Events Calendar

All members of the Illinois State State University Community are Welcome!
          You need not be a member of the University Club to attend.

                                                                

Spring Semester 2025

The University Club meetings and speaker presentations are being held in-person in the Faculty/Staff Commons located on the second floor in the Bone Student Center.  Our meetings start with a social hour, beginning at 3:30 p.m., with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and soft drinks, followed at 4:30 p.m. by a short presentation by our speaker.  Support for University Club programming is provided by the Offices of the President and Provost.

 

Friday January 31, 2025

"Open Discussion"

We are meeting in the Faculty/Staff Commons from 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.  All our members and guests are cordially invited to attend.  At 4:30 p.m. an update on the programs and activities planned for this semester will be presented by the University Club Officers.

The University Club is the only University-wide social group available for all ISU faculty, staff, administrative professionals, civil service staff and annuitants. We meet on alternate Fridays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Commons on the second floor of the Bone Student Center. Our meetings start with a social hour, beginning at 3:30 p.m., with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and soft drinks. 

 

Friday February 14, 2025

“Why Africa Matters”

United States Ambassador (retired) Geeta Pasi, the inaugural Donald F. McHenry Visiting Professor in Diplomacy and International Affairs at Illinois State University, will give a talk titled “Why Africa Matters” at the University Club at 4:30 p.m. Friday February 14, in the Faculty/Staff Commons in the Bone Student Center. 

A three-time Chief of Mission with the rank of Career Minister, Former Ambassador Geeta Pasi most recently served as the U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia until 2022. She earlier served as U.S. Ambassador to Chad (2016-2018) and Djibouti (2011-2014) as well as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of African Affairs, leading a team that developed and advanced U.S. policy in Africa. Previous overseas postings included Cameroon, Romania, Germany, Bangladesh, Ghana, and India, where she focused on human rights, democracy and humanitarian assistance as well as advocated for U.S. business. She earned numerous awards and accolades for her work, including the Presidential Rank Award for exceptional performance. (Quoted in part from the ISU News, May 8, 2023).

The University Club is the only University-wide social group available for all ISU faculty, staff, administrative professionals, civil service staff and annuitants. We meet on alternate Fridays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Commons on the second floor of the Bone Student Center. Our meetings start with a social hour, beginning at 3:30 p.m., with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and soft drinks. 

 

Friday February 28, 2025

"Noble-Wieting: Examining Community in Central Illinois During the 14^th century AD"

Dr. Logan Miller, Associate Professor of Anthropology, will give a talk titled, "Noble-Wieting: Examining Community in Central Illinois During the 14th century AD", at the University Club at 4:30 p.m. Friday February 28, in the Faculty/Staff Commons in the Bone Student Center. 

The Noble-Wieting cultural site, a six-acre circular Native American village overlooking Kickapoo Creek in McLean County Illinois, was occupied around 1300 AD and has been the subject of student-centered archaeological field research project since 2016.  The 13th through 15th centuries AD in what is today Illinois, were a time of change involving population movements, shifting social networks, and climate change.  As such, Noble-Wieting has many unique and intriguing features. For one, pottery recovered from the site suggests that Noble-Wieting was a multi-cultural settlement where groups that previously occupied separate villages coexisted together. Second, the geographic location of Noble-Wieting is many dozens of miles away from other contemporary villages placing it in a frontier location, well beyond known settlement areas. And finally, residents appear to have heavily focused hunting strategies on elk relative to the white-tailed deer typical of other villages. This presentation summarizes nearly a decade of archaeological research at Noble-Wieting including  a comparison of the remains of houses, and their associated artifacts, from different areas of the village to illustrate current understandings of community formation at this unique and important site.

The University Club is the only University-wide social group available for all ISU faculty, staff, administrative professionals, civil service staff and annuitants. We meet on alternate Fridays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Commons on the second floor of the Bone Student Center. Our meetings start with a social hour, beginning at 3:30 p.m., with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and soft drinks. 

                                                                         -----  ISU Spring Break -----

Friday March 28, 2025

"Improving Memory: Lessons from Research"

Dr. Dawn McBride, Professor of Psychology, will give a talk titled, "Improving Memory: Lessons from Research” at the University Club at 4:30 p.m. Friday March 28 in the Faculty/Staff Commons in the Bone Student Center.   

