among those who have received Sagamores have been astronauts, presidents, ambassadors, artists, musicians, politicians, and ordinary citizens who have contributed greatly to our Hoosier heritage.”

Senator Vaneta Becker presented the Sagamore of the Wabash Awards to the Kazees on behalf of Governor Holcomb during a special reception.

Earlier in the day, the Kazees were honored with an Indiana Senate Concurrent Session Resolution. Following a long list of major accomplishments, the resolution concluded that the “Indiana General Assembly honors Dr. Thomas Kazee and Dr. Sharon Kazee upon their retirements as President and First Lady of the University of Evansville and thanks them for their years of service and dedication to the University of Evansville, the Southwest Indiana Community, and the State.”

Senator Becker presented the resolution during the Senate session and invited the Kazees and other UE representatives to join her at the podium. In the House, Representative Ryan Hatfield, Representative Wendy McNamara, and Representative Carey Hamilton commented on the Kazees’ tenure and the outstanding programs offered at UE. President Kazee also said a few words during the House Session.

The Newman Center welcomes Chris Hoehn today at 5:00 p.m. for her talk on icons. All are welcome and dinner will be provided! 

Submitted by Breanne Buerster bb261@evansville.edu

UE students interested in learning about a student-run marketing group are invited to attend either of two info sessions today, Wednesday, February 28.

4:00-5:00 p.m. in Room 173, Schroeder School of Business Building
6:00-7:00 p.m. in Room 272, Schroeder School of Business Building

Submitted by Cindy Kelley ck116@evansville.edu 

The UE Bookstore is offering 25% OFF the original price of all NIKE merchandise in the store February 26-March 2. Sale ends on Friday, March 2 at 4:30 p.m. Get yourself some gear for Spring Break!

Submitted by Doug Gustwiller dg57@evansville.edu

Counseling services, with the support of Albion Fellows Bacon Center, is displaying the “What Were You Wearing?” sexual assault survivor art installation. The display features 10 outfits along with brief stories of the sexual assault. The main goal of the exhibit is to promote awareness about sexual violence and to combat victim-blaming by debunking the myth that a survivor could have prevented their assault had they worn something different.

The display can be seen today -Tuesday, March 13 - outside of counseling services on the second floor of Ridgway University Center. Staff from counseling services as well as Albion will be on hand for support and resources from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. and the display will be available for viewing all day.

Submitted by Jennifer Hargus jh693@evansville.edu

The campus community is invited to attend a conversation on gun violence in America tonight - Thursday, March 1 - at 7:00 p.m. in Neu Chapel. With this topic being first and foremost in national headlines, our special guest for this event is Gerald Summers, retired law enforcement with EPD and former director of safety and security with EVSC. All are welcome! Refreshments will be served. 

Submitted by Keith Turner kt160@evansville.edu

Come join ladies of Delta Omega Zeta in their Karaoke night Philanthropy event. This fun night of singing and dancing takes place March 23 in Room 162 in the Schroeder School of Business Building from 6:00- 8:00 p.m.

Stop by Delta Omega Zeta's table in Ridgway to order your tickets ahead of time: $5 to attend or to preform solo, $15 for a group of four or less people, and $20 for a group of five or more people. All proceeds will benefit Youth First.

Submitted by Eileen Rasmussen er132@evansville.edu

The topic of the Scholars for Syria's 2018 Spring Speaker Series lecture today - Thursday, April 5 - will be "Immigration and Syria: Foundations and Consequences of the American Ethnic Hierarchy." The lecture begins at 6:00 p.m. in Room 162 in the Schroeder School of Business Building. The event is free and open to the public. The speaker will be UE assistant professor of sociology Rob Shelby.

Shelby will present the idea that Syrian refugees, like many minority groups before, encounter prejudice and discrimination as widespread negative perceptions persist in American social consciousness. Shelby earned his PhD from the University of Louisville in applied sociology, his graduate degrees in sociology from Western Illinois University and communications from Trinity International University. He earned his undergraduate degree in youth ministry and biblical studies from Trinity International University.

The audience will be invited to engage in conversation with Shelby and UE Syrian students in attendance at the lecture.

For more information on the speaker series, contact 812-488-2218.

