Academics | North Central College

Three faculty give talks at communications conference

Mara Berkland, Amy Buxbaum and John Stanley give conference presentations about understanding the communication needs of undergraduate millennials.

Three members of North Central's speech communication department-Mara Berkland, associate professor and chair of speech communication; Amy Buxbaum, assistant professor of speech communication; and John Stanley, assistant professor of speech communication, assistant director of forensics and director of individual events-gave separate presentations as part of a session titled "Bringing the Alien Home: Understanding the Communication Needs of the Undergraduate Millennials" at the annual Central States Communication Association Conference in Milwaukee April 9.

Wolf moderates session at international conference

Gregory H. Wolf, associate professor of German, was moderator and commentator at international conference—Migration, Religion and Germany—at Ohio State.

Gregory H. Wolf, associate professor of German, served as moderator and commentator for the session “Transnational, Transcultural Migrations” at the international conference Migration, Religion, and Germany held at The Ohio State University April 8-10. Generously supported by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Germany, this conference addressed migration to and from Germany from the 18th century to the present with specific focal points of religious migration and the domestic dialogues focusing on it.

Cavenagh recognized for outstanding editorial work

Tom Cavenagh, Schneller Sisters Professor of Leadership, Ethics and Values, received the Austin Fleming Editor Award as editor-in-chief of ADR publication.

Tom Cavenagh, Schneller Sisters Professor of Leadership, Ethics and Values, was recently awarded the Austin Fleming Editor Award for his role as editor-in-chief of the Illinois State Bar Association publication “In the Alternative.” This award is the highest prize given to Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) editors.

The congratulatory letter from the ISBA read, “That makes you a member of a small, elite group of editors who, since 1981, have been recognized for truly outstanding service to the ISBA.”

King’s short story recognized in two contests

Patricia Grace King, adjunct assistant professor of English, and her short story “The Death of Carrie Bradshaw” received honorable mention and finalist awards.

Patricia Grace King, adjunct assistant professor of English, submitted her short story titled “The Death of Carrie Bradshaw” to the 2010 Dana Award, which recognizes and rewards excellent fiction and poetry. Her story was named the Second Honorable Mention Dana Award for Short Fiction.

International programs hosts symposium with speakers, faculty panels

North Central presents “Contemporary India and the Environment” symposium on April 14 as part of yearlong international focus on India, the environment.

April 6, 2011—As part of its yearlong international focus, North Central College will present a symposium titled “Contemporary India and the Environment” on Thursday, April 14.

Guest speakers and North Central faculty and students will give presentations. An Indian dance performance and Indian supper are also part of the symposium, presented by the College’s Office of International Programs.

Nicole Autry ’11 selected to forensics All-American Team

Three students rank high at AFA National Individual Events Tournament; Nicole Autry ’11 chosen among top 14 nationwide to forensics All-American Team.

April 12, 2011—Following the forensics team’s success at the State Championship Tournament in March, North Central’s team took students to the American Forensics Association National Individual Events Tournament (AFA-NIET) in Kearney, Neb., April 1-5. The students competed against undergraduates from colleges and universities of all sizes across the nation.

Three students had successful outcomes at the national level:

English major accepts position with Teach for America program

Grant Swanson, shown at Oxford University, will join Teach for America.

Grant Swanson, a North Central College senior majoring in English, has accepted a position with Teach for America.

April 11, 2011—Grant Swanson, a North Central College senior majoring in English, has accepted a position with Teach for America.

SIFE advances to national competition

North Central’s Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) team competed at the SIFE USA Regional Competition March 28 in Chicago, one of 12 regional sites. The College's team was named a champion in its league and advances to national competition May 10-12 in Minneapolis.

WONC wins two first-place awards at national competition

WONC-FM 89.1, North Central’s student-run radio station, won two first-place awards in national competition for Best Sports Play-by-Play and Best Documentary.

April 29, 2011—WONC-FM 89.1, North Central College’s student-run radio station, brought home two first-place awards in national competition from the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS).

The first-place Golden Microphone Trophy Awards were in two categories: Best Sports Play-by-Play and Best Documentary.

Legal expert on collective bargaining advises Higher Education Leadership course

Chicago attorney Larry Poltrock shared his expertise about collective bargaining issues with students in a Higher Education Leadership graduate program.

April 7, 2011—A Chicago attorney shared his expertise about collective bargaining issues while guest lecturing a course in North Central College’s Higher Education Leadership graduate program.

Larry Poltrock of the Chicago-based firm Poltrock & Poltrock told students in the master’s degree course on legal aspects of higher education they shouldn’t think of unions as just functions of blue-collar laborers. Collective bargaining issues affect teachers and other professionals represented by unions, he explained.