Band director to receive state educator award

Dr. Thomas McCauley, director of bands and instrumental activities at the University of

Indianapolis, will be honored Friday, Jan. 13, as the Indiana Music Educators Association’s 2006

Outstanding Music Educator at the college/university level.

The award will be presented during the statewide association’s annual convention at the Indiana

Convention Center and RCA Dome in Indianapolis, along [...]

Posted: January 1st, 2006 under Staff News.

Inauguration events set for March 28 and 29

University of Indianapolis to mark arrival of eighth president

The University of Indianapolis will celebrate the inauguration of its eighth president with

community service projects, a special student travel grant program and a series of on- and off-

campus events March 28 and 29.

“Passport to Possibilities” is the theme for the inauguration of Dr. Beverley J. Pitts, [...]

Posted: January 1st, 2006 under Campus News.

Professor named VP of national music association

Jo Ann Domb, professor and chair of the Department of Music at the University of Indianapolis,

has been appointed vice president pro tempore of the National Association of Schools of Music,

to serve through the group’s annual meeting in November.

The National Association of Schools of Music is the specialized accrediting organization for

higher education institutions, [...]

Posted: January 1st, 2006 under Staff News.

MLK Day celebration includes music, talk

Live jazz music and a presentation from a prominent local African-American leader will

highlight this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration at the University of Indianapolis.

The public is invited to the event at noon Monday, Jan. 16, in the university’s Ransburg

Auditorium, 1400 E. Hanna Ave. Second semester classes begin Monday, but a special schedule

will allow interested students to attend.

The Rev. Angelique Walker-Smith, executive director of the Church Federation of Greater

Indianapolis, will deliver the keynote address, “Rosa, Katrina, Maria: Martin Luther King’s

Legacy – Past, Present and Future.”

During the opening 30 minutes of meditation and reflection, the university’s Jazz Combo, led by

saxophonist and Director of Jazz Studies Harry Miedema, will play selections from jazz greats

including Wes Montgomery, Hank Mobley and Bobby Hutcherson. University co-chaplain Sister

Jennifer Horner will offer a prayer. Edward Frantz, assistant professor of history, will welcome

the audience and introduce Walker-Smith.

Attendees will join in singing the civil rights anthem “We Shall Overcome” to close the program

at approximately 1:30 p.m.

Posted: January 12th, 2006 under Campus News.

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University staff, faculty join in fitness competition

More than 220 University of Indianapolis faculty and staff members are participating in a four-

month walking and fitness program that pits various departments against each other in a battle

for prizes, bragging rights and better health.

University President Beverley Pitts said the program, dubbed “R UIndy Fit?” to incorporate the

university’s nickname, reflects the same concerns that inspired Gov. Mitch Daniels’ “INShape

Indiana” program and Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson’s “Indy in Motion” initiative. According

to the Indiana State Department of Health, 62 percent of Hoosiers are overweight, and 1 in 4 say

they rarely engage in any physical activity.

“There is a growing awareness that our lifestyles have become too sedentary, which is harmful to

both body and mind,” Pitts said. Noting that roughly a third of the university’s full-time faculty

and staff are participating, she added, “I’m thrilled that so many people on campus are buying

into the benefits of regular exercise, and I know the rest of our university community – faculty,

staff and students – will be inspired to make healthy decisions in their lives.”

To make participation simple and accessible for university employees, the competition involves

using pedometers to measure footsteps taken during regular daily activities. Thirty teams of two

to 12 people will tally their steps each week and calculate a per-person average, with a traveling

trophy awarded to the weekly leaders and a free healthy meal provided for the monthly leaders.

A kickoff celebration begins at 11:15 a.m. Friday, Jan. 20, with registration and a buffet lunch in

Schwitzer Student Center. Pitts will deliver remarks at 12:20 p.m. and then will lead participants

in an inaugural walk around campus. R UIndy Fit will continue through May 10.