The “Coffee and Classics” Series at Wired continues tonight - Thursday, March 1 - with the Eykamp String Quartet presenting “Quartet Deconstructed.” Eykamp Quartet violinists Robert Anemone and Nica Malaimare, violist Emily Brandenburg, and cellist Kirsten Jermé will partner in all possible combinations of duos with each other before closing the program as a full quartet for a performance of Schubert’s Quartettsatz. Duos will span an array of eras and styles, including works by Beethoven, Penderecki, Gershwin, Bartók, Handel-Halvorsen, and Kodály. 

“Coffee and Classics” is a monthly series at the Wired Venue on select Thursday evenings featuring live classical chamber music in an intimate setting.

Doors to the coffee house will open at 6:00 p.m., and the program will begin at 7:00 p.m. There is no admission charge, but donations are appreciated.

WIRED is located at 111 NW 4th Street in downtown Evansville on 4th between Vine and Sycamore near the Old Courthouse.

Submitted by Kirsten Jerme kj106@evansville.edu

The University of Evansville will present a keynote conversation between former Indiana Senator Richard Lugar and UE President Thomas A. Kazee for the Spring 2018 Patricia H. Snyder Concert and Lecture Series on March 20 at 7:00 p.m.

The conversation, titled “State of our Union: Making Sense of Current Affairs,” will be held in Eykamp Hall within Ridgway University Center on the UE campus and doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

This event is free and open to the public and guests will be seated on a first-come first-served basis. Reserve your seat online here. 

This event is presented in partnership with the University of Evansville Department of Law, Politics, and Society as part of an all-day series of current events and political science events and discussions, in honor of the retirement of Dr. Thomas Kazee and his academic career as a political scientist.

The Patricia H. Snyder Concert and Lecture Series was made possible in 1997 through an endowment from the late Patricia H. Snyder, trustee and longtime friend of University, to bring speakers or performers of renown to Evansville at no cost to the public.

Find this event on Facebook for updates and reminders. 

For event questions, please contact snyder@evansville.edu.

The Newman Club will be offering a 20-minute rosary prayer every Thursday at 10:00 a.m. in the Center for Academic Advising in the Clifford Memorial Library. Students and faculty are welcome. For more information, contact Olivia at ov4@evansville.edu.

Submitted by Carly Walker cw289@evansville.edu

Students who have used federal direct (sub/unsub) loans and plan to graduate in the spring or summer (or transfer after the spring semester) are required to attend a Loan Repayment Counseling Session.

The Office of Financial Aid will hold the first session of the semester on Wednesday, February 28 at 6:00 p.m. in Eykamp Hall, Room 252, Ridgway University Center.

Additional sessions will be held on April 26 at 2:00 p.m. and on May 4 at 11:30 a.m.

Submitted by Amy Sowders as560@evansville.edu 

The I-House program planned for Wednesday, February 28 has been cancelled. I-House will return after spring break on March 14 with a presentation on Zimbabwe. 

Submitted by Alexis Whitacre aw339@evansville.edu

There was a serendipitous meeting of people from the University of Evansville community at Deaconess Women’s Hospital last week.

UE alumna Becky Schmidt was in the hospital following the birth of her son, Mason, when Dr. Ron Pyle came to give Mason his newborn exam. He asked if it would be all right to have a group of physician assistant students observe and participate in the examination and take photos for a presentation. She agreed and then discovered the students were from UE. Two of their UE professors were in attendance also.

When everyone realized the UE connection, Mason posed with a University of Evansville hat to commemorate the occasion.

Mason was born Monday, February 19. His grandfather is Tom Ambrose, groundskeeper at the University.

The UE students who participated in the newborn examination were: Amber Anslinger, Joshua Baker, Shelby Clark, Elizabeth Daake, Samantha Dillman, Toni Finegan, Kelsey Hipp, Jamie Logel, Marcus Maier, Melanie Martin, Erin McTague, Matthew Mengel, Hailey Riggs, Sara Skluzacek, Katelyn Tuley, Haley Vos, Sarah Wagner, Peter Wilson, and Cathy Zhang. The professors in attendance were Gina Niemeier, UE director of clinical education, and Jenelle Evernham, UE assistant professor.

There will be some lane restrictions at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and Rotherwood Drive today. This is for water main work south and west of campus.

The Fitness Center will be:

• Open Friday, March 2 from 6:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m. (no p.m. open swim)
• Closed Saturday and Sunday, March 3-4
• Open Monday-Friday, March 5-9, from 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
• Closed Saturday and Sunday, March 10-11
• Normal hours resume on Monday, March 12

Submitted by Lori Adams la87@evansville.edu

Don’t miss out on your opportunity to apply for scholarship for Methodist students. Both the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation General Named Endowed and Dollars for Scholars applications are due by March 1. For more information, go to www.umhef.org.

