October 5, 2018

SVSU-based youth leadership program welcomes next class of high school participants

A year-long leadership development program for local high school students will kick off its 14th year at Saginaw Valley State University with front-row seats to a theatrical performance by one of Detroit’s most highly-regarded cultural treasures.

The SVSU-based Great Lakes Bay Regional Youth Leadership Institute will welcome its new class of participants — 90 students from 32 high schools across mid-Michigan are signed up this year — during a day of fun and informative events scheduled at SVSU Friday, Oct. 5.

One of the event's highlights includes a performance by members of Mosaic Youth Theatre, an internationally-touring troupe of actors and singers from Detroit. The group will perform the play, “Speak Up For Yourself,” which addresses stereotypes and biases while promoting diversity.

The Great Lakes Bay Regional Youth Leadership Institute ceremony kicks off at 8:15 a.m.  and closes at 1:15 p.m. in SVSU’s Curtiss Hall banquet rooms. A lineup of SVSU students, faculty, staff and administrators will address the high school participants throughout the day. The Mosaic Youth Theatre performance is planned from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. in SVSU’s Malcolm Field Theatre for Performing Arts.

Mamie T. Thorns, SVSU’s special assistant to the president for Diversity Programs, has served as the institute’s coordinator since its founding. The new class of participants will carry on the tradition of leadership and excellence demonstrated by the program's 935 graduates, she said.

“Our mission is to provide an opportunity for high school student leaders — from diverse racial, cultural and socioeconomically diverse communities — to gain valuable leadership training and acquire new skills that will help them lead in any community improvement projects,” she said.

Begun in 2005 as the Saginaw County Youth Leadership Institute, the initiative expanded in 2011 to include Bay and Midland counties.

The Great Lakes Bay Regional Youth Leadership Institute, overseen by SVSU’s Office of Diversity Programs, provides leadership development experience for youths focused on issues relating to diversity and leadership. Participants are paired with 12 SVSU student mentors as well as 16 corporate and community volunteers to participate in training sessions led by professional facilitators and presenters.

Each year, the institute identifies a community partner or cause to support. In past years, participants have provided relief for residents affected by the Flint water crisis, and worked with nonprofits such as United Way, Girl Scouts of the USA, First Ward Community Center in Saginaw, Hope House Maternity Shelter in Midland, and Mid-Michigan Children's Museum in Saginaw. At times, participants reached far outside the region to help individuals in need. In 2011, program participants supported the Ghana-based Royal Seed Orphanage.

For more information about The Great Lakes Bay Regional Youth Leadership Institute, call SVSU's Office of Diversity Programs at (989) 964-4068.

October 3, 2018

SVSU's Wind Ensemble to host first concert of season

Saginaw Valley State University's Wind Ensemble will be performing its first concert of the 2018-19 season Thursday, Oct. 4 at 7:30 p.m. in the Rhea Miller Recital Hall.

The performance is free and open to the public.

The ensemble is directed by Norman Wika, SVSU assistant professor of music. Wika also directs SVSU's Cardinal Marching Band. He performs with the Tulsa Symphony and the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra.

Thursday's concert features clarinetist Gary June, an adjunct faculty member at SVSU.

The program will feature music with a Halloween theme from contemporary composers Scott McAllister and Thomas Miller. Musical pieces include "Off to Transylvania," "Dawn and the Vampire" and "The Death March and the Book."

For more information on SVSU's music program, call (989) 964-4159 or visit www.svsu.edu/music/.

October 3, 2018

Passion for public speaking leads to victory for SVSU forensics team

Students on the Saginaw Valley State University forensics team have extraordinary enthusiasm for public speaking, and it showed during the latest Michigan Intercollegiate Speech League tournament, where SVSU claimed a first place finish.

 

Despite fielding five students in their first collegiate competition – out of seven overall – SVSU saw six students place in their respective categories and qualify for the National Forensics Association Championship Tournament to be held in Santa Ana, California next April.

 

In individual competition, Darious Henry, a communication major from Chesterfield, led the way for SVSU, winning the dramatic interpretation category.

