Dear UE Community,

I am pleased to announce that we have chosen a new Chief Diversity Officer. Beginning August 1, Robert Shelby, PhD, will lead and coordinate the University’s efforts in all aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Of course, Dr. Shelby is already part of the UE family and has been teaching sociology courses at the University since 2015 as an assistant professor.

In his new role, Dr. Shelby will have a direct reporting line to the president, will serve as an integral member of the president’s leadership team, and will lead the newly created Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.  Dr. Shelby will work closely with the Office of Student Affairs and the Office of Human Resources with responsibilities in multicultural affairs, institutional equity/Title IX, and university religious life.

Dr. Shelby earned his PhD from the University of Louisville in 2016 in applied sociology. He earned graduate degrees in sociology from Western Illinois University and communications from Trinity International University, and an undergraduate degree in youth ministry and biblical studies from Trinity International University. In addition to his higher education experience, Dr. Shelby worked as an engineering technician and served in the U.S. Army. 

Dr. Shelby has been married to Tricia for 26 years, and they have three adult daughters and one grandson.

During his time at UE, Dr. Shelby has served as a student and faculty mentor, as a member of the taskforce on race, and as a Title IX investigator.

“I’m most excited to work with students, faculty, staff, administrators, and alumni in this more actionable capacity,” said Dr. Shelby. “Being entrusted to educate our students in the classroom has been my honor and privilege. Now, I hope to extend my concern for diversity, equity, and inclusion to our entire learning community.”

Among his many duties, Dr. Shelby will manage the Diversity Resource Center, develop the annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration, coordinate the Let’s Talk Diversity at UE events, serve as a mentor and advisor for multicultural and diversity-related student organizations, and work closely with internal and external constituencies to advance overall diversity and equity on campus.

“I am deeply humbled by the show of support from the UE community as I become the next Chief Diversity Officer,” Dr. Shelby said. “I firmly believe that if we can agree that every human being has inherent value, we owe it to one another to think deeply, plan effectively, and act empathetically about matters of diversity, equity, and inclusion at UE.”  

I cannot think of a better person to lead our diversity initiatives and I invite you to join me in welcoming him into his new role.

Please send a note of congratulations to Dr. Shelby at rs262@evansville.edu.

With my best,
Prez P

The UE Garden contines to produce peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, squash (summer AND wnter), as well as basil. All of this, plus honey and farm-fresh eggs, will be on sale in Ridgway Center on Wednesday morning.

Submitted by Bill Hemminger bh35@evansville.edu.

Please join the Center for Career Development in wishing Abby Michel well in her next adventure and thank her for her seven years at UE. There will be a reception in her honor on Wednesday, July 31 from 2:30 to 4:00 pm in the Student Life lobby.

Submitted by Dianna Cundiff dc114@evansville.edu.

The United Way Day of Caring will be Friday, September 13. This year, UE will be partnering again with the local council of the Boy Scouts of America, the Buffalo Trace Council. This location is located just down the road off the Lloyd Expressway (behind the State Hospital).

Join us on this exciting day by signing up for one of the listed volunteer opportunities. Employees who choose to participate in the Day of Caring do not need to use a vacation day, but do need to get approval from your supervisor.

To sign up, fill out this online form - https://form.jotform.com/91645777131159.

The deadline to sign up is Friday, August 16.

Please let Brian Conner, bc32@evansville.edu, in residence life know if you have any questions.

Distribution Services/Central Receiving is accepting the newest version of the in-house office supply order form (dated 7/2019). The updated form reflects updated pricing and the changes that came into effect on June 1, which includes the reduction of UE generic letterhead and generic window/addressable/BRE envelopes, notepads, shipping labels and name tags.

The updated In-House Office Supply Order form and instructions are available on the Distribution Services/Central Receiving and Purchasing websites in AceLink. Please note that previous versions of the in-house form will no longer be accepted as of September 1, 2019. Please email your questions to centralreceiving@evansville.edu or call ext. 1067.

Please be aware that there is an active credit card scam using deceptive email in our area. From a UE Pcard perspective, the basic scam involves a SCAM email from a “UE supervisor” requesting the purchase of gift cards (Amazon, CVS, etc.) Please do not respond, do not share your phone information, and delete these emails! Usually the email address of the “UE supervisor” shows up on the initial email and it does not follow the UE email format.