The Higher Education and Ministry Scholarship application is due by March 7. For more information, go to www.ghem.org/scholarshipapplication.

Submitted by Cathleen Wright cw259@evansville.edu

Students registering for fall GAP classes should look for CHNG in the catalog or when talking with advisors. GAP is now ChangeLab. Courses available for the fall will be listed soon. For more information, go to www.evansville.edu/ChangeLab. Questions? Contact Erin Lewis at EL131@evansville.edu.

Submitted by Cindy Kelley ck116@evansville.edu 

The Alumni Research and Scholarly Activity Fellowship (ARSAF) application deadline for 2018-19 grants is Monday, April 2, at 5:00 p.m. Each year the Alumni Association sponsors these awards. A total of $15,000 is available to be allocated. Find out more and submit an online application from acelink.evansville.edu/Areas/AcademicAffairs/arsafApplication.cfm.

Submitted by Sylvia DeVault sy5@evansville.edu

Tracy Maurer, director of student publications, will be retiring after nearly 23 years at the University. Her last day on campus will be March 1. Tracy has impacted many students academically and personally during her time with the Crescent newspaper/magazine and Linc yearbook. These publications, with Tracy's direction, have gone on to win many national awards. She will be immensely missed. The Department of Art faculty celebrated her retirement with lunch. The department wishes all the years ahead bring her great joy and relaxation! Thank you Tracy for your years of service and dedication to the UE community!

Submitted by Brooksie Smith bs267@evansville.edu

Students wishing to live in a Village housing unit should pick up and submit their Village housing request cards this week. Cards are available Monday-Friday in the Office of Residence Life from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Remember, Village housing request cards are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 2.

Submitted by Brian Conner bc32@evansville.edu 

UE faculty and administrators as well as members of the Evansville community are invited to submit an abstract for papers on any aspect of their research or expertise for the 2018-19 Andiron Lectures in the Liberal Arts and Sciences. All disciplines and fields of study are welcome to submit proposals.

Please send the following by e-mail:

A 50-word abstract with name, academic affiliation/ occupation, paper title, and contact information to Annette Parks at ap3@evansville.edu (with a Cc to Cheryl Emmons at ce36@evansville.edu). Emmons will forward these to the Andiron Lecture Committee for consideration.

Nominations for off-campus speakers can be sent by e-mail to Parks at ap3@evansville.edu with a Cc to Emmons at ce36@evansville.edu; Emmons will forward them to the Andiron Lecture committee for consideration.

Cover your cough! Stop the spread of germs that can make you and others sick!

Here are some ways you can stop the spread of germs:

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Put your used tissue in the waste basket.
• If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands.
• You may be asked to put on a face mask to protect others.
• Wash hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.

Submitted by Ashley Craig ac408@evansville.edu

The following faculty members have been approved for tenure and promotion:

Atefeh Yazdanparast Ardestani, Schroeder Family School of Business Administration
Yazdanparast received her Ph.D. from the University of North Texas, her M.S. from Allameh Tabatabaie University, and her B.S. from Shahid Beheshti University.

She joined the University of Evansville in 2012 following four years acting as a teaching fellow while also earning her Ph.D. 

Yazdanparast is a prolific scholar. She has authored numerous journal articles and her scholarly productivity was highlighted by her publications in the Journal of Consumer Psychology and the Journal of Psychology and Marketing.

Yazdanparast’s portfolio of scholarship is mission driven and compliments our mission of teaching, scholarship, and global business education.

Her contributions to the University include membership on the University Curriculum Committee and the University Marketing Committee. In the Schroeder School she serves as a trainer for the Schroeder student ambassadors, assists in recruiting students and open houses, was a member in the Strategy search committee and taught a marketing session for the International Summer (China) Summer Academy.

Yazdanparast has been recognized as a GAP Faculty Fellow of the Institute for Global Enterprise, has collaborated on GAP projects and has also been a faculty advisor for Social Enterprise Week and marketing coach for Innovation Week. 

Alanna Keenan, Department of Music
Keenan received her DMA and MM from Louisiana State University, and her BM from Simpson College. 

She joined the University of Evansville in 2013 after directing the voice program at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio for five years. While having a wealth of performing experience, Keenan can also boast of having directing experience at various venues including Louisiana State University, Franciscan University, and Simpson College.

