February 2012 | North Central College

My retirement plans

This morning I announced to the Board of Trustees that I will retire as North Central College’s president at the end of this calendar year. At that time, I will have completed nearly 22 years in the best job I could have ever asked for. To be a part of this great institution for so long, to live on campus, to become friends with hundreds—thousands!—of students, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees and community supporters has been a rare privilege.

Nominate players for Student vs. Staff Basketball Game

Rec Sports will host its Inaugural Student vs. Staff Basketball Game Feb. 29 and the campus community is invited to nominate members for both teams: students vs. faculty and staff. Nominations continue through midnight Monday, Feb. 20, on Facebook. Nominate your co-worker, boss, fellow students, teacher or volunteer yourself for a team. Once on Facebook, select “Events” on the left column to link to the game. Nominations will also be accepted at the front desk at Res/Rec.

Organizational communication degree leads to executive post with ComEd

ComEd has named North Central College alumna Tracie Morris ’02 vice president for human resources.

ComEd has named North Central College alumna Tracie Morris ’02 vice president for human resources, a key appointment to the company’s senior leadership team.

Morris earned her degree in organizational communication and previously served as vice president of human resources for DeVry Inc. Before joining DeVry, she served as director of human resources Operations for ComEd and earlier served as director of human resources for Exelon Generation, a unit of Exelon Corp. She began her career with Exelon in 2002 as a manager of human resources at the LaSalle Nuclear Power Station.

North Central faculty present instrumental recital

College music faculty play trombone, alto and soprano saxophone, the euphonium and piano in instrumental faculty recital Feb. 17 in Wentz Concert Hall.

North Central College music faculty will present an instrumental faculty recital at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, in Wentz Concert Hall.

Jonathon Kirk, assistant professor of music, will play the euphonium and trombone, and Lawrence Van Oyen, professor of music and director of bands, will play alto saxophone. They will be accompanied by other North Central faculty—Joann Cho and Jon Warfel on piano and Mitch Paliga on soprano saxophone. Admission is free.

College builds on momentum

As the College celebrated 150 years, it was a moment to reflect upon and celebrate all that has been accomplished since 1861.

As the College celebrated 150 years, it was a moment to reflect upon and celebrate all that has been accomplished since 1861—during times of prosperity and challenge. During 2012, the momentum builds with new these additions to campus, which will help position the College for the next 50 years.

Hammersmith House

A stately Italianate-style home adjoining Jefferson Plaza has been the home of North Central alumni for decades. Known as the “Hammersmith House” and still home to Ruth Hammersmith ’38, the property has officially become part of the College.

BSA presents talk by Marc Lamont Hill Feb. 28 at North Central College

Professor, author and cultural critic Marc Lamont Hill will give free talk Feb. 28 on “progress in the age of Obama” at North Central College.

Professor, author and cultural critic Marc Lamont Hill will give a talk on Feb. 28 at North Central College. Hill’s appearance was organized by the College’s Black Student Association in observation of Black History Month.

Hill will speak at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28, in Smith Hall, located on the second floor of North Central College’s Old Main, 30 N. Brainard St., Naperville. This event is free and open to the public.

Van Oyen and Warfel perform in saxophone recital

North Central music faculty Lawrence Van Oyen and Jon Warfel

North Central College Professor of Music Lawrence Van Oyen and Lecturer of Music Jon Warfel perform in “Saxophonia II” at Eastern Michigan University.

Lawrence Van Oyen, professor of music and director of bands, and Jon Warfel, lecturer in music, performed in a program titled “Saxophonia II” at Eastern Michigan University Feb. 3. The event’s theme focused on World War II and included 15 performances by nine different musicians.

Kim presents and publishes papers in journals

Doh-Khul Kim, North Central College associate professor of economics and finance, presented paper at conference and published two papers in economic journals.

Doh-Khul Kim, associate professor of economics and finance, presented his paper, titled “Inflation and Equity Market: Sectoral-level Analyses,” at 39th Annual Conference of Academy of Economics and Finance held in Charleston, S.C., Feb. 8-11. The conference focused on contemporary issues and teaching methodology related to economics and finance.

King’s short story wins award and publication

Patricia King, adjunct assistant professor of English

Patricia Grace King, North Central College adjunct assistant professor of English, won a chapbook award from The Florida Review for her short story, “Rubia.”

Patricia Grace King, adjunct assistant professor of English, won The Florida Review’s 2011 Jeanne Leiby Chapbook Award for her short story, “Rubia.” She received a cash prize and her story will be published in a letterpress, hand-bound chapbook published by Hoopsnake Press later in 2012.

North Central offering three new options for Master of Arts in Liberal Studies degree

North Central College is offering three new options in its Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS) degree.

Feb. 8, 2012—North Central College is offering three new options in its Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS) degree.

The College is incorporating three different programs to allow MALS students to pursue a specialty that suits their professional and personal interests. The new program options are: Ethics and Public Service; Writing, Editing and Publishing; and Culture and Society. Visit northcentralcollege.edu/admission/liberal-studies to learn more.