The program was organized by the Department of Kinesiology. Department chair and Assistant

Professor Lisa Hicks said she and her colleagues, who study and teach the science of human

movement and physical activity, were happy to donate their time.

“That’s our discipline, our specialty on campus,” she said. “It’s been my goal to offer some kind

of program for our people.”

The typical American adult takes just 2,000 to 3,000 steps per day, Hicks said, far below the

federal recommendation of 10,000. But small changes throughout the day can make a difference.

“So many times, people are intimidated about exercising,” she said. “You don’t have to be an

athlete or go jogging. It can be as simple as parking a little farther away, or taking the stairs

instead of the elevator.”

For a fee of $10, each participant will receive a pedometer, a commemorative T-shirt and

invitations to the kickoff and wrap-up lunch events. Those who pursue other forms of exercise,

such as swimming or bicycling, can use a conversion chart to find the equivalent number of

footsteps. R UIndy Fit also involves brown-bag lunches with faculty presentations on various

health and exercise topics.

President Pitts made some funding available for the program, and the kinesiology faculty also

secured donations of prizes, food and equipment from 20 local businesses and organizations,

including the gift of 230 pedometers from St. Francis Hospital. The incentives include coupons,

gift cards, health club memberships and tickets to Indiana Pacers and Indianapolis Indians

games.

Posted: January 13th, 2006 under Campus News, Staff News.

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Nurse-midwife program awards first degrees

Indiana’s first and only nurse-midwifery master’s degree program, founded in 2003 at the

University of Indianapolis, is graduating its first students this academic year.

Two students completed their degrees during the first semester, which ended in December, and

two more will graduate in the spring after completing research or clinical requirements. Six more

students are currently enrolled, and seven others have been accepted into the program.

One of this year’s graduates is Lynda Barton-Kirch, who plans to open an office and birth center

with another nurse-midwife after obtaining her state license. During her 20-year nursing career,

she grew concerned over infant mortality and C-section rates and began looking into nurse-

midwifery. The northwestside Indianapolis resident was considering out-of-state and distance-

learning options when she heard the University of Indianapolis was starting a master’s degree

program.

“This was what I was waiting for,” said Barton-Kirch, who worked at Methodist and Hendricks

Regional hospitals to satisfy clinical requirements for her degree. “The support and positive

reinforcement you get at the University of Indianapolis is not seen everywhere.”

The program’s founder and director, Barbara Winningham, said the increasing availability of

nurse-midwives is a victory especially for vulnerable families whose economic circumstances or

cultural backgrounds make it intimidating or difficult for them to receive proper health care.

Research has shown that the personal, holistic care that nurse-midwives provide to their clients

improves the health of women and children throughout their lives, she said, not only during the

childbearing cycle.

“You try to initiate more of a relationship, a bond with them,” said Winningham, herself a

certified nurse-midwife. “To have more midwives, and to have more moms and babies have

access to these programs, is wonderful.”

At the University of Indianapolis, nurse-midwifery is a 2.5-year program in the nationally ranked

School of Nursing that typically culminates in a master of science degree. To enter the program,

a student must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing, an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 and at

least one year of nursing experience.

Indiana has licensed nurse-midwives for more than 30 years and now has more than 100, but still

trails the national average. Winningham, who chairs the Indiana chapter of the American College

of Nurse-Midwives, says the idea is gaining ground in the state. She noted the recent opening of

new midwifery practices in Terre Haute, Crawfordsville and Indianapolis.

“Definitely there’s been an increase in the last 10 years,” she said. “There’s more branching out,

midwives starting their own practices.”

Contrary to popular belief, only 3 percent of nurse-midwife-assisted births take place at the

client’s home, she said. The vast majority take place at hospitals or birth centers. Like other

advance-practice nurses, nurse-midwives are authorized to prescribe medication in both

outpatient and hospital settings, and they operate under collaborative practice agreements with

physicians.

For more information about the University of Indianapolis nurse-midwifery program, visit

nursing.uindy.edu/msn/midwifery.php.