Here at UE, she is director of the UE Opera. Keenan was instrumental in the garnering of a significant grant from the William Schmidt Opera Foundation to support productions and outreach efforts for the opera. Her departmental service includes organizational work for the recording studio, various recruiting efforts and performances at Baccalaureate services and other University ceremonies. She has also worked extensively with the Curriculum Committee.

Lisa Kretz, Department of Philosophy and Religion
Kretz received her Ph.D. from Dalhousie University, Halifax, her M.A. and B.A. from the University of Alberta, Edmonton, and her B. Ed. from the University of Western Ontario, London.

She came to the University in 2013 from Grand Valley State University where she was a visiting assistant professor in the Department of Philosophy.

Kretz is well published, has made dozens of presentations, and has been awarded numerous grants including grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Canadian Graduate Scholarships Doctoral Scholarship, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, The Sir Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Pre-Doctoral Scholarship, and the University of Alberta Master’s Scholarship. 

Kretz currently acts as the library liaison for the department and is the coordinator for the Philosophy Program at UE. She is also a member of the Metropolitan Evansville Transit System’s Comprehensive Operational Analysis Steering Committee, vice president and board member of Urban Seeds and was a founding member and Listserv manager for the Environmental Action Community Listserv.

Kathy Liu, School of Health Sciences
Liu received her Doctorate in Philosophy from the University of Delaware, her M.S. from the University of Northern Colorado, and her B.A. from Washburn University. 

Due to Liu’s expertise in biomechanics, she has become the lead instructor for biomechanics in the College of Education and Health Sciences, teaching in the Exercise Science, Athletic Training, Physical Therapist Assistant and Physical Therapy programs and serves as the program director for the entry-level Masters in Athletic Training Program. 

Since joining the faculty in 2012, Liu has established a strong research program. She has published significant research in a variety of journals and conference proceedings. More importantly, she has involved students in her research and has worked with other faculty here at UE as well as other universities. 

Liu is also active in professional organizations, including the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and has also been an associate editor for Athletic Training and Sports Healthcare while serving as a manuscript reviewer for several journals.

Todd Matteson, Department of Art
Matteson received his M.F.A. from Kansas State University, Manhattan, his M.A. from Purdue University, a Post-Baccalaureate in Psychology from the University of Southern Indiana, and his B.S. from the University of Evansville.

Coming to UE from Lourdes University in 2015, Matteson has demonstrated substantial, distinctive and meaningful contributions to the areas of teaching, scholar/professional/creative activity, and institutional public service.

Matteson exhibits his art frequently in various exhibitions and has won various awards including the Excellence in Education Award from Ohio Magazine and the Faculty Excellence Award in Teaching from Lourdes University. He is a member of FATE (Foundation in Art Theory and Education), the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, and the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts, just to name a few.

One of his more notable UE service works is his work with UE’s annual chili bowl sale event. Last year’s event culminated successfully with a portion of the sales donated to a local art’s organization. This event not only fosters a sense of connection with students and alumni, but also creates a lasting impression of the University and the Department within the local community. Additionally, Matteson serves on the UE Fiscal Affairs committee and the UE Education Advisory Council.

The following faculty member has awarded tenure:

Marc Mitchell, Department of Electrical Engineering
Mitchell received his Ph.D. and M.S. from Cornell University, and his B.S. from the University of Evansville.

Mitchell began his teaching career at UE in 2011 having previously worked as a research assistant professor at the Idaho Accelerator Center, Idaho State University. His research experience includes research relevant to wire array physics, compact radiation sources and positron annihilation spectroscopy for defect analysis of materials. 

In the fall of 2011, Mitchell obtained a Keen Foundation grant with Dick Blandford, associate professor and chair of electrical engineering and computer science, to develop a new course on entrepreneurship. In the spring of 2012, he carried out the implementation of this grant and developed a new course related to the patent process in electrical engineering. Mitchell was also the PI for a grant from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency in the amount of $450,000. Work on this grant was related to the electromagnetic fields course which he teaches at UE.

The following faculty members have been awarded:

Margaret Atwater-Singer, Library
Atwater-Singer received her Master’s from Rutgers University and her B.A. from Kean College of New Jersey.

She joined the University in 1997 and came to us from Condé Nast Publications, Inc. where she worked as an assistant librarian.

Atwater-Singer has reviewed a multitude of publications, made dozens of presentations and has also been awarded various scholarships including but not limited to Wheeler Fund Awards, a Faculty Innovation Instruction Grant, and several Alumni Research and Scholarly Activity Fellowship grants. 

