Dear Alumni,

A lot is happening with your Alumni Association. For example, check out the new look of this alumni e-newsletter!

I am also excited to announce that the Alumni Association will launch a Facebook page starting May 1. We hope you'll sign up and "like" our page.

Plans are under way for a few alumni summer events. Stay tuned for more details. Our Alumni Book and Dance clubs have begun and with warm weather just around the corner (we hope) the Alumni Golf Club will be starting soon.

If you don't already have Premium member status in the Alumni Association, I hope you will consider joining/renewing. Your support helps us bring these programs and much more to you.

I also wanted to give you advance notice that the Alumni Association, along with most other offices on campus, will once again be reverting to summer hours effective June 6. This means that we will be closed on Fridays through mid-August.

Read on and stay connected to your alma mater. Feel free to visit the alumni website to view past editions of the e–connections newsletter and our bi-annual print newsletter, Alumni Connections and to get up-to-the-minute details.

Sincerely,

Rosemary D. Hulett
Associate Vice President
Advancement and Alumni Relations

We're excited to announce that we will be launching an Alumni Association Facebook age on May 1^st. Once the page is launched, you can view the page or "like" it to receive the most up-to-date information available about what's happening with the Alumni Association.

Back to Top » 

The first meeting of the Alumni Book Club will take place on Thursday, May 5, at 6:30 p.m., in the GSU Library balcony. Join fellow book enthusiasts as we discuss the types and titles of books we would like to read as our first club project. We will also be scheduling future meeting times and places, and the format of the club. You don't want to miss this important meeting. Please RSVP by Monday, May 2 at 708.534.4128. Can't attend but would like to join the Book club? E-mail alumnirelations2@govst.edu and say "sign me up for the Book Club."

Back to Top » 

Dates and times for the Alumni Association's Dance Club lessons will be announced soon. In the meantime, the Recreation and Fitness Center at GSU is offering classes you might be interested in taking. GSU Fitness Center class list.

Back to Top » 

The Adult Learning Exchange is a partnership program of JCC (Jewish Community Center) Chicago and Governor's State University designed to provide an opportunity for adults in the south suburban and northwest Indiana region to find pleasure in intellectual challenges and the acquisition and sharing of knowledge.

Classes, which are peer led by guest lecturers, meet on Fridays at GSU for eight week sessions. The cost is $73 per class/a second course is discounted at $28. Current and future courses include Great Decisions; Socrates Café; In Search of Justice; Cinema Studies/Film Series; Introduction to Geology; Gardening in the South Suburbs; Music History of the 20th Century; Abraham Lincoln-a personal study; Topics in U.S. History; Topics in Science; Hands-On Color Theory; Meteorology/Climatology - a study of global weather and climate; Great Books; The New Yorker: discussion group; Short Stories; A History of Iran.

For more information or to register, contact Suzanne Patterson at spatterson@gojcc.org or 708.420.0563. For Web information and on line registration: visit the Registrations and Payments tab at www.gojcc.org and search for Adult Learning Exchange. Spring 2011 Sessions.

Back to Top » 

Noted author, economist, and educator Dr. Daniel Goleman will speak at The Center for Performing Arts, on May 2, at 5 p.m. Dr. Goleman's presentation entitled How Understanding Emotional Intelligence Can Improve Results in Business and Education, will draw on the research and conclusions presented in his best-selling book Emotional Intelligence.

According to Goleman, emotional intelligence is a greater determinant of success than IQ or graduate school. His presentation will impact members of both the business and educational communities.

Seating is limited. Tickets are $25 and advance registration is required. To register, visit www.gsu-MILE.org or www.SPEED802.org, call 708.534.4024 or email registrationMILE@govst.edu. COE's Metropolitan Institute for Leadership in Education (MILE) and SPEED District 802 are sponsors of this event. Additional sponsorship is provided by Spraga Hauser, LLC and Bimba Manufacturing.

In addition to Dr. Daniel Goleman's presentation, a free pre-lecture on Mindfulness and Emotional Intelligence will provide an opportunity to learn more. The lecture will be given by Dr. Jon Carlson, GSU professor, counselor, and author. The pre-lecture will be held at 4 p.m., in Sherman Hall.

Two-and-a-half CEUs and CPDUs are available for people attending both lectures. Dr. Goleman will sign books and CD's following the presentation.

COE's Metropolitan Institiute for Leadership in Education (MILE) and SPEED District 802 are sponsors of this event.