NOTE TO MEDIA – The following people are available for interviews:

Barbara Winningham, University of Indianapolis nurse-midwifery program director, (317) 432-

6357

Lynda Barton-Kirch, student, (317) 290-0049

Posted: January 16th, 2006 under Campus News.

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Exploring African-American spirituality

Diverse Indianapolis congregations collaborate to host events

Two Indianapolis-area churches – one urban, one suburban – are collaborating this year to host

the second annual Gathering of the African-American Sages on March 10 and 11.

The University of Indianapolis sponsors the conference, which brings together distinguished

church and community leaders from a multistate region to explore Christian spirituality in the

unique context of African-American church tradition.

The theme of the 2006 gathering is “Sharing Heaven’s Music in God’s World.” All events are

free and open to the public.

The guest speaker is the Rev. James Earl Massey, who for many years was pastor of

Metropolitan Church of God in Detroit before serving as dean of the chapel at Tuskegee

University in Alabama and dean of the Anderson University School of Theology. Massey will

speak on the topic “A Grand Word About a Great Savior” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 10, at

Barnes United Methodist Church, 900 W. 30th St., Indianapolis.

The following day, Saturday, March 11, will feature discussions and activities at Greenwood

United Methodist Church, 525 N. Madison Ave. Those events include two presentations,

“Reading the Bible as African-Americans” at 9:30 a.m. and “Christian Life in the African-

American Spirituals” at 1 p.m. Discussions after each presentation will be led by last year’s guest

speakers: the Rev. Eugene Blair, director of African-American Spiritual Formation for the

Detroit Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church; and the Rev. Glandion Carney of

Helena, Ala., an ordained minister in the Christian Reform Church and chaplain of the Christian

Legal Society. A noon luncheon is also free and open to the public, but reservations are required;

call (317) 881-3514.

The annual Gathering of the African-American Sages is part of a collaboration among the

University of Indianapolis, the Office of African-American Spiritual Formation of the Detroit

Conference of the United Methodist Church, and the Upper Room Ministry in Nashville, Tenn.

Funding is provided by The Crossings Project, a Lilly Endowment-funded program at the

University of Indianapolis. For more information, contact the university’s Office of Ecumenical

& Interfaith Programs at (317) 788-2106.

Calendar Listing Gathering of the African-American Sages

7:30 p.m. March 10, Barnes United Methodist Church, 900 W. 30th St.

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 11, Greenwood United Methodist Church, 525 N. Madison Ave.;

call 881-3514 for lunch reservations

Admission: Free

Information: (317) 788-2106

Posted: February 1st, 2006 under Campus News.

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CELL speaker series to address school reform

A free monthly speaker series beginning Feb. 16 will provide Indiana educators, parents and

community leaders with national perspectives on learning and school reform.

Sponsored by the University of Indianapolis’ Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning,

the monthly two-day format includes a free public evening address by a national expert, followed

by a morning meeting for education decision makers at all levels, from preschool through

college, to discuss next steps for addressing the issue.

Registration is necessary for the educational dialogues, which are aimed at policymakers and

education professionals. No registration is needed for the evening events, which are open to

parents and other interested community members. All events are free, and webcasting is

available.

The series is an outreach effort by CELL to help schools make decisions based on research and

best practices.

Scheduled events in the series include:

African-American Perceptions of Barriers to Achievement Donna Ford, Vanderbilt University

7 p.m. Feb. 16 (free, no registration necessary)

Educational dialogue from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 17 (registration deadline Feb. 10)

Location for both events: Indiana Historical Society, 450 W. Ohio St.

Moving Schools from Promising to Proven Ray McNulty, International Center for Leadership in Education

7 p.m. March 8 (free, no registration necessary)

Educational dialogue from 9 a.m. to noon March 9 (registration deadline March 2)

Location for both events: Indiana Historical Society, 450 W. Ohio St.

All Students Reaching the Top: Strategies for Closing the Achievement Gap Joseph Renzuli, University of Connecticut

7 p.m. April 5 (free, no registration necessary)

Educational dialogue from 9 a.m. to noon April 6 (registration deadline March 30)

Location for both events: Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, 3000 N. Meridian St.