Overshadowing all that she has undertaken is the Libraries’ massive renovation project. She contributed to its success at every level, from initial planning in the project Working Group, through logistical planning for stacks management and provision of service before, during and after renovation, staff training and supervision, and coordination with a host of constituencies who had an interest in the success of the project. 

In addition to all of the endeavors relating directly to the Libraries’ renovation project, Atwater-Singer continues her engagement in other fundamental services of the University Libraries, including her contribution to the Research Assistance Program, and offering on-demand research assistance. 

Dennis Malfatti, Department of Music
Malfatti received his DMA from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, his MM from Pennsylvania State University, and his BM (Summa cum Laude) from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA.

Malfatti joined the UE faculty in 2007 and came to us from Longwood University in Farmville, VA, where he was director of choral activities and assistant professor of music. 

Malfatti has been the conductor of the Evansville Philharmonic Chorus, is the founder/conductor of the Evansville Bach Singers and has been appointed to serve on the Indiana Choral Directors Association Board. Malfatti has been guest conductor with the Illinois Music Educators Association, the Virginia Music Educators Association, and the EVSC Honors Choir to name just a few. 

Under Malfatti’s direction, the University Choir has been recognized through invitation to record Indiana All-State Choir audition excerpts and has participated in a concert performed at Carnegie Hall. Also of particular note is a summer attendance as one of a few select participants at the prestigious Oregon Bach Festival where he worked with Helmut Rilling.

Garnet Ungar, Department of Music
Ungar received his Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Houston, his MM from the University of Calgary, and his Bachelor Degree from the University of Toronto. 

Ungar’s professional activities are impressive. He is an excellent pianist and has been active at a variety of venues locally, nationally (Universities of Akron and Mt. Union), and internationally (Toronto Arts and Letters Club; Xinghai University, China; Kwassui University, Japan). He has also undertaken a number of projects of particular note including his Schubert Piano Works CD and a recent completion of a book chronicling the life of Abbey Simon. 

Service contributions to the department and University include chairing the department’s Assessment Committee and a faculty search committee. He has also served on the Recording Studio Committee which manages recording of all departmental concerts and recitals. Ungar also coordinates the piano portion of the Summer Music Camp. 

Ungar is a member of the American Liszt Society, the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society, the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society, and the Indiana Music Teachers Association.

Young Choul Kim, Department of Law, Politics and Society
Kim received his Ph.D. from Texas Tech University (Lubbock), and his M.A. and B.A. from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul.

He joined the UE faculty in 2004 and came to us from Texas Tech where he was a graduate instructor of political science.

Since 2013, Kim has served as the director of the International Studies Program and also holds the distinction of being the Austin S. Igleheart Endowed Chair in Political Science. 

Kim has won numerous grants and awards, including but not limited to The Ridgway Faculty Excellence Award, The Global Scholar Award, the Research Grant Award of the ASIANetwork Student-Faculty Fellows Program provided by the ASIANetwork Freeman Foundation, and the Tri-State Global Enterprise in Asia Project Grant.

Kim has numerous publications and a multitude of conference presentations and professional activities. He serves or has served the University in many areas including the International Programs Committee, the External Study Abroad committee, the Faculty Senate, and the Academic Services Committee to name just a few. 

Kim is a member of the American Political Science Association, the Indiana Political Science Association, the Korean Political Science Association, and the Indiana Academy of the Social Science to name a few.

Lora Becker, Department of Psychology
Becker earned her Ph.D. and M.A. from the State University of New York (Binghamton), and her B.S. from Wright State University (Dayton, OH).

She joined the UE faculty in 2000 coming from Binghamton University where she was an instructor of psychology. 

Since joining the University, Becker has written numerous research articles and posters and has won many grants including but not limited to the National Science Foundation NSF 13-517 Grant, the Mead Johnson Nutritional Grant, numerous UExplore Research Grants, ARSAF grants, and ADVANTAGE Undergraduate Research grants.

She has also taken on a number of directorship positions at UE including the Neuroscience Program, the Summer Reading Program, the Major Discovery Program, and the Academic Assessment Committee. 

She is currently on the Pre-Professional Advisors Committee, the Institutional Care and Use Committee, the Math, Engineering and Science Conference (MESCON) committee, the Berger Award Committee and is co-coordinator for the Crick Lecture series. She has also served on the General Education Steering Committee, the Faculty Senate, Institutional Diversity Council, and the Strategic Plan Oversight Committee to name just a few.

