Category: Faculty

Attend Social Justice Day @RooseveltU this Th 3/13

 

Thursday, March 13, 2025, at Roosevelt University
10 a.m. – 1:20 p.m.

430 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60605
Ganz Hall, 7th Floor

Social Justice Day Moderator:
Natasha L. Robinson, JD, Deputy Chief Diversity Officer and Title IX Coordinator

Social Justice Day 2025 features a panel discussion of the Chicago Future Fund and the annual Matthew Freeman Lecture. The Chicago Future Fund panel features the work of two distinguished RU Sociology alumni: Richard Wallace, founder of the Equity and Transformation (EAT) community organization; and Dr. Ashley Baber, professor of Sociology at Augsburg University. Rounding out the panel are Rachel Pyon, research director of Equity and Transformation (EAT), and Deon Hodrick, a participant in the Chicago Future Fund.

Mr. Wallace’s EAT organization launched a Universal Basic Income program, providing formerly incarcerated people $500 each month to help them transition back home. Dr. Baber conducted a one-year study of the program to assess the impact of the money on reducing recidivism rates (likelihood they commit a crime) and reducing homelessness among formerly incarcerated people. Both Richard and Ashley are great examples of what students can do with their sociology degree from Roosevelt University.

This year’s Matthew Freeman Lecture by RU alum Melanie K Hall will address the importance of centering social justice in our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) work toward building communities that share power. Throughout the day, attendees will participate in a series of community building activities; a Q&A session; book signing for 2025 lecturer Melanie K. Hall’s new book Change Your Words to Change Your World: A Guide to Breaking Dysfunctional Patterns of Communication in Marriage, Relationships and the Workplace; and the “Pizza with a Purpose” reception.

This Social Justice Day celebrates our 80th Anniversary. Roosevelt University was born in 1945 when a visionary leader and 62 faculty members had the guts to go against the norms of exclusion in favor of inclusion. They went against the discriminatory practices of higher education in 1945. When asked to limit access because of race, religion and gender, they simply said, “We don’t count that way.” Our history is grounded in courage, acceptance, and a commitment to social justice.

Event Hosts: College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences; Mansfield Institute of Social Justice; and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Co-sponsor: The DEI Advisory Council Leadership Team

For more information, contact Natasha Robinson.

Light refreshments will be served.

 

Faculty Learning Fridays for Fall 2024

Faculty Learning Fridays @RooseveltU are back for the Fall 2024 semester! Sponsored by the Office of Academic Affairs, the Learning Commons, and the Library, Faculty Learning Fridays is a monthly informal workshop series for RU instructors to explore challenges, insights, and practical strategies related to teaching, learning, mentorship, and more, drawing on the expertise of our RU community.

All instructors—full-time, part-time, and staff—are invited, and workshop topics and leaders rotate from month to month. A central goal of this series is to help instructors develop and implement effective practices in their work with students, in an interactive, participatory, and structured workshop format.

FALL 2024 SCHEDULE

We meet the first Friday of the month during the semester (September-December), 9:00-10:00am, via Zoom: https://roosevelt.zoom.us/j/98190063346?pwd=2eTrwjLo9pINwRKRTfNeyzpfLtQoy7.1Meeting ID: 981 9006 3346   Password: 132328

Friday, September 6, 9:00-10:00am
Topic: Dis/ability Inclusion: Reflecting on Dr. Charnessa Warren’s 2024 Faculty Conference presentation
Led by: Ellen O’Brien, Director of Student Learning and Access, RU Learning Commons; Nicole Yoon, Disability Services Specialist; and Natasha Robinson, Deputy Chief Diversity Officer and Title IX Coordinator

Friday, October 4, 9:00-10:00am
Topic: Copyright, Fair Use, and Access to Scholarly Material
Led by: Robin Hofstetter, Director of Libraries

Friday, November 1, 9:00-10:00am
Topic: What’s New in Title IX
Led by: Natasha Robinson, Deputy Chief Diversity Officer and Title IX Coordinator

Friday, December 6, 9:00-10:00am
Topic: An Update from RU’s AI Working Group
Led by: Michael Blancato, Director of Undergraduate Writing, and RU AI Working Group members

Candidate Presentations for RU Criminal Justice Faculty Position this Week

All RU students, faculty, admin, and staff are welcome and encouraged to attend the teaching presentations this Wed 7/10 and Th 7/11 by candidates for the Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice faculty position in the Dept of Law, Society, & Sustainability (LSS). Both sessions will take place in person at the Chicago Campus as well as on Zoom. After each presentation there will be a substantial amount of time for Q & A with the audience.

Wed 7/10 at 10:30-11:45am – Dr. Anne Kirkner: “Care as Control: The Intersection of Violence Against Women & the State,” WB 1214 & Zoom (https://roosevelt.zoom.us/j/94813812788). Dr. Kirkner’s curriculum vitae is available here (pdf).

Th 7/11 at 11:15am-12:30pm – Dr. Faraneh Shamserad: “Measures of Variability,” WB 609 & Zoom (https://roosevelt.zoom.us/j/93248609914). Dr. Shamserad’s curriculum vitae is available here (pdf).

Hope to see you there!

For questions or more information, please contact Prof. Mike Bryson, Chair of the LSS Dept (mbryson@roosevelt.edu), and/or Prof. LaDonna Long, Director of Criminal Justice and Assoc Chair of the LSS Dept (llong@roosevelt.edu) in the College of Humanities, Education, & Social Science.