Many people have a goal of improving their memory. But how can that be done? This talk will examine what memory research tells us about how memory can be improved and what types of memory are easier to improve than others. Ways to create stronger memories and how to avoid memory errors will be discussed.

The University Club is the only University-wide social group available for all ISU faculty, staff, administrative professionals, civil service staff and annuitants. We meet on alternate Fridays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Commons on the second floor of the Bone Student Center. Our meetings start with a social hour, beginning at 3:30 p.m., with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and soft drinks. 

 

Friday April 11, 2025

“Becoming a Cybersecurity ACE”

Dan Taube, Chief Information Security Officer at Illinois State University will give a talk titled, "Becoming a Cybersecurity ACE" at the University Club at 4:30 p.m. Friday April 11, in the Faculty/Staff Commons in the Bone Student Center. 

Learn how to face today’s cyber threats with awareness, confidence, and engagement (ACE) — not fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) — in this session with Dan Taube, Chief Information Security Officer at ISU.  With the advent of AI and our increasing reliance on internet communication, we all need to understand and utilize optimal cybersecurity practices.

The University Club is the only University-wide social group available for all ISU faculty, staff, administrative professionals, civil service staff and annuitants. We meet on alternate Fridays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Commons on the second floor of the Bone Student Center. Our meetings start with a social hour, beginning at 3:30 p.m., with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and soft drinks. 

 

Friday April 25, 2025

"The University Club Scholarship Awards Ceremony" 

Ten $700 scholarships will be awarded at the "University Club Scholarship Awards Ceremony" which will begin at 3:30 p.m. with a social period with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and soft drinks. The Awards Ceremony will begin at 4 p.m.  A brief summary of each of these impressive student's interests and accomplishments will be presented.  Awardees, their families, guests, University Club Members and ISU faculty and staff are invited to attend. We are very pleased that we will be able to honor these exceptionally talented ISU students that have been involved in serving the University and local community.  

 

 

                                                            All are welcome. You need not be a University Club member to attend.    

 

                              ............................................................................................................................................................................................

                                                          --  See below for our programs from Fall Semester 2024 and earlier programs --

                              ............................................................................................................................................................................................

 Fall Semester 2024

The University Club meetings and speaker presentations are being held in-person in the Faculty/Staff Commons located on the second floor in the Bone Student Center.  Our meetings start with a social hour, beginning at 3:30 p.m., with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and soft drinks, followed at 4:30 p.m. by a short presentation by our speaker.  Support for University Club programming is provided by the Offices of the President and Provost.

 

Friday September 6, 2024

"Open Discussion"

We are meeting in the Faculty/Staff Commons from 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.  All our members and guests are cordially invited to attend.  At 4:30 p.m. an update on the programs and activities planned for this semester will be presented by the University Club Officers.

The University Club is the only University-wide social group available for all ISU faculty, staff, administrative professionals, civil service staff and annuitants. We meet on alternate Fridays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Commons on the second floor of the Bone Student Center. Our meetings start with a social hour, beginning at 3:30 p.m., with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and soft drinks. 

 

Friday September 20, 2024

“Chiyono Shoji Hamer:  Fall Down Seven Times. Get Up Eight.”

Dr. Susan Woollen, retired Director of Undergraduate Studies and Enrollment Management in the Department of Criminal Justice Sciences, will give a talk entitled,“Chiyono Shoji Hamer:  Fall Down Seven Times. Get Up Eight.” at the University Club at 4:30 p.m. Friday September 20 in the Faculty/Staff Commons in the Bone Student Center. This is the compelling story of Dr. Woollen’s mother who was a Nagaski survivor. 

Chiyono Shoji Hamer’s resilience knows no bounds. At the tender age of nine, she endured the horrors of the atomic bomb dropped over Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. Her daughter, Dr. Susan Woollen, recounts her remarkable journey in “Fall Down Seven Times. Get Up Eight.” weaving a narrative that extends beyond personal survival to encompass broader themes of war’s devastation, the specter of nuclear weapons, and the migration of Japanese War Brides to the United States.  