Joyce Stamm, Department of Biology
Stamm received her Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and her B.S. with honor from the California Institute of Technology (Pasadena).

She joined the UE faculty in 2005 coming to us from The Claremont Colleges where she was a visiting professor. 

Stamm has made meaningful contributions to both the biology department and the University during her tenure. Most notably, she has served as president of the Faculty Senate and on a number of committees and working groups, including the Curriculum Committee, the MESCON Planning Committee, Institutional Review board and the Connections Strategic Planning Working Group. She also served the University as a faculty marshall during Commencement.

She has been awarded numerous grants including UExplore Undergraduate Research Program grants, the Alumni Research and Scholarly Activity Fellowship Grant, and the Arts, Research and Teaching Projects grants. She is also an active participant in recruitment through her visits with prospective students and through her participation in Open Houses.

Heidi Strobel, Department of Archaeology and Art History
Strobel received her Ph.D. and M.A. from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and her B.A. from Kalamazoo College.

She joined the faculty at UE in 2004 after serving as assistant professor of art history at Baker College.

In addition to her teaching load, Strobel is also the associate dean of the William L. Ridgway College of Arts and Sciences. She serves as department advisor for internships and is faculty advisor to art history majors and minors. 

Strobel is the author of several books including The Artistic Matronage of Queen Charlotte (1744-1818):  How a Queen Promoted Both Art and Female Artists in English Society and has also written numerous journal, encyclopedia and dictionary articles.

She has also won a number of awards and grants that include the John H. Schroeder Faculty Development Fund award, the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art/Yale University Research Support Grant and the Indiana Landmarks Historic Preservation Education Grant (Wes Peters/Margedant House), and is also the director of the Wes Peters/Margedant House.

Congratulations to Bob and Anne Dale on the birth of their granddaughter Poppy Jane Smith. Poppy was born Saturday, February 24. Her parents, Shannon and Richard Smith, are UE alumni. Bob is the supervisor of grounds and Anne is the mailing and risk management specialist for administrative services.

Submitted by Jayne Schnacke js607@evansville.edu

In a season that saw him average 22.1 points per game while scoring 20 points or more on 18 occasions, University of Evansville junior Ryan Taylor was named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference First Team on Tuesday.

The Gary, Ind. native has been on an absolute roll in the last nine games, averaging 26.0 points while pushing his season average to a league-best 22.1. He ranks 13th in the nation with his average. As the top scorer in the league, Taylor helped UE extend its streak to five years in a row of having the conference’s leading scorer.

On Monday, Taylor was named the MVC Player of the Week for the second time this season after averaging 27.5 PPG in the final week of the regular season. He notched 30 points on the road against Indiana State before wrapping up the regular season with 25 points in a Senior Day win over Southern Illinois.

Taylor has hit 10 or more shots in eight of the last nine games while scoring double figures in each contest this season. 

He becomes the eighth player in UE’s MVC history to earn the accolade and the first since D.J. Balentine and Egidijus Mockevicius were named to the First Team in 2016.  

Atefeh Yazdanparast, assistant professor of marketing and Mead Johnson Endowed Chair in Business, has had a paper accepted for publication in the Journal of Macromarketing. The paper is titled "Advertising and Pseudo-Culture: An Analysis of the Changing Portrayal of Women in Print Advertising." It follows a content analysis and a semiotic analysis of print advertisements over a period of 48 years and investigates the use of mass media, specifically advertising, in cultural transformation projects to weaken cultures and replace them with a crafted pseudo-culture. Drawing on the theory of pseudo-culture, the research develops a conceptual framework underlying pseudo-culture formation themes and identifies major tools/processes through which pseudo-cultures may be formed, promoted, and/or abolished.

Logan Tsuji, junior trumpet performance major, won an Outstanding Soloist Award at the 51st Annual Elmhurst College Jazz Festival on Saturday, February 24. Logan Tsuji's solo work on Duke Ellington's Concerto for Cootie won accolades from the judges at the festival. UE Jazz Ensemble I attended the long running festival and performed several works by noted jazz composers and arrangers.

William Baer, creative writing professor emeritus, has published his first mystery novel, New Jersey Noir. Published by Able Muse Press and available on Amazon, Baer’s twenty-second book has been described in reviews as “taut,” “complex,” “fast moving as a bullet,” and “gut-wrenching.”