When in doubt, call the “UE supervisor” and ask them for verification. Also, remember that UE’s Pcard Policy, does not allow the use of Pcards to obtain gifts, gift cards and certificates. There is a separate process used to acquire these items.

For additional information on the process for “Gifts, Gift Cards and Certificates”, or additional information on ways to avoid fraud (“Simple Ways to Avoid Credit Card Fraud” and “How to Recognized a Credit Card Telephone Scam”) visit the Pcard website on AceLink at https://acelink.evansville.edu/Areas/Pcard/

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Submitted by Kim Winsett kw83@evansville.edu.

The UE Bookstore is looking for a person to work for a couple of weeks during Fall rush. Estimated days would be Aug 15-31, full or part time. The ideal candidate should be available Monday-Friday. This would be perfect for a friend or relative that needs a little extra cash. Duties would included watching the textbook area, helping students, and organizing the store. If you know of anyone interested please have them contact the Bookstore. UE students would not be a good match as we need someone here most of the day during the first week of school.

Submitted by Doug Gustwiller dg57@evansville.edu.

The University of Evansville Theatre announces six productions for the 2019–2020 season. Newly hired as an Assistant Professor of Acting, Amelia McClain makes her directing debut at the University of Evansville with SMALL MOUTH SOUNDS, in the May Studio Theatre, Sept. 20 through 26. SMALL MOUTH SOUNDS, by Drama Desk Award-winning writer Bess Wohl, was a 2016 off-Broadway hit and New York Times Critic’s Pick.

Tlaloc Rivas, a New York City-based theatre artist, guest directs THE THREE MUSKETEERS, in Shanklin Theatre, Oct. 18 through 27. Inspired by the novel of Alexandre Dumas, this new adaptation by Megan Monaghan Rivas is set in 17th century France, but reimagined in a world where women and men are equally empowered.

Blake Ware, a senior theatre performance major from Evansville, Ind., directs LONE STAR SPIRITS, in the May Studio Theatre, Nov. 18 through 24. The New York Times called it, “Another spunky, funny work by Josh Tobiessen.”

The spring season begins with the musical VIOLET, music by the Tony Award-winning composer Jeanine Tesori, lyrics and book by Brian Crawley, and based on “The Ugliest Pilgrim,” by Doris Betts. Slated to be directed by Resident Director Wes Grantom and music directed by Adjunct Instructor Dana Taylor, this musical originally premiered Off-Broadway in 1997 and won the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Musical and the revised version made its Broadway debut in 2014 and received a Tony Award nomination for Best Revival of a Musical. VIOLET runs in Shanklin Theatre, Feb. 21 through Mar. 1.

Blake Elliott, a senior stage management major from Cypress, Texas, directs COLUMBINUS, created by the United States Theatre Project and written by Stephen Karam and PJ Paparelli, in the May Studio Theatre, Mar. 23 through 29. Peter Marks of The Washington Post called this play, “An ambitious examination of the suburbanization of evil.”

McClain takes helm of the final production of the season, Anton Chekhov’s THE SEAGULL, in Shanklin Theatre, April 17 through 26. Adapted by Tom Stoppard, the Academy Awardwinning writer of SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, his version of THE SEAGULL remains faithful to the humor Chekhov intended to convey amid all the pathos.

Subscription tickets for the three-play Shanklin Theatre series are available for $46 adult and $40 for senior adults, UE employees, and any student. Patrons can also purchase a three-play May Studio Theatre subscription for $25. Subscriptions may be purchased by calling 812.488.2747.

Submitted by Sharla Cowden sc75@evansville.edu.

Beginning Monday, July 29, 2019 Johnson Controls will be on campus conducting the annual fire alarm system testing. The testing will be conducted Monday - Saturday, 7:30AM-5PM. As each building is tested the alarm will go off intermittently. Physical Plant and Security will know on a daily basis the buildings being tested. As the technicians move from building to building they will notify Security. Testing will be completed by Saturday, August 10th. Any concerns or schedule conflicts please contact the Facilities Dept at ext. 2775.