 

The other SVSU students to place were:

 

October 2, 2018

SVSU to host mental health expert for annual O'Neill Lecture

Saginaw Valley State University is hosting a lecture by a renowned psychiatrist and researcher who specializes in depression and bipolar illness. Nassir Ghaemi will present “Psychiatric Profiles in Leadership” for SVSU’s annual James E. O'Neill Memorial Lecture Thursday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. in the Curtiss Hall Banquet Rooms.

Originally born in Tehran, Iran, Dr. Ghaemi immigrated to the U.S. when he was five. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in history from George Mason University, a master's degree in philosophy from Tufts University, a master's degree in public health from the Harvard School of Public Health and a medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University.

Ghaemi is the author of “A First-Rate Madness,” among other books, and he is the editor of the monthly newsletter “The Psychiatry Letter.” His research on depression and manic-depressive illness has been published in  200 scientific articles and over 50 scientific book chapters.

Ghaemi currently serves as a professor of psychiatry at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, a clinical lecturer at Harvard Medical School and he teaches at the Cambridge Health Alliance. He also works for the Novartis Institutes of Biomedical Research in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he leads clinical psychiatry research on discovery and early development of new drugs.

The James E. O’Neill Jr. Memorial Lecture Series was established in 2003 to honor the late Saginaw educator, legislator and community servant. Co-sponsored by SVSU and the Field Neurosciences Institute of Saginaw, the series is intended to dynamically reflect O’Neill’s passion for excellence in government, education and the neurosciences, and to provide opportunities for people to learn about public service from individuals who have unselfishly contributed to the betterment of the human condition.

Ghaemi’s visit to SVSU is part of the 2018-19 Dow Visiting Scholars and Artists Series, a program at SVSU established through an endowment from The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation to enrich our region’s cultural and intellectual opportunities.

September 25, 2018

SVSU hosting event to prevent traumatic injuries, plus blood drive and flu vaccinations

Saginaw Valley State University is hosting several events to educate individuals on how to respond in emergency situations by heightening awareness on how to respond when someone is in life-threatening danger.

Sessions are planned Wednesday, Sept. 26 from noon to 6 p.m. at SVSU's Health and Human Services building and the Thompson Student Activities Room in the Student Center.

Life Net and Covenant Healthcare representatives will be present to present “Stop the Bleed,” a national initiative to help save lives when a person has experienced a traumatic injury. Mobile Medical Response and Kochville Township Fire Department representatives will also be at the event to discuss their role in disaster management and triage.

Along with the learning activities, Michigan Blood representatives will be on campus hosting a blood drive and Covenant Healthcare and SVSU Nursing will be offering flu vaccinations from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. For the vaccinations, it is recommended to pay in advance at the Campus Financial Services Center, but participants can pay in cash the day of the event.

Attendees who donate blood and attend the "Stop the Bleed" one-hour certification session can enter to win a $25 gift card to Chili's or Panera Bread.

There will be SVSU nursing student volunteers to direct participants to particular events or to provide information on where an event is being held.

September 25, 2018

SVSU selects Michigan author Hendrik Meijer for Gross Literature Award

Saginaw Valley State University has awarded the 2018-2019 Stuart D. and Vernice M. Gross Award for Literature to Hendrik Meijer for his book “Arthur Vandenberg: The Man in the Middle of the American Century,” published by the University of Chicago Press.  The award is part of SVSU's community-minded commitment to recognize exceptional writing within Michigan.

The book describes the career of Arthur H. Vandenberg, whose ascent from influential Grand Rapids newspaper editor to long-serving U.S. Senator from Michigan made him a participant in some of the most important domestic and foreign policy decisions of the 20th century. 

Initially opposed to the New Deal and to involvement with the European allies at the start of World War II, Vandenberg understood the momentous changes taking place and became a leader in the Senate for bipartisan cooperation and consensus.  Formed by his early years in Michigan and returning frequently to the state, he also played a significant role on the world stage.  Vandenberg was instrumental in the formation of the Marshall Plan, the United Nations, and NATO, institutions which guided U.S. foreign policy for decades. 