Be sure to join us with Dr. Woollen, Museum docent, Law Enforcement in a Democracy training facilitator, and a member of the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center's Second-Generation Speakers' Bureau, as she shares Chiyono’s story, delving into the depths of wartime suffering while painting vivid portraits of Japanese traditions, culture, and history – a profound exploration of resilience in the face of adversity. 

The University Club is the only University-wide social group available for all ISU faculty, staff, administrative professionals, civil service staff and annuitants. We meet on alternate Fridays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Commons on the second floor of the Bone Student Center. Our meetings start with a social hour, beginning at 3:30 p.m., with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and soft drinks. 

                         

Friday October 4, 2024

“Messages from the Crypt: Ciphers and the History of Writing”

Dr. Katherine Ellison, Professor of Literary and Cultural Studies, Chair of the Department of English, will give a talk entitled,  “Messages from the Crypt: Ciphers and the History of Writing” at the University Club at 4:30 p.m. Friday October 4 in the Faculty/Staff Commons in the Bone Student Center.   Have you ever wondered about writings from the past that were so important, so scandalous, so dangerous, or so private that not only could they not be published, but they needed to be written in a secret language? This talk explores the frequent historical practice of ciphered writing. We will examine the early history of cryptography, a discipline that became so important for personal as well as state correspondence during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries that it influenced literacy just as reading was beginning to flourish, thanks to wider access to printing and education. The strategies developed by early theorists and practitioners of ciphering influenced generations of writers, some of whom you have heard of, like Daniel Defoe, most famously known as the author of Robinson Crusoe. Even codebreakers of World Wars I and II studied the ciphers of this period, which led to breakthroughs in their practices and in the development of intelligence in the 20th century.   

The University Club is the only University-wide social group available for all ISU faculty, staff, administrative professionals, civil service staff and annuitants. We meet on alternate Fridays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Commons on the second floor of the Bone Student Center. Our meetings start with a social hour, beginning at 3:30 p.m., with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and soft drinks. 

 

Friday October 18, 2024

“La forza del destino”

Assistant Professor, Artist and Teacher of Violin in the School of Music, Dr. Igor Kalnin, will give a presentation entitled, “La forza del destino”, at the University Club at 4:30 p.m. Friday October 18 in the Faculty/Staff Commons in the Bone Student Center.  He will talk about his musical journey that brought him from USSR/Russia to the US and ISU. He will reflect on growing up as a child and young music student in USSR, about his experiences in the post-Soviet Russia, and his decision to come to America as a graduate student. He firmly believes in the transcendent, unifying role that music should play in the modern world. To make it more entertaining, he will bring his violin to perform a couple of solo pieces by Bach and Paganini.  

The University Club is the only University-wide social group available for all ISU faculty, staff, administrative professionals, civil service staff and annuitants. We meet on alternate Fridays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Commons on the second floor of the Bone Student Center. Our meetings start with a social hour, beginning at 3:30 p.m., with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and soft drinks. 

 

Friday November 1, 2024

“Developing a Distributed Community Solar Network to Promote the Utilization of Residential and Commercial Solar Photovoltaic Systems”

Professor of Technology and Founding Director of the Sustainable Energy Consortium at ISU, Dr. Jin Jo, will give a talk entitled, “Developing a Distributed Community Solar Network to Promote the Utilization of Residential and Commercial Solar Photovoltaic Systems”, at the University Club at 4:30 p.m. Friday November 1 in the Faculty/Staff Commons in the Bone Student Center.  The utilization of available residential and commercial roof space for solar photovoltaic (PV) system installation is often not fully achieved due to current utility rate structures that do not compensate for excess generation. Therefore, evaluating the optimum utilization of building roof space and its economic benefits is a growing concern for property owners, facility managers, and solar energy developers. This research study aims to assess the cost-optimal pathways for residential and commercial solar photovoltaic systems by creating a distributed community solar (DCS) network through which a group of building units shares available roofs for solar PV installation as a community solar site.

The Sustainable Energy Consortium brings together a network of universities, government actors, and industry partners working together to expedite the transition toward sustainable energy pathways. We are creating an outlet in which public, private, and academic minds can progressively interact and provide an informational basis for one another to directly and successfully benefit society.