To sign up for e-mail updates or to register for the educational dialogues, visit cell.uindy.edu.

For more information, contact Brian Reid at (317) 791-5919 or breid@uindy.edu.

Supported in part by Lilly Endowment, CELL promotes professional and civic leadership for

achievement of educational excellence and equity for all students.

–>

Posted: February 8th, 2006 under Campus News.

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Goodbye ‘U of I,’ hello ‘UIndy’

University of Indianapolis adopts nickname

In 1986, Indiana Central University became the University of Indianapolis, firmly establishing its

relationship to its home city. Now, 20 years later and with even deeper partnerships in the

community, the university is reinforcing that connection by adopting “UIndy” as its nickname.

“For years, the University of Indianapolis has been referred to informally as „U of I,‟” noted

Marketing Director Joseph Solari. “That shorthand has created ambiguity, with people

wondering if we‟re the University of Illinois or Iowa, and even confusing us with IU and

IUPUI.”

The university is phasing out references to U of I in favor of UIndy, for which a special logo has

been developed for merchandising and athletics.

“We‟ve been working to create a consistent image for the university, and now is the time to

extend that to our informal name,” Solari said. “UIndy is distinctive and appropriately reflects

our close ties to the city.”

For example, the university is involved extensively in the Fountain Square neighborhood,

particularly in health care and arts outreach. The Center for Aging and Community, located in

Fountain Square Center, is active statewide on age-related workforce issues and social services

for the elderly. In addition, the university‟s Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning is

working closely with public and private schools, and the mayor‟s office, to transform elementary

and secondary education in the city. Also, the School of Business is engaged in workforce

development through many initiatives, including its Institute for Emerging Careers, which is

working with business and industry to develop curriculum and internships in emergent fields.

“That deep and ongoing relationship with the community is very important to the university, and

especially for our students whose education is enhanced by everything the city has to offer,

particularly in the area of internships and volunteer opportunities,” Solari said.

Solari noted that “UIndy” was officially used for the first time five years ago in connection with

the university‟s Campaign for UIndy, a highly successful comprehensive fund drive that is

winding down this year. It also is the Internet address for the university (news.uindy.edu). “In

time we hope that UIndy becomes as identifiable an informal moniker in our market as UConn

and UMass have become in theirs.”

Posted: February 15th, 2006 under Campus News.

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Expert will discuss terrorism, political rhetoric

Any act of political violence leads to questions: Who did it? Why did it happen? What should be

done about it? But too often, according to one leading scholar, public debate about terrorism

focuses on the response and ignores the root causes of the threats facing free societies.

Tomis Kapitan, professor of philosophy at Northern Illinois University, will discuss “The Reign

of „Terror‟: Contemporary Political Rhetoric and its Consequences” on Thursday, Feb. 23, at the

University of Indianapolis. Admission is free to this public event, which will begin at 7 p.m. in

Room 010 of Schwitzer Student Center, 1400 E. Hanna Ave.

Kapitan, who holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from Indiana University, argues that political rhetoric

about the danger of “terrorism” – an ill-defined and controversial term – has obscured the

underlying causes of tension in the contemporary Middle East and has impeded Americans‟

ability to think critically about world events. As a result, he argues, our attitudes toward certain

nations and cultures have been dominated by fear and ignorance, leading to actions that

compromise our national principles and inflame animosity toward the United States.

For more information, contact the Department of Philosophy & Religion at (317) 788-2072.

Posted: February 16th, 2006 under Campus News.

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Renowned evolution expert to speak at UIndy

British museum’s Chris Stringer studies early human origins and migration

A leading international authority on early human development will speak Thursday, April 6, at

the University of Indianapolis.

Anthropologist Chris Stringer of the Natural History Museum in London will discuss “New

Views on Human Origins” at 7 p.m. April 6 in the university’s Ransburg Auditorium, located on

the east end of Esch Hall at 1400 E. Hanna Ave. Admission is free.

