Month: August 2019

 

EMAIL:

mpivarski@roosevelt.edu

CAREER:

Associate Professor of Mathematics & Department Chair, Mathematics, Economics and Actuarial Science

HOMETOWN:

Just outside of Pittsburgh, PA

COLLEGE:

Carnegie Mellon

UG MAJOR/MINOR:

Math major, Computer Science minor

WHY YOU CHOSE THE MAJOR/MINOR:

I fell in love with math when I took a baby analysis class in my freshman year.  It was amazing that you could show why all of mathematics fit together.  I also greatly enjoyed the ideas about how computer programs fit together; algorithms in particular felt like solving puzzles in a very fun way.

EXTRACURRICULARS DURING UG (CLUBS, ORGS, JOBS, INTERNSHIPS, VOLUNTEER WORK, ETC.):

Math and computer science tutor/grader, summer math research (REU) at William and Mary and at Mt Holyoke, lots of study groups with friends.

WHY YOU CHOSE TO WORK AT ROOSEVELT:

I wanted to help students learn about how awesome math is!  When I interviewed at Roosevelt, my notes to myself are on how collegial the faculty was and how the students were enthusiastic.  My notes were correct– I’ve been continually inspired by how wonderful the students and faculty are here! As a bonus, Roosevelt is in a fantastic location (and relatively close to Fermilab, where my husband works).

ADVICE FOR INCOMING/CURRENT STUDENTS:

Make friends– your community here is essential! Plus learning is more fun when you can explore ideas with others.

FAVORITE SPOT AT ROOSEVELT:

The 10^th Floor Learning Commons has a wonderful feel to it!  But anywhere people are doing math is a fun place to be!

YOUR ROLE MODEL AND WHY:

Mr Rogers! Everyone loves Mr Rogers; he took the time to connect to people without just telling them what they wanted to hear.  He also advocated for the kind of friendly neighborliness that the world can always use, especially now.

LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED:

My Little Pony: The Movie (Why yes, I do have a kindergartener.)

My name is Ellie Kurt, I am a History Major and Fine Arts Minor in my second year at Roosevelt. I am also a Peer Mentor in the Learning Commons.

I came to Roosevelt from a non-traditional high school background. I was on homebound, which basically means I was still enrolled in public school, but because of my chronic health problems and mental illness, I did school from home and a teacher would come to my house to help me with my classes and proctor my tests. I was very apprehensive to begin college because I hadn’t been in a formal educational setting consistently for almost six years. In preparing to come to Roosevelt me, parents, and doctors decided it would be good for me to get accommodations for my mental and physical health issues through disability services. While there, the then director told me about the peer mentor program. When I started in August my peer mentor Vera got in contact with me. Vera would read my papers and helped me try to be social. She did a great deal to make me feel like Roosevelt was the right place for me to be and that I could succeed in college even with the challenges I face. Along the way she became one of my best friends and we still see each other and talk a lot even though she graduated last semester. I became a mentor myself this semester because I wanted to help students the way Vera has helped me. I can say confidently that the Mentors are one of the most welcoming communities at Roosevelt. I would encourage freshmen to join the program even if they feel confident academically, it is nice to have someone to talk to and help you get integrated into the University socially.

The Peer Mentor Program is a resource for all students here at Roosevelt. It is a common misconception that we only serve freshman and students with disabilities. The program allows students to get advice about college from someone else who is going through the same thing. We help students get organized by helping them develop ways to keep track of their assignments and balance their school, work, and social lives. Another way we serve students is by teaching test taking, stress management, and study skills. I have also helped students get in contact with their professors and other resources here at Roosevelt. The mentors also host events, like Peace and Love Fest in February and Friendsgiving, and go to other events on campus with mentees as a way of building the Roosevelt community. Basically, Peer Mentors are here to help students to succeed in college. I would encourage freshmen to join the program even if they feel confident academically, it is nice to have someone to talk to and help you get integrated into the University socially.

EMAIL:

cmchale01@mail.roosevelt.edu

ANTICIPATED GRADUATION DATE:

May 2021

HOMETOWN:

Orland Park, Illinois

WHY YOU CHOSE ROOSEVELT:

I thought Roosevelt had many great student support systems, like the Academic Success Center. This showed me that the University cared a great deal about their students’ success.  

MAJOR/MINOR:

Majoring in History and Political Science, minoring in economics and philosophy

WHY YOU CHOSE THIS MAJOR/MINOR:

I have been interested in History and Political Science since I was a child, but I didn’t know anything about Philosophy and Economics until college. I enjoy my minors because they are challenging and incredible logical. To me, all of these subjects are very intertwined, so a person can not fully understand one without having some understanding of the others.

DREAM JOB AND WHY:

My dream job changes every other day, so I can’t say anything for sure. However, I think I would enjoy a job having to do with public policy.