RU’s Environmental Sustainability Committee Meets on 2/21; All Are Welcome!

RU’s Environmental Sustainability Committee (ESC) will meet via Zoom on Wed 2/21/24 from 9-10am CST to review the strategic planning process to date and prioritize the summary initiatives recommended by the RU community in 2023. This open committee est. in 2010 meets ~4x per year to discuss environmental sustainability initiatives, share information, and make policy recommendations.

All interested RU students, faculty, staff, admin, and alumni are welcome and encouraged to attend! RSVP to mbryson@roosevelt.edu.

Zoom link for meeting: https://roosevelt.zoom.us/j/93318500123

Our main task will be to share feedback on and discuss this Worksheet for Prioritizing Sustainability Initiatives (Word and pdf), which summarizes recommendations made through several surveys and workshops in 2022-23. Please take a few minutes to review and fill out the worksheet prior to meeting, if possible. Regardless of whether or not you can attend on 2/21, written feedback can be emailed to the ESC chair, Prof. Mike Bryson (mbryson@roosevelt.edu).

Additional Resources for the 2/21/24 ESC meeting:

Green Up & Clean UP @RU on 9/15

Hey, RU faculty and staff — Start fresh this fall and join your Roosevelt colleagues for Green Up Clean Up Day! This first-ever event @RooseveltU is an opportunity for you and your co-workers to connect, collaborate and clean out your office spaces to make our campuses the best place to work and best possible learning environment for our students. Wear your Roosevelt green, grab some coffee and a snack and get ready to spruce things up for the academic year!

Save the Date!
Green Up Clean Up
Friday, September 15 | Noon – 3 p.m.

During Green Up Clean Up offices are encouraged to:

  • Grab some snacks in AUD320 (Chicago Campus) and SCH616 (Schaumburg Campus)
  • Donate and reallocate unused office supplies (Notepads, pens, Post-Its, markers, folders, etc.). The Dean of Students Office will gather office supplies for students to use.
  • Purge old documents. Speed packs will be available in Ida B. Wells Lounge to deliver documents to a Pro Shred shredder truck on Wabash Ave. Please review our document retention policies.
  • Donate books (Book donation bins will be provided in the libraries on both campuses)
  • Spruce up their personal spaces
  • Recycle electronics

Accepted items: 

  • Computers & Laptops (wiped clean in the process)
  • iPods and MP3 Players
  • Cameras and DVD’s
  • CD, DVD/VCR Players
  • Keyboards and Mice
  • LCD/LED Monitors
  • Printers and Fax Machines
  • Power Cords/Cables
  • Scanners/Copiers
  • Cable Boxes
  • Cell Phones

Items NOT accepted:

  • CRT or Old Tube TV’s
  • Light Bulbs
  • Hazardous Items (Paint)
  • Dehumidifiers
  • White Goods (Washers/Dryers)

Green Up Clean Up will immediately follow the University Senate meeting and start with snacks and refreshments on each campus. Speed packs will be available to move any larger supplies or equipment. If you need some green apparel, Roosevelt t-shirts will be available at the receptions. These hours can be classified as an in-service day for non-exempt workers. Please work with your supervisors to plan accordingly.

We can’t wait to see you there!

How Arts & Humanities are Tackling the Climate Crisis

Mike Bryson, Professor of Sustainability Studies at Roosevelt University, joins Green Sense WBBM radio host / postcaster Robert Colangelo again to share his thoughts on what role the arts and humanities play in changing hearts and minds about climate change, water conservation, and sustainability. We discuss the current economic conditions and the job market for students working in the field of sustainability.

 

Listen to the full episode on your preferred streaming platform by visiting the Green Sense website

Help RU Plan for a Sustainable Future! (Join the ESC Meeting on Fri 3/17)

The Environmental Sustainability Committee @RooseveltU will have its next strategic sustainability planning meeting of the 2022-23 academic year on Friday, 3/17, from 3pm to 4:30pm on Zoom (see login info below).

The ESC is an open committee formed in 2010 that welcomes participation and encourages collaboration across colleges and departments from all members of the RU community: students, faculty, staff, administration, alumni, and friends. Our key task this spring is to finish the Strategic Sustainability Planning effort begun in Fall 2022 and produce a revised Plan for 2023-28 by the end of this Spring 2023 semester.

This planning meeting will focus on reviewing and analyzing feedback from the Fall 2022 campus planning workshops, events, and presentations as well as the ongoing surveys of current students and employees/alumni. From this foundation, we will develop consensus on RU’s campus sustainability goals for the next five years and prioritize concrete initiatives to achieve said goals.

  • Please see the 2022-23 Campus Sustainability Planning webpage for notes, slides, zoom recordings, and other resources related to this effort.
  • Updated information will be posted to this Events page on Inside Roosevelt, at the above planning website, and via email prior to the 3/17 meeting for the RU community’s review and input. Everyone’s ideas, perspectives, and constructive criticisms are needed and valued in this process.
  • Also note that Roosevelt’s just-renewed annual membership in the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) provides anyone with an active RU email address full access to AASHE’s online resources. Take advantage and avail yourself!

To RSVP and get a Zoom link for the meeting (and/or for questions), please email Mike Bryson (mbryson@roosevelt.edu), professor & director of Sustainability Studies; chair of the Dept of Sociology & Sustainability, CAS; and chair of the ESC.