Submitted by Jayne Schnacke js607@evansville.edu.

Tuesday, July 30 Facilities will have a contractor on campus testing equipment in campus building and residence halls that requires shutting off the water for a brief time. Any questions contact the Facilities Dept office at ext. 2775.

Submitted by Jayne Schnacke js607@evansville.edu.

Freshman Move-In Day is quickly approaching. To demonstrate the welcoming environment UE provides to our students, we are once again looking for volunteers to assist with greeting and providing directions to our new students and families when they arrive on campus. Please consider signing up for a 2 hour shift on Saturday, August 17th. No experience is necessary and detailed directions will be provided. Greeters are faculty, staff and alumni volunteers. To sign up, go to: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805094eaea62f4-move1

Submitted by Geoff Edwards ge21@evansville.edu.

A new email address has been created for all affiliation agreements, clinical agreements, service agreements, Harlaxton agreements, and all contracts normally submitted for review by the Vice President of Fiscal Affairs and Administration, Donna Teague. The address is: contracts@evansville.edu. Please send all contracts to this email. This email is being monitored and is specifically for contracts and agreements. This will assist in speeding up the review process and required signatures.

Please direct any questions to Michele Adams at ma72@evansville.edu or ext. 2183.

As of June 23, 2019, several U.S.P.S. price changes took effect June 23. These include dimensional weight changes that affect Parcel Select, Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express.

Under the changes, mailers are required to provide dimensions when a parcel measures over 1 cubic foot for Priority Mail Express; Priority Mail (all zones); and Parcel Select (all zones and entries), except Parcel Select Lightweight service.
There also are postage statement updates associated with these price changes.

Additionally, First-Class Mail International flat pieces, which previously were available for up to 4 pounds, are now limited to 15.999 ounces.

Submitted by Kim Winsett kw83@evansville.edu.

Robert Dion led two seminars on the U.S. Constitution this month at the We The People Summer Institute held at the Indiana University School of Education in Bloomington.  This intensive program provided professional development for dozens of high school and middle school teachers from across the states of Indiana and Ohio.  It was co-sponsored by the Indiana Bar Foundation and the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education, and it was based on the We The People curriculum developed by the Center for Civic Education.  Professor Dion was one of the featured speakers in a program that included: former Congressman Lee Hamilton (D-IN); Robert Leming, national director of the We The People program; and Dr. David Adler, president of the Alturas Institute.

Submitted by Robert Dion rd35@evansville.edu.

Nicholas Harmon, Assistant Professor of Physics, presented a poster at the ICDS in Seattle, WA on July 23. The title of the poster was "Near-zero field spin-dependent recombination as a tool for defect analysis and identification". The research presents a new method by which defects can be studied in circuits. A conventional method is through magnetic resonance (similar to MRI) while the new method described in the poster is simpler and not subject to some limitations that magnetic resonance is.

Submitted by Nicholas Harmon nh140@evansville.edu.

University of Evansville head men’s basketball coach Walter McCarty has announced changes in his coaching staff that are effective immediately.

After serving as an assistant coach for the Purple Aces last season, Todd Lickliter has announced his retirement.  The 2007 NABC National Coach of the Year will step back from the coaching ranks in order to focus on spending time with his family.

“I am extremely thankful to Todd for his work with our program,” McCarty said.  “His knowledge of the game of basketball really made a difference with our guys while his experience as a head coach helped me immensely in my first season.  We will miss his presence, but wish him nothing but the best in the future.”

Logan Baumann, who worked as the Associate Athletic Director for Basketball Operations last season, has been elevated to an assistant coach.  The graduate of Louisville was in charge of all off-court operations for the program last season.  Isaac McGlone, who was a graduate assistant for the program last year, will move into Baumann’s operations position.

“We are very fortunate to have someone with Logan’s experience and knowledge on our staff.  He impacted our program in so many ways off the court last season and we are excited to have him transition to working on the court this season,” McCarty added.  “It is also a great benefit to have Isaac move into our operations position.  He had the opportunity to work closely with Logan over the last 12 months and is ready to make that next step.”

Submitted by Bob Pristash rp113@evansville.edu.