Huskie Trek Talks: Ideas in Motion
Trek Talk Program
Welcome Remarks
Paul Kassel, M.F.A.
Dean, College of Visual and Performing Arts
Lisa C. Freeman, D.V.M., Ph.D.
NIU President
Evening Host
Rena Cotsones, M.P.A. ’04, Ph.D. ’13
Vice President, Outreach, Engagement and Regional Development
Chief Engagement Officer
Student Introductions
Clint-Michael Reneau, Ph.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs
Post Talk Presenters
Andrea Radasanu, Ph.D.
Director, University Honors
Stacey Barsema
NIU Foundation Grants Committee
NIU Foundation Board of Directors, Member
Act One
Talk 1: Democratizing Healthcare…with Paper!
Video 1: From Grass Roots to Living Classrooms
Talk 2: We Can See Clearly Now
Video 2: From Waste to Worth
Talk 3: Sowing the Seed of Change
Video 3: Mentoring and Magic: The Penguin Players
Student Talk 1: Spellbound Storytelling
Intermission: 15 minutes
Act Two
Talk 4: Today’s Gaffes, Tomorrow’s Guardians
Video 4: Averting a Dark Digital Age
Talk 5: Repercussions of our Actions-Rise of Superbugs
Student Talk 2: Unmasking my Mind: Autism, Neurodiversity, and Our Intrinsic Worth
Video 5: Seeing Education from a Different Perspective
Talk 6: Building Bridges Behind Bars
Awards Presentation
Welcome to Huskie Trek Talks
Good evening!
It’s our distinct pleasure to welcome you to Huskie Trek Talks: Ideas in Motion, showcasing the inspiring creativity of innovation from our faculty, staff and students that are emblematic of the Huskie spirit.
Tonight, we’re combining a live audience on our campus with online viewers from around the world in witnessing dynamic presentations that embody the research excellence and artistic discovery for which NIU is renowned. The university’s Strategic Development Team designed this event for this purpose while also convening our campus, donors and community members that, together, make NIU distinctive and special.
After the Trek Talks conclude, you’ll have an opportunity to connect one on one with presenters at our post-event reception in the Boutell Lobby. Join us there for a brief program where we recognize several notable presentations with additional financial awards.
Again, thank you for coming and supporting all of the ideas that NIU puts in motion.
Go Huskies!
Catherine Squires, ’80, CFRE
Vice President, Institutional Advancement
President and CEO, NIU Foundation
Rena Cotsones, M.P.A. ’04, Ph.D. ’13
Vice President, Outreach, Engagement and Regional Development
Chief Engagement Officer
Yvonne Harris, ’94, M.S. ’92, Ph.D. ’93
Vice President, Research and Innovative Partnerships
Our Huskie Trek Talkers
Venumadhav Korampally, Ph.D.
DEMOCRATIZING HEALTHCARE…WITH PAPER!
Associate Professor
College of Engineering and Engineering Technology
Courtney Gallaher, Ph.D.
VIDEO: FROM GRASSROOTS TO LIVING CLASSROOMS
Associate Professor
Department of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment, College of Liberal Arts of Sciences
Elizabeth Gaillard, Ph.D.
WE CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW
Distinguished Research Professor
Joint Appointment with Biological Sciences
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Tao Xu, Ph.D.
VIDEO: FROM WASTE TO WORTH
Distinguished Research Professor
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Bryan Flower
SOWING THE SEED OF CHANGE
Assistant Director for Food Systems Innovation
Office of Innovation
Joe King
VIDEO: MENTORING AND MAGIC: THE PENGUIN PLAYERS
Associate Director, Media Relations and Editorial Content
Division of Enrollment Management, Marketing and Communications
Elizabeth Nowak
SPELLBOUND STORYTELLING
Student
Intermission
Junelle Bennett, Ed.D.
TODAY’S GAFFES, TOMORROW’S GUARDIANS
Violence Prevention Program Director
Prevention Education and Outreach, Division of Academic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Jaime Schumacher
VIDEO: AVERTING A DARK DIGITAL AGE
Senior Director of Scholarly Communications
Digital Library, University Libraries
Pallavi Singh, Ph.D.
REPERCUSSIONS OF OUR ACTIONS: RISE OF SUPERBUGS
Assistant Professor
Department of Biological Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Henry Tomiser
UNMASKING MY MIND: AUTISM, NEURODIVERSITY, AND OUR INTRINSIC WORTH
Student
Eric Junco, Ed.D.
VIDEO: SEEING EDUCATION FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
Director of Equity, College of Education
Stacy Kelly, Ed.D.
VIDEO: SEEING EDUCATION FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
Professor, Department of Special and Early Education, College of Education
Molly Pasley, Ed.D.
VIDEO: SEEING EDUCATION FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
Assistant Professor, Special Education
ACUE Distinguished Teaching Scholar
Department of Special and Early Education, College of Education
Jennifer Jacobs, Ph.D.
BUILDING BRIDGES BEHIND BARS
Associate Professor, Sport and Exercise Psychology
Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, College of Education
Zach Wahl-Alexander, Ph.D.
BUILDING BRIDGES BEHIND BARS
Associate Professor, Physical Education Teacher Education
Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, College of Education