The University Club is the only University-wide social group available for all ISU faculty, staff, administrative professionals, civil service staff and annuitants. We meet on alternate Fridays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Commons on the second floor of the Bone Student Center. Our meetings start with a social hour, beginning at 3:30 p.m., with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and soft drinks. 

 

Friday November 15, 2024

“Bridging Worlds: Cultivating Global Minds in Local Libraries”

Visiting Professor Chloé Vicente, Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence, Milner Library and The School of Teaching and Learning, will give a talk entitled, "Bridging Worlds: Cultivating Global Minds in Local Libraries", at the University Club at 4:30 p.m. Friday November 15 in the Faculty/Staff Commons in the Bone Student Center.

 

The University Club is the only University-wide social group available for all ISU faculty, staff, administrative professionals, civil service staff and annuitants. We meet on alternate Fridays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Commons on the second floor of the Bone Student Center. Our meetings start with a social hour, beginning at 3:30 p.m., with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and soft drinks. 

 

Friday December 6, 2024

“How Civic Engagement Can Thrive in the University and Local Communities” 

Retired ISU Professors, Dr. Hank Campbell (Technology) and Mary Campbell (Social Work), will give a talk entitled, “How Civic Engagement Can Thrive in the University and Local Communities”,  at the University Club at 4:30 p.m. Friday December 6 in the Faculty/Staff Commons in the Bone Student Center.

The Campbells have been widely recognized for their continuing service to our community and beyond.  Through the years Hank has been heavily involved with guiding student participation in Habitat for Humanity, the Normal Rotary Club and fundraising for a clinic in Lamu, Kenya. Mary is the co-founder of Dreams are Possible, a nonprofit advocating for women in building trades. She also co-founded Labyrinth Outreach Services, an organization that partners with the YWCA to assist formerly incarcerated women with reentering society. Mary also serves on the Board of Trustees for Heartland Community College. These contributions are just a fraction of the Campbells’ past and continuing efforts to serve humanity via civic engagement.  They will share their inspiring stories and experiences which will provide encouragement to all interested in community service.

The University Club is the only University-wide social group available for all ISU faculty, staff, administrative professionals, civil service staff and annuitants. We meet on alternate Fridays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Commons on the second floor of the Bone Student Center. Our meetings start with a social hour, beginning at 3:30 p.m., with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and soft drinks. 

 

                                                               All are welcome. You need not be a University Club member to attend.  

 

                              ............................................................................................................................................................................................

                                                          --  See below for our programs from Spring Semester 2024 and earlier programs --

                              ............................................................................................................................................................................................

 

Spring Semester 2024

The University Club meetings and speaker presentations are being held in-person in the Faculty/Staff Commons located on the second floor in the Bone Student Center.  Our meetings start with a social hour, beginning at 3:30 p.m., with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and soft drinks, followed at 4:30 p.m. by a short presentation by our speaker.  Support for University Club programming is provided by the Offices of the President and Provost.

 

Friday January 26, 2024

"Open Discussion"

We are meeting in the Faculty/Staff Commons from 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.  All our members and guests are cordially invited to attend.  At 4:30 p.m. an update on the programs and activities planned for this semester will be presented by the University Club Officers.

The University Club is the only University-wide social group available for all ISU faculty, staff, administrative professionals, civil service staff and annuitants. We meet on alternate Fridays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Commons on the second floor of the Bone Student Center. Our meetings start with a social hour, beginning at 3:30 p.m., with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and soft drinks. 

 

Friday February 9, 2024

“Climate Anxiety, Climate Control, and the Creation of Philadelphia’s Waterworks”

Dr. Keith Pluymers, Assistant Professor in the Department of History, will give a talk entitled, "Climate Anxiety, Climate Control, and the Creation of Philadelphia’s Waterworks” at the University Club at 4:30 p.m. Friday February 9 in the Faculty/Staff Commons in the Bone Student Center.  In 1799, Benjamin Henry Latrobe proposed a plan to supply the city of Philadelphia with “wholesome water” but also to cleanse the streets and cool the air. Histories of the waterworks have, however, downplayed these stated ambitions for atmospheric control. This talk explores why and how these ambitions made sense at the end of the eighteenth century.  Dr. Pluymers is an Environmental Historian and has just returned from a residential fellowship last semester at Princeton University.