Meijer graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in literature and worked as a reporter and editor before joining Meijer, Inc., where he is executive chairman. 

Meijer will visit SVSU in the early months of 2019, when he will accept the award as well as visit classes on campus.  He will also receive a $1,000 prize.

Established by the late Stuart D. Gross and his wife, Vernice, the Gross Award for Literature is administered by SVSU.  It is granted to published works in regional history or historical fiction/drama. Preference is given to Michigan subject matter or strong Michigan connections on the part of the author.

Winners are selected by a panel of judges from SVSU's faculty and staff.  Judges this year were Ashley Blinstrub, research and assessment librarian; M. Patricia Cavanaugh, professor of English; Jules Gehrke, associate professor of history; Carlos Ramet, associate dean of the College of Arts & Behavioral Sciences; and Michelle Strasz, research & online course support librarian.

Employed for many years as a journalist with The Saginaw News, Gross joined the SVSU staff in the school's early years and served in a variety of public affairs roles.  He was recognized as a regional historian and published several books.  Among his writings are, “Saginaw: A History of the Land and City,” “When Timber was King,” and “Where There is a Will.” Following his retirement from SVSU, Gross wrote and produced a play, “Let's Have Lunch Sometime.”  He died in 1996; Mrs. Gross in 2001.

September 25, 2018

Pianist, violinist to perform at SVSU concert Friday

Two world-renowned artists will bring the classical sounds of Beethoven, Ravel, Sheng, and Saint-Saens to the ears of an audience at Saginaw Valley State University this week.

Pianist Wendy Chu will be accompanied by violinist Fangye Sun during a performance Friday, Sept. 28 at 7:30 p.m. in SVSU’s Rhea Miller Recital Hall.

Chu has performed in Taiwan, Austria, and Canada, and has been featured on PBS. The recording artist has worked closely with many other talented artists.

Sun, a native of China, has been recognized as a talented violinist since her childhood, including winning the gold medal at the Gao Hua Chinese Youth Violin Competition at the age of 11.

Chu and Sun are also dedicated educators. Chu resides in Saginaw where she teaches from her private studio as well as SVSU. Sun works as an assistant professor of violin at Central Michigan University and spends her summers teaching at the Bay View Music Festival.

Chu is a veteran of the Rhea Miller Recital Hall. Click here to watch her performance at SVSU in 2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6chejbFirdo

Admission to Friday's concert is free and open to the public. Please contact SVSU's Department of Music at (989) 964-4159 or music@svsu.edu for more information.

September 24, 2018

Panel discussion at SVSU to engage in 'proactive conversation' over free speech, Confederate flag

Saginaw Valley State University will host a panel of educators and students examining the Confederate flag's history and society's ongoing conversation about its symbolism in modern America.

The event – sponsored by SVSU, the Saginaw Community Foundation and the Saginaw Intermediate School District – is scheduled from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25, in the Malcolm Field Theatre for Performing Arts.

Joni Boye-Beaman, an SVSU professor of sociology and the panel moderator, said the discussion is necessary in part because of an incident earlier this year. In April, Confederate flag-bearing vehicles parked outside Bay City Western High School for several days, leading administrators to cancel classes for one day.

“The purpose of the panel discussion is to try to be proactive in terms of having a conversation about what the flag symbolizes to different groups, and why it is important to understand the different meanings attached to it,” Boye-Beaman said.

“We want to talk about how you balance free speech with potentially-intimidating speech and how to start those kinds of conversations with high school students. The goal is to help frame a discussion so that we don't have incidents like what happened at the school again.”

Kenneth Jolly, SVSU professor of history, will open the discussion with a brief presentation about the history of the Confederate flag. Paul Teed, SVSU professor of history, will be among the panelists. SVSU student Grace Kendziorski, a political science major from Auburn, will join the panel along with Raymond Barber, a political science major from University of Detroit Mercy. Other panelists include Ericka Taylor, director of early education at the Saginaw Intermediate School District, and Carolyn Wierda, interim superintendent for Saginaw Township Community Schools.