Back to Top » 

Sign up now for the Veterans Entrepreneurial Boot Camp on May 18 at Governors State University. This full includes speakers, seminars, expert panel discussions designed to promote Veteran business start-up and growth, and development of existing Veteran owned businesses. Click here for more information.

Back to Top » 

Back to Top » 

The Southland Area Theatre Ensemble (SLATE) at GSU announced it will present the musical Ragtime as its 2011 summer production.

Auditions will take place May 18 and 19 in Sherman Recital Hall. Ragtime has roles for a diverse cast of between 40 and 50 players. There are roles for six principal cast members, 10 supporting players, and 23 ensemble members. Persons wishing to audition should be prepared to present a one minute song selection that demonstrates their vocal range. A dance call will follow the vocal audition. Audition Instructions.

Ragtime, based on the best-selling novel by E.L. Doctorow, is the powerful story of three groups of people coming together in early 20th Century America – well-off WASPs, African Americans, and Eastern European immigrants. Coalhouse Walker, a brilliant Harlem musician, is at the center of the story, which also includes historical characters like Henry Ford, Booker T. Washington, and Harry Houdini. Following its 1998 Broadway debut, Ragtime won Tony awards for Best Book and Best Score.

Performance dates are July 30 and 31, and August 5, 6, and 7 in The Center for Performing Arts.

SLATE was established in 2009 as an artistic collaboration between the Center for Performing Arts, local theater educators, and veterans of area community theater companies. SLATE has produced two critically-acclaimed summer productions, Into the Woods in 2009 and The Wedding Singer in 2010.

For more information about Ragtime or SLATE, visit www.slatetheatre.org.

Back to Top » 

Dr. Reinhold Hill has accepted the position of Dean, College of Arts and Sciences. He will begin at GSU in mid-June.

"Dr. Hill is an excellent match for GSU and the College of Arts and Sciences. He brings significant experience in building programs, growing enrollment, and in fostering quality. I look forward to working with Dr. Hill as well as the faculty, staff, and administrators of the College of Arts and Sciences as we implement Strategy 2015 and a new Academic Master Plan,A" said Provost Terry Allison.

"I also would like to thank Acting Dean, Dr. Karen D'Arcy for her exceptional leadership in this time of transition. I extend my warm wishes for a happy return to her faculty position as Professor of Chemistry, co-principal investigator of the National Science Foundation construction grant, and positive, engaged faculty leader."

Back to Top » 

Get ready for the Run for Rehab, a 5K run and 2-mile walk sponsored by the Physical Therapy Student Association (PTSA). Events take place at GSU on Saturday, May 7, beginning at 9 a.m.

The Run for Rehab will raise funds for the Miami-Marquette Challenge, a national competition between physical therapy schools to collect and distribute money for physical therapy research grants around the country, and PTSA.

Awards will be given to the overall male and female finishers as well as the top three finishers in each age group. Every participant will receive a t-shirt. Registration is $20. Download the registration form.

Back to Top » 

The Family Development Center and the College of Education's Department of Psychology and Counseling are sponsoring Parent University, a series of workshops pertaining to families, parenting, and raising children. The workshops are offered free to the community through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education and are held at the Family Development Center, located on the main campus.Upcoming workshops.

To register to attend a workshop or for a full list of all the Parent University workshops, visit www.govst.edu/children.

Back to Top » 

Back to Top » 

Congratulations to GSU's Table Tennis Team! The four member co-ed team representing GSU came in fourth place at the National Collegiate Table Tennis tournament this weekend in Rochester, Minnesota.

Team captain Wenjie Nie, and members Yuefan Lin, Yuanfei Cai, and Lishun Lu were led by coach T.J Wang and cheered to this remarkable showing by four members of the team and Dr. Gebe Ejigu. According to Dr. Wang, their support encouraged the team to its outstanding performance.

"There was a significant and positive correlation between Dr Ejigu's presence as well as our cheerleaders' and our winnings," said Wang. "All four players conducted themselves well and demonstrated GSU spirit throughout the tournament. The most common question people asked during the tournament was, "Where is Governors State University?"

Thands to the GSU Table Tennis Team -- They now know!

Back to Top » 

The Visual Arts Gallery at Governors State University is pleased to present new printmaking work from "Le Nouveau Cirque," the thesis exhibition of graduate student Diana Lynch. The exhibit will be on display from May 1 to 7. A public reception on May 5, from 5 to 8 p.m., celebrates the artist and her achievement. These events are free and open to the public. Read more here.

Back to Top »