The University Club is the only University-wide social group available for all ISU faculty, staff, administrative professionals, civil service staff and annuitants. We meet on alternate Fridays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Commons on the second floor of the Bone Student Center. Our meetings start with a social hour, beginning at 3:30 p.m., with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and soft drinks. 

 

Friday February 23, 2024

"ISU Planning, Design and Construction Projects"

David M. A. Gill, AIA, MRAIC, the Director of Facilities Planning, Design and Construction at Illinois State University will give a talk entitled, "ISU Planning, Design and Construction Projects", at the University Club at 4:30 p.m. Friday February 23 in the Faculty/Staff Commons in the Bone Student Center. This presentation will provide a process overview and present a representative sample of projects in the planning, design, construction and recently completed phases. As noted in an ISU Report story by John Twork on November 15, 2023, this is probably the highest dollar value and the most projects this university has ever had going at one time, and a very exciting time to be a Redbird.

Facilities Planning, Design and Construction, on behalf of the University,  is responsible for planning, designing, and constructing new and/or renovating existing facilities in support of the Illinois State University Strategic Plan  ( Educate Connect Elevate: Illinois State 2018-2023 ) and the Master Plan (Master Plan 2010-2030: Looking to the Future).  The planning, design, and construction group provides support, buildings, space, solutions, technical expertise and infrastructure for people and equipment through new construction and renovation. Projects proceed from inception through an intake process. Once formalized as a project, it will proceed through the planning, design, and construction phases. Once completed, the project is turned over to the University for use.

The University Club is the only University-wide social group available for all ISU faculty, staff, administrative professionals, civil service staff and annuitants. We meet on alternate Fridays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Commons on the second floor of the Bone Student Center. Our meetings start with a social hour, beginning at 3:30 p.m., with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and soft drinks. 

 

Friday March 29, 2024

"In the Spotlight… Antoinette Concello"

Maureen Brunsdale, Professor and Head of Special Collections in Milner Library, will give a talk entitled, “In the Spotlight… Antoinette Concello”, at the University Club at 4:30 p.m. Friday, March 29 in the Faculty/Staff Commons in the Bone Student Center.  In the Shadow of the Big Top: The Life of Ringling’s Unlikely Circus Savior is the title of Maureen Brunsdale’s latest book which draws heavily on sources found in Milner Library’s Circus and Allied Arts Collection in Special Collections. While the focus for the book is Bloomington’s truant-turned-acrobat-turned-circus executive, Art Concello, Maureen will be sharing stories about his wife and partner, Antoinette. Her life – both her struggles and triumphs - highlight her determination to remain relevant in the male-dominated world of twentieth-century entertainment.

The University Club is the only University-wide social group available for all ISU faculty, staff, administrative professionals, civil service staff and annuitants. We meet on alternate Fridays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Commons on the second floor of the Bone Student Center. Our meetings start with a social hour, beginning at 3:30 p.m., with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and soft drinks. 

 

Friday April 12, 2024

“Blood Brothers – The Story of ISU Students and Faculty who Fought in the Civil War”

Dr. John McHale, Professor in the School of Communication, will give a talk entitled, “Blood Brothers – The Story of ISU Students and Faculty who Fought in the Civil War,” at the University Club at 4:30 p.m. Friday April 12 in the Faculty/Staff Commons in the Bone Student Center.  “Blood Brothers is a feature film script, written by Dr. McHale, about students and faculty from Illinois State who fought in key battles in the Civil War. This Civil War period feature action-drama is based on true events. In the most tragic American war, under the most challenging circumstances in the bloodiest battles, four men discover, in the end, they fight for each other.  This film script as recognized received the 2023 Award of Excellence from the Broadcast Education Association, which represents over 250 colleges and universities around the world.

Dr. McHale has written over 25 screenplays and produced and directed a number of award-winning films. He has won over 20 awards for his film writing and production, including the Walter Cronkite Civic Engagement Leadership Award at the U.N. He has also earned BEA’s 2020 Top Film screenplay and 2021 Award of Excellence.” (Excerpts from the CAS Newsletter, Feb 20, 2023).