The panel discussion is the first of four planned events aimed at developing the skills and knowledge necessary to foster successful and effective dialogue that leads to social justice and equity in communities.

For more information on the event, contact the SVSU Office of Diversity Programs at (989) 964-4068.

September 21, 2018

SVSU professor to speak on civic engagement for annual Rush Lecture

Saginaw Valley State University is hosting a lecture by a professor of sociology at SVSU on how communities thrive when people participate in civic engagement.

Joni Boye-Beaman will speak Thursday, Oct. 4 at 4 p.m. in SVSU’s Founder's Hall on “Experiential Learning: Building Community and Competence through Civic Engagement.”

The lecture, free and open to the public, is part of the SVSU 2018-19 Dow Visiting Scholars and Artists Series.

Boye-Beaman completed a master's degree and a Ph.D. at the State University of New York at Buffalo. She joined the SVSU sociology faculty in 2000; her lecture is the 21st annual Thomas and Hilda Rush Distinguished Lecture at SVSU.

Boye-Beaman has over 25 years of experience collaborating with colleagues, students and community partners on a wide variety of research and service learning projects. Her work has benefitted over 100 community organizations and agencies, as well as the people they serve.

Currently, Boye-Beaman is working with James Bowers, SVSU associate professor of criminal justice, and student research assistants as evaluators for a project with the Saginaw Police Department. The project focuses on developing and implementing policies and practices to better respond to victims of violent crimes.

Along with working with the Saginaw Police Department, she is also involved with several initiatives for the SVSU campus community.

For her community work, Boye-Beaman is the recipient of the 2015 Bay Area Women's Center Alice and Jack Wirt Spirit of Giving Award. In addition, she and her research team received a 2018 Community Relations Citation from the Saginaw Police Department.

September 20, 2018

SVSU honors late educator Bobby Ann Robinson

With her commitment to community service and willingness to help others, the late Bobby Ann Robinson made a lasting positive impression on colleagues who worked alongside the educator at Saginaw Valley State University.

Her family and SVSU honored that legacy Monday, Sept. 17 by naming a space on campus after the Saginaw native and onetime SVSU educator with the dedication of The Dr. Bobby Ann Robinson Presentation Hall, located in SVSU's Groening Commons.

“She would never refuse a call to serve,” said Donald Bachand, SVSU's president. “I knew I could always count on her because she never gave a second thought to helping others. She had a passion for her students and her university.”

Robinson, an adjunct faculty member in SVSU's Department of English from 1998-2010, was remembered fondly by friends and family during a dedication ceremony outside the presentation hall now featuring her name emblazoned in silver lettering above the entrance. The naming recognition was part of a gift commitment from her sister, Ruby Robinson, an SVSU alumna.

“SVSU is like a family to us,” Robinson said. “I wanted to honor Bobby's memory here.”

The gift from Ruby Robinson will support the SVSU First For Business campaign, which was recently initiated to support construction of a 38,500-square-foot expansion to house the university's Scott L. Carmona College of Business & Management.

“We are grateful to Ruby for her generous support of SVSU and deeply appreciate that she has chosen SVSU to honor her sister's legacy” said Andrew J. Bethune, executive director of the SVSU Foundation.

Bobby Ann Robinson's influence on the community reached beyond her work at SVSU. She also worked for the former Buena Vista School District in Saginaw County as a teacher and administrator. She served as executive director of the Saginaw-Bay Substance Abuse Services Commission. Robinson also was a member of the NAACP as well as Zonta International, a global organization empowering women through service and advocacy.

Robinson, who visited dozens of nations in her lifetime, shared her love for traveling as the owner and operator of Robinson's Family Travel until her death in 2015 at the age of 75.

She was a lover of poetry "who thought everyone should be a writer," her sister said.

Family and friends at Monday's ceremony recalled Robinson's inspiring mantra for her students: “Go for it. Take a chance. Keep on flying.”