Stringer is a key proponent of the “out of Africa” theory of modern human origins, and he

collaborates with archaeologists, dating specialists and geneticists in attempting to reconstruct

the evolution of modern humans.

He has directed or co-directed excavations at Pleistocene sites in England, Wales, Gibraltar and

Morocco, and he currently directs the Ancient Human Occupation of Britain, a five-year project

to reconstruct the pattern of the earliest human colonization of England and Wales. He is the

author of many scientific and popular books and articles. His most recent book, co-authored with

Peter Andrews, is The Complete World of Human Evolution (2005, Thames & Hudson,

London).

Stringer’s talk is the fifth installment of the university’s annual Blanche E. Penrod Anthropology

Lecture Series. For more information, contact Associate Professor Christopher Schmidt at (317)

788-2103.

Calendar Listing Anthropologist Chris Stringer

“New Views on Human Origins”

When: 7 p.m. Thursday, April 6

Where: Ransburg Auditorium, Esch Hall

University of Indianapolis, 1400 E. Hanna Ave.

Admission: Free

Information: (317) 788-2103

Posted: March 24th, 2006 under Campus News.

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UIndy to host regional supply chain conference

Wal-Mart officer, top industry executives to speak; agenda and topics developed with

input from leaders in a broad range of fields

With the eventual goal of making Indiana the “Silicon Valley” of supply chain management, the

University of Indianapolis School of Business will host the inaugural SupplyNet 2006

conference Saturday, May 13.

The regional conference is the first to bring together industry leaders in a wide range of related

fields, including transportation, distribution, logistics, quality, manufacturing, purchasing, retail,

information technology, government, academia and workforce development. The goal of this

landmark initiative is to help establish Indiana as the supply chain management capital of the

nation.

The keynote speaker will be Linda Dillman, executive vice president for Wal-Mart Stores, the

world‟s largest retailer and Indiana‟s largest non-government employer. Dillman is credited with

developing one of the world‟s most sophisticated information-services networks. She also

directed Wal-Mart‟s push for suppliers to adopt radio-frequency identification (RFID), the

installation of electronic tags in pallets and cases to allow detailed real-time monitoring of

inventory, a trend that is revolutionizing the retail industry.

The conference will open with remarks from Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita, who

oversees the legal environment that helps attract business to Indiana, followed by a panel

discussion involving top executives from many business sectors:

Rodney Graham, president, Magnum Logistics Thomas R. Haynes, director of Supply Chain Management, Raytheon Corp. Cathy Langham, president and owner, Langham Mary McCain, vice president of Supply Chain Management, Roche Diagnostics Bob Palmer, vice president of Air-Ground & Freight Services-Central Region, FedEx Express Scott Sigman, director of business development, Ports of Indiana

The conference topics were determined by industry leaders. Beginning in Fall 2005, the

university‟s School of Business convened focus groups with business representatives to discuss

what issues the industry faces and what is needed for continued growth. One clear concept that

emerged was that, despite the widely recognized potential for these businesses in centrally

located, interstate-accessible Indiana, the industry needs a cohesive identity and vision for

integrating, marketing and developing the various segments.

“Cooperation is a competitive strategy,” said Sheela Yadav, an associate professor of business at

UIndy and one of the event organizers. “Already, the process of planning this conference has

established lines of communication between people and organizations that have common

interests but had not worked together previously.”

FedEx‟s Palmer described the event as a crucial, overdue step in realizing the growth potential

for these industries in the Midwest.

“The economic development community and all of us in these related fields recognize that

Indiana could become the undisputed national and international hub, the „Silicon Valley‟ of

supply chain management, if you will,” Palmer said. “Until now, however, no one had brought

us together in a collaborative effort to make that happen.”

The event has support and cooperation from state government and local chapters of seven

professional societies: American Society for Quality; American Society for Transportation and

Logistics; APICS-Association for Operations Management; Council of Supply Chain

Management Professionals; Institute of Packaging Professionals; Institute for Supply

Management; and Project Management Institute.