The University Club is the only University-wide social group available for all ISU faculty, staff, administrative professionals, civil service staff and annuitants. We meet on alternate Fridays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Commons on the second floor of the Bone Student Center. Our meetings start with a social hour, beginning at 3:30 p.m., with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and soft drinks. 

 

Friday April 26, 2024

"University Club Scholarship Awards Ceremony" was held at 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Commons.

Ten $600 scholarships were awarded at the "University Club Scholarship Awards Ceremony" which began at 3:30 p.m. with a social period with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and soft drinks. The Awards Ceremony began at 4 p.m.  A brief summary of each of these impressive student's interests and accomplishments was presented.  Awardees, their families, guests, University Club Members and ISU faculty and staff were invited to attend. We are very pleased that we were able to honor these exceptionally talented ISU students that have been involved in serving the University and local community.  

 

All are welcome. You need not be a University Club member to attend. 

 

............................................................................................................................................................................................

--  See below for our programs from Fall Semester 2023 and earlier programs --

............................................................................................................................................................................................

 

Fall Semester 2023

The University Club meetings and speaker presentations are being held in-person in the Faculty/Staff Commons located on the second floor in the Bone Student Center.  Our meetings start with a social hour, beginning at 3:30 p.m., with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and soft drinks, followed at 4:30 p.m. by a short presentation by our speaker.  Support for University Club programming is provided by the Offices of the President and Provost.

Friday September 15, 2023

"Open Discussion"

We are meeting in the Faculty/Staff Commons from 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.  All our members and guests are cordially invited to attend.  At 4:30 p.m. an update on the programs and activities planned for this semester will be presented by the University Club Officers.

The University Club is the only University-wide social group available for all ISU faculty, staff, administrative professionals, civil service staff and annuitants. We meet on alternate Fridays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Commons on the second floor of the Bone Student Center. Our meetings start with a social hour, beginning at 3:30 p.m., with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and soft drinks. 

Friday September 29, 2023

“A Dialogue with Three Recent University Club Scholars” 

Three recent University Club Scholars return to describe how their academic lives and careers have progressed.  These superb students are pursuing careers in English, Criminal Justice Sciences and Mathematics Education.  University Club Scholars are selected on the bases of personal intellectual growth, leadership, stewardship, and global citizenship.  These three scholarship recipients will discuss their experiences in an informal panel discussion on Friday September 29 at 4:30 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Commons in the Bone Student Center. 

The University Club is the only University-wide social group available for all ISU faculty, staff, administrative professionals, civil service staff and annuitants. We meet on alternate Fridays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Commons on the second floor of the Bone Student Center. Our meetings start with a social hour, beginning at 3:30 p.m., with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and soft drinks. 

Friday October 13, 2023

"ISU is at Home in Normal Township"

Jess Ray, Normal Township Supervisor and Chair of the Normal Township Board, will give a talk entitled, “ISU is at Home in Normal Township” at the University Club at 4:30 p.m.  During this Homecoming Week we celebrate ISU and its excellent students and teachers.  ISU has been part of Normal Township since its founding.  Do you know what Township's do?   If your answer is No or even Yes, this will be an opportunity to learn more about the services provided by Normal Township and a chance to ask questions to the Normal Township Supervisor.  One of the services that will be discussed is Normal Township's Activity and Recreation Center which serves adults 55 and over and has a membership of 3,369.

The University Club is the only University-wide social group available for all ISU faculty, staff, administrative professionals, civil service staff and annuitants. We meet on alternate Fridays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Commons in the Bone Student Center.   Our meetings start with a social hour, beginning at 3:30 p.m., with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and soft drinks.

Friday October 27, 2023

"The Power Maps: GIS for the Sciences and Society"

Dr. John Kostelnick, Professor of Geography and Director of GEOMAP, will give a talk entitled, " The Power Maps: GIS for the Sciences and Society ", at the University Club at 4:30 p.m. Friday October 27 in the Faculty/Staff Commons in the Bone Student Center.  Maps and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provide an important means for geographic inquiry, spatial analysis, and visualization for complex topics. From decision-making to understanding complex processes, maps and GIS help us better understand our world through a geographic approach. This presentation will provide an overview of GIS and examples of how GIS is used for topics in the social sciences, natural sciences, and society.  