EXTRACURRICULARS (CLUBS, ORGS, JOBS, INTERNSHIPS, VOLUNTEER WORK, ETC.):

I work as the History Program Assistant in the Office of History, Philosophy, and Art. In Office of Admission, I give tours as a Student Ambassador. I am also the Vice President of CASSAC.

“GOING TO CRUSH THIS EXAM” PUMP-UP SONG:

The Game of Thrones Theme Song

FAVORITE QUOTE:

“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.” — Abraham Lincoln

FAVORITE SPOT IN CHICAGO:

Grant Park

LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED:

The Lego Movie 2: Second Part

EMAIL:

aschuh@roosevelt.edu

CAREER:

Associate Professor and Program Director, Public Administration

HOMETOWN:

Chicago, IL

COLLEGE:

University of Illinois at Chicago

UG MAJOR/MINOR:

Sociology/Political Science

WHY YOU CHOSE THE MAJOR/MINOR:

I chose my major because I had a great high school teacher in sociology. I chose minor because my roommate in the Foreign Service was a political science major and she interested me in the subject.

EXTRACURRICULARS DURING UG (CLUBS, ORGS, JOBS, INTERNSHIPS, VOLUNTEER WORK, ETC.):

My parents could not afford to send me to college and my father would not fill out scholarship or financial aid forms. So I had to fund my education without any assistance. During my first year I worked full time and took a full time course load. Because this burned me out, I dropped out of school and didn’t return until five years later after I had saved enough money to go to school full time. I finished the remaining three years in two years. I never was involved in clubs, internships or volunteer work because I focused entirely on my education. Until I began going to school full time, I worked as a court reporter and a secretary.

WHY YOU CHOSE TO WORK AT ROOSEVELT:

While working for the U. S. Office of Personnel Management in Chicago, I had been an adjunct at Roosevelt. This gave me an opportunity to learn about Roosevelt’s social justice mission. So once I retired from the government, teaching at a university with a social justice mission seemed a natural step.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

John Kennedy’s inaugural address: “ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”

PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT…:

When I worked in the Economic Section of the American Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia one of the Economic Section Foreign Service officers was actually a CIA agent. When my two year tour of duty was over and I was returning to Chicago to complete my undergraduate degree, the agent told me that I should get in touch with him once I completed my degree because the CIA would be interested in hiring me as an analyst.

ADVICE FOR INCOMING/CURRENT STUDENTS:

If you are having trouble keeping up with your assignments, get in touch with your instructor right away. The two of you can work out a plan to deal with the problem before it becomes much more difficult to resolve.

FAVORITE SPOT AT ROOSEVELT:

The Auditorium 8^th floor space by the elevator on the Michigan Avenue side of the building because there is a picture of Franklin Roosevelt with this quote: “Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President and senators and congressmen and government officials, but the voters of this country”

CAUSE YOU’RE PASSIONATE ABOUT AND WHY:

Voting rights is definitely a cause that I am passionate about. As a child I saw almost daily on the news the struggles of those in the civil rights movement trying to ensure that everyone had an opportunity to exercise the right to vote. When I worked for the Office of Personnel Management in Chicago I observed elections in the South as part of the Voting Rights Act. When I worked for the Office of Personnel Management in Washington, D.C. , one of my responsibilities included management of the unit that obtained election observers for the Department of Justice. I now teach a course on Voting Policy and I think it is important to make students aware of current voter suppression activities, the importance of a strong and healthy voting system and the need to exercise our precious voting rights.

EMAIL

mdwyer03@mail.roosevelt.edu

ANTICIPATED GRADUATION DATE:

May 2021

HOMETOWN:

Oak Lawn, IL

WHY YOU CHOSE ROOSEVELT:

The most affordable option, also it was in a city rather than a college town. Lots of ability for mobility.

MAJOR/MINOR:

History/Political Science Major, WGS Minor

WHY YOU CHOSE THIS MAJOR/MINOR:

I always enjoyed History and wanted to pursue it further in higher education. I found that History has very important connections to Political Science, so I recently added that major. I also feel strongly about my commitment to Women’s and Gender Studies.

DREAM JOB AND WHY:

I would like to be a political analyzer or work in historical research.

EXTRACURRICULARS (CLUBS, ORGS, JOBS, INTERNSHIPS, VOLUNTEER WORK, ETC.):   

Women’s and Gender Studies Program Assistant, Restaurant Hostess, History Advisory Board Member, CASSAC Member.

FAVORITE COURSE TAKEN AT ROOSEVELT AND WHY:

My favorite course at Roosevelt so far is The Politics of Sex, which is a WGS course. I found that the discussions were incredibly informative and really gave me inspiration for what I want to do in the future.

PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT… :

I have been learning Dutch for the past year! (I am preparing for study abroad at Tilburg University in the Netherlands.)

FAVORITE SPOT AT ROOSEVELT:

Fainman Lounge

YOUR ROLE MODEL AND WHY:

My role model is Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg because she has remained committed and passionate about her work for long enough to have made a difference in history.

LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED:

If you consider this a movie, John Mulaney’s Kid Gorgeous