SupplyNet 2006, scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the University of Indianapolis campus,

also will include a business expo, networking opportunities and morning and afternoon breakout

sessions on topics including technology, marketing, certifications and quality control. The full

agenda, registration information and other details are available by calling (317) 788-3340 or

visiting http://business.uindy.edu/supplynet/.

Background

The University of Indianapolis offers concentrations in supply chain management at both the

undergraduate and graduate levels. The School of Business soon will offer a minor in supply

chain management that will prepare graduates for professional certification.

Supply chain management is a business strategy that addresses all aspects of operations, from

purchasing, manufacturing and quality to distribution of goods and services. It integrates internal

and external logistics among manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, retailers, transportation

providers and third-party service providers to increase productivity and create a competitive

advantage for all parties involved. Driven by the globalization of business and made possible by

information technology, supply chain management has the potential to create many lucrative

jobs.

When: 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, May 13

Where: University of Indianapolis, 1400 E. Hanna Ave.

Cost: $30

Information and registration: (317) 788-3340 or http://business.uindy.edu/supplynet/

Posted: March 28th, 2006 under Campus News.

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UIndy students win ‘Passport to the World’

Travel study grant program marks inauguration of university president

Ten University of Indianapolis students were awarded grants of $4,000 each today to fund

educational experiences in Greece, Taiwan, South Africa and Belize.

The “Passport to the World” travel study grant program was established to celebrate this week’s

inauguration of university President Beverley J. Pitts, who had expressed a desire to put the

focus on students.

“This opportunity to provide a transformative experience for 10 promising students is far more

important than adding to the pomp and circumstance of an inauguration,” Pitts said. “A key part

of our mission is to promote intercultural understanding, and our international affiliations give us

a means to do that.”

Study sites eligible for the program included the university’s branch campus in Athens, Greece,

and other affiliated locations in Israel, Taiwan, Belize and mainland China. Full-time students in

good standing were invited to submit applications, essays and letters of recommendation to a

review committee that selected the 10 winners. The students’ trips will take place between May

1, 2006, and August 31, 2007.

The grant recipients, who were honored today at a luncheon with the president and later at Dr.

Pitts’ investiture ceremony, are:

Ross Atteberry of Westfield (46074)

Freshman in History & Political Science

Location: Greece

Andrea Buchler of Fort Wayne (46815)

Junior in Spanish education

Location: Belize

Hilary Conklin of Rushville (46173)

Senior in Psychology

Location: Taiwan

James “Ryan” Davis of Indianapolis (46219)

Sophomore in International Relations

Location: Greece

Hilary Foltz of Dyer (46311)

Sophomore in Elementary Education

Location: South Africa

Todd Harrington of Anderson (46012)

Senior in Liberal Studies (School for Adult Learning)

Location: South Africa

Phyllinga Jackson of Rochester (46975)

Sophomore in Elementary Education

Location: Greece

Kelli Norton of Indianapolis (46224)

Junior in Organizational Leadership (School for Adult Learning)

Location: Greece

Molly Schiel of Indianapolis (46227)

Master’s degree candidate in Human Biology

Location: South Africa

Mboone Umbima of Indianapolis (46227)

Senior in Communication

Location: South Africa

Posted: March 29th, 2006 under Campus News.

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Jazz host Workman brings show to WICR-FM

A voice that has rallied central Indiana jazz fans for more than 30 years is coming this week

to University of Indianapolis radio station WICR-FM 88.7.

Host Chuck Workman will debut his new weekly program, the aptly titled Saturday Evening

Jazz Show, from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 1.

“I’m excited to get back to public radio,” said Workman, who hosted Journey Into Jazz

throughout the 1970s and ’80s on public station WIAN-FM. “It’s sort of like a homecoming.”

More recently, Workman hosted The Sunday Morning Jazz Show for 19 years on WTPI-FM, but

that run ended in October when the station dropped its “smooth jazz” format.

Although Workman’s WTPI show primarily featured contemporary, pop-oriented artists, the new

show on WICR – also known as “The Diamond” – will shift the focus to the many branches of

classic and progressive jazz that make the genre an art form and an important cultural force.

“We’re flipping it over,” Workman said of his format. “Everybody knows where my heart is. I

believe in the art of jazz.”

The Saturday Evening Jazz Show, which will replace a syndicated program, continues WICR’s

movement toward locally produced, non-network jazz and classical programming. General

Manager Scott Uecker said Workman’s vast knowledge of jazz and his connections in the local

music community will be tremendous assets.

“We’re understandably excited about having one of the foremost jazz hosts in the local market,”

Uecker said, noting that WICR already boasts a Sunday afternoon jazz show hosted by Ralph

Adams, who like Workman is a member of the Indiana Jazz Hall of Fame. “We’ve always

believed we’re a leader in programming classic jazz and highlighting local artists, and this firmly

establishes us in that niche.”

Workman said his fascination with jazz and broadcasting began in childhood. As a young man

during Indianapolis’ mid-century jazz heyday, he haunted the music clubs of Indiana Avenue and

for a time studied jazz guitar, though he found the competition too stiff.

“Unfortunately, a guy named Wes Montgomery was around,” he said with a chuckle.

His broadcasting career hit full stride in the ’70s when he was hired as a sportscaster, and later

sports director and public affairs director, at WTTV-Channel 4. Since then, aside from the radio

work, he has been active in music education and outreach programs, emceeing events and

organizing jazz festivals. He also writes a weekly jazz column for Nuvo Newsweekly.

Posted: March 30th, 2006 under Campus News.

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CELL awards grants to start-up high schools

Indianapolis, IN – The Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning at the University of

Indianapolis today announced a new round of grants to support three innovative start-up high

schools, including “early college” models being proposed by two public school districts.The

grants, which will ensure that local high school students receive a personalized and rigorous

education, bring to 17 the number of new “start-up” small high schools that CELL is supporting

in various stages of development or implementation.

Two new entrants to the field are the Crispus Attucks Medical Magnet/Early College High

School conceived by Indianapolis Public Schools and the Early College High School proposed

by the Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township. Each district is receiving $40,000 to

explore its concept, and will be eligible to apply for additional funding at future stages of

development.

The Irvington Community High School, which has just completed its exploration phase, will

receive up to $100,000 from CELL to move into “design and preparation” work. The college-

preparatory school, chartered through Ball State University, will be an extension of Irvington

Community School, which is presently serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

The school initially received $40,000 from CELL to explore the high school concept, and is now

ready to lay groundwork for the school to open in the fall.

Start-up high schools funded by CELL share several basic qualities, including high expectations

for students and strong community engagement, noted CELL Senior Fellow David Dresslar. The

climate and structure of the schools must include shared decision-making among faculty,

personalized instruction, and attention to the needs and progress of students.

CELL also is providing funding and assistance to Indianapolis Public Schools in the district’s

transition to autonomous, smaller schools on each of the five comprehensive high school

campuses. Those schools also are characterized by a high degree of community engagement,

shared leadership among faculty, classroom rigor, and personalized education.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation awarded $11.3 million to CELL in 2003 to spearhead high

school transformation in Indianapolis and Marion County through collaborative community

efforts. The center formed a Network of Effective Small Schools in Indianapolis to achieve this

goal.

CELL was established in 2001 by the university, with major funding from Lilly Endowment, to

promote professional and civic leadership for achievement of educational excellence and equity

for all students.

More information about the center, its community-based partnerships, and the high school

transformation initiative is available on the Web at http://cell.uindy.edu/nessi, or by contacting

Dresslar at ddresslar@uindy.edu.

Related links:

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: http://gatesfoundation.org Indianapolis Mayor’s Office: http://indygov.org

Posted: April 12th, 2006 under Campus News.

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UIndy grads expected to top 1,000

As the University of Indianapolis gears up for annual commencement exercises in May, the

number of graduates this academic year is expected to exceed 1,000 for the first time in the

university’s 104-year history.

As of mid-April, the registrar’s office was projecting that 1,073 students would earn their

degrees at the university’s main campus in Indianapolis and branch campus in Athens, Greece,

and through its degree programs in Cyprus. The total, which would represent an 8.3 percent

increase from the 2004-05 figure of 991, includes students completing their requirements during

the first or second semesters or during this year’s summer sessions.

The projected total for the Indianapolis campus alone includes 623 bachelor’s and associate’s

degrees, 255 master’s degrees and 77 doctoral degrees.

This year’s UIndy commencement will be the first for President Beverley J. Pitts, who joined the

university in July 2005. Ceremonies are scheduled as follows:

Graduate programs commencement When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 5

Where: Nicoson Hall, Hanna Avenue and State Street

Undergraduate commencement When: 2 p.m. Saturday, May 6

Where: Nicoson Hall

The speaker for both Indianapolis commencement exercises will be the Rev. Ralph Waller,

principal of Harris Manchester College at the University of Oxford, England. Waller, who holds

a Ph.D. from the University of London, is a Methodist minister and author of numerous books

and articles on faith, theology and related topics. He also will receive an honorary doctor of

humanities degree from the university, which was founded by a precursor of the United

Methodist Church.

Posted: April 18th, 2006 under Campus News.

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Senior wins Showalter Future Alumni Award

University of Indianapolis student Lindy S. Wildman of Cloverdale has received the 2006

Harvey M. Showalter Future Alumni Award, presented each year to an outstanding senior by the

university’s Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Wildman, 22, is a graduate of South Putnam High School and daughter of Mark and June

Wildman of Cloverdale. The communication major is graduating this spring with an honors

diploma.

Future Alumni Award recipients must have GPAs of 3.0 or higher and must be students in good

standing, eligible to participate in the upcoming commencement. They also must demonstrate

leadership in two or more co-curricular activities. This year’s undergraduate commencement

ceremony will be at 2 p.m. May 6.

The award is named for a 1941 graduate and Army veteran who was an active volunteer on

campus and later was involved in many civic and philanthropic organizations, reflecting the

university motto “Education for Service.” His widow, Iris Showalter, and alumni relations

director Monica Woods presented the award at the April 2 Senior Salute dinner.

During Wildman’s four years at the university, she has been active in the Admissions

Ambassador program, College Mentors for Kids, Campus Program Board, One Accord Student

Ministry, New Student Experience and Campus Crusade for Christ, among other activities. She

did public relations work for the athletic department and also wrote for Portico, the alumni

magazine. She was named Outstanding Student in Public Relations in 2005 and Student

Employee of the Year in 2006.

Posted: April 19th, 2006 under Campus News.

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Event combines Chinese art, live opera

A collaborative event between the University of Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Opera will

combine a presentation on Chinese painting with live selections from the upcoming production

of Puccini’s Turandot, which is set in ancient China.

The Music of Art will begin at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 27, in the university’s Au Ho-nien

Museum at 1400 E. Hanna Ave. Open daily in the lower level of Schwitzer Student Center, the

museum features more than 40 paintings by Master Au Ho-nien, one of the world’s leading

figures in traditional Chinese landscape painting and calligraphy.

The program will begin with a talk from Professor Phylis Lan Lin, curator of the museum and

director of Asian Programs at UIndy. Next, Professor Michael Sells of Butler University will

discuss Turandot, and principal cast members from the Indianapolis Opera production will

perform selections, accompanied by Maestro James Caraher. A reception will follow.

Turandot, Giacomo Puccini’s final opera, closes Indianapolis Opera’s 2005-06 season with

performances May 5 and 7. In the story, set in ancient China, Princess Turandot has been

promised by her father, the emperor, to the first suitor who can answer three riddles posed by

her. Many have lost their heads in