The University Club is the only University-wide social group available for all ISU faculty, staff, administrative professionals, civil service staff and annuitants. We meet on alternate Fridays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Commons in the Bone Student Center.   Our meetings start with a social hour, beginning at 3:30 p.m., with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and soft drinks, followed at 4:30 p.m. by a short presentation by our speaker.

Friday November 10, 2023

"Reimagining Learning: Navigating Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education"

Dr. Roy Magnuson, Associate Professor of Creative Technologies and Provost Fellow, will give a talk entitled, “Reimagining Learning: Navigating Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education”, at the University Club at 4:30 p.m.  The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by businesses, government and education has dramatically increased in the last few years. Public attention is increasingly focused on the potential problems caused by the use of AI as well as its potential benefits. Dr. Magnuson will present a discussion of the current generative AI technologies, how we got to where we are, where we are (possibly) going, and how we can prepare ourselves as teachers, researchers, and creative scholars.

The University Club is the only University-wide social group available for all ISU faculty, staff, administrative professionals, civil service staff and annuitants. We meet on alternate Fridays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Commons in the Bone Student Center.   Our meetings start with a social hour, beginning at 3:30 p.m., with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and soft drinks, followed at 4:30 p.m. followed by a short presentation by our speaker.

Friday December 1, 2023

"Serving America Abroad: Insights from My Career as a Diplomat" 

United States Ambassador (retired) Geeta Pasi, the inaugural Donald F. McHenry Visiting Professor in Diplomacy and International Affairs at Illinois State University, will give a talk entitled, “Serving America Abroad: Insights from my Career as a Diplomat” at the University Club at 4:30 p.m. Friday December 1 in the Faculty/Staff Commons in the Bone Student Center.  

A three-time Chief of Mission with the rank of Career Minister, Former Ambassador Geeta Pasi most recently served as the U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia until 2022. She earlier served as U.S. Ambassador to Chad (2016-2018) and Djibouti (2011-2014) as well as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of African Affairs, leading a team that developed and advanced U.S. policy in Africa. Previous overseas postings included Cameroon, Romania, Germany, Bangladesh, Ghana, and India, where she focused on human rights, democracy and humanitarian assistance as well as advocated for U.S. business. She earned numerous awards and accolades for her work, including the Presidential Rank Award for exceptional performance. (Quoted in part from the ISU News, May 8, 2023).

The University Club is the only University-wide social group available for all ISU faculty, staff, administrative professionals, civil service staff and annuitants. We meet on alternate Fridays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Commons in the Bone Student Center.   Our meetings start with a social hour, beginning at 3:30 p.m., with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and soft drinks, followed at 4:30 p.m. followed by a short presentation by our speaker.

 

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--  See below for our programs from last semester and the 2022 Academic Year  --

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Spring Semester 2023

The University Club meetings and speaker presentations are being held in-person in the Faculty/Staff Commons located on the second floor in the Bone Student Center.  Our meetings start with a social hour, beginning at 3:30 p.m., with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and drinks available for purchase, followed at 4:30 p.m. by a short presentation by our speaker.  Support for University Club programming is provided by the Office's of the President and Provost.

• Friday January 27, 2023

  "Open Discussion"

  Meeting in the Faculty/Staff Commons from 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.  All our members and guests are cordially invited to attend.  An update on the programs and activities planned for this semester will be presented by the University Club Officers.

• Friday February 10, 2023

  "University Update" by ISU Provost Tarhule.

  ISU Vice-President of Academic Affairs and Provost Aondover Tarhule will give a talk, “University Update”, at 4:30 p.m. on Friday February 10 at the University club in the Faculty/Staff Commons located on the second floor of the Bone Student Center.  Illinois State University has done very well in spite of the stresses imposed by the pandemic. ISU has been forward looking and continues to progress.  Provost Tarhule will provide the administration's perspectives on the future directions of the University.    

  The University Club is the only University-wide social group available for all ISU faculty, staff, administrative professionals, civil service staff and annuitants.  We meet on alternate Fridays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Commons in the Bone Student Center.   Our meetings start with a social hour, beginning at 3:30 p.m., with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and drinks available for purchase, followed at 4:30 p.m. by a short presentation by our speaker. 

    

• Friday February 24, 2023

  “Picas and Points of Pride on the Printed Page: Readings Across Fifteen Years at the Publications Unit and Beyond”

  ISU Publications Unit Director Steve Halle will give a talk entitled, “Picas and Points of Pride on the Printed Page: Readings Across Fifteen Years at the Publications Unit and Beyond” at the University Club on Friday February 24 at 4:30 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Commons in the Bone Student Center.

  Dr. Halle has played a significant role in editing, publishing, and supporting hundreds of literary and scholarly books, journals, and newsletters over the years for publications like the award-winning journal Obsidian: Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora, SRPR (Spoon River Poetry Review), and Mandorla: Nueva Escritura de las Américas / New Writing from the Americas and presses like FC2, PRESS 254, Downstate Legacies, and the award-winning co•im•press, among others. In addition to collaborating with authors and editors on these projects, Dr. Halle and his Publications Unit colleague Holms Troelstrup also create applied learning experiences where students from the Department of English's publishing studies and creative writing programs collaborate with staff and receive hands-on experience and mentoring that shapes their transition from students to emerging professionals in the field. For this presentation, Dr. Halle will share and discuss several of the literary publications that have affected him the most during his publishing career thus far.

  The University Club is the only University-wide social group available for all ISU faculty, staff, administrative professionals, civil service staff and annuitants. We meet on alternate Fridays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Commons in the Bone Student Center.   Our meetings start with a social hour, beginning at 3:30 p.m., with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and drinks available for purchase, followed at 4:30 p.m. by a short presentation by our speaker.

• UPDATE on March 31:  The University Club Meeting has been CANCELLED!  ISU is officially closing at 4:30 p.m. due to impending Severe Weather.  We look forward to rescheduling this program at a later date.

• Friday March 31, 2023

  “A Dialogue with Five Recent University Club Scholars” 

  Five recent University Club Scholars return to describe how their academic lives and careers have progressed.  These superb students are pursuing careers in English, Criminal Justice Sciences, Nursing, Social Work and Mathematics Education.  University Club Scholars are selected on the bases of personal intellectual growth, leadership, stewardship, and global citizenship.  These five scholarship recipients will discuss their experiences in an informal panel discussion on Friday March 31 at 4:00 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Commons in the Bone Student Center. 

  The University Club is the only University-wide social group available for all ISU faculty, staff, administrative professionals, civil service staff and annuitants. We meet on alternate Fridays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Commons on the second floor of the Bone Student Center. Our meetings start with a social hour, beginning at 3:30 p.m., with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and drinks available for purchase.  On Friday March 31 the panel discussion with our Scholars will begin at 4:00 p.m., a half hour earlier than usual.

  All are welcome. You need not be a University Club member to attend. 

• Friday April 14, 2023

  "The Mennonite College of Nursing is Growing and Flourishing"

   

• Dr. Judy Neubrander, Dean of the Mennonite College of Nursing will give a talk entitled, “The Mennonite College of Nursing is Growing and Flourishing” at the University Club on Friday April 14 at 4:30 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Commons in the Bone Student Center. Dean Neubrander will give an overview of the nursing landscape from a local, state and national perspective . She will share MCN's response to the nursing shortage, the successes we have achieved and the challenges we face in the future.
• The University Club is the only University-wide social group available for all ISU faculty, staff, administrative professionals, civil service staff and annuitants. We meet on alternate Fridays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Commons on the second floor of the Bone Student Center. Our meetings start with a social hour, beginning at 3:30 p.m., with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and drinks available for purchase.  Our speaker's presentation will begin at 4:30 p.m.
• All are welcome. You need not be a University Club member to attend. 

•  

• Friday April 28, 2023

  "University Club Scholarship Awards Ceremony" was held at 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. in the Faculty/Staff Commons.

  Ten $500 scholarships were awarded at the "University Club Scholarship Awards Ceremony" which began at 3:30 p.m. Awardees, their families, guests, University Club Members and ISU faculty and staff attended. We are very pleased that we are able to honor some exceptionally talented ISU students that have been involved in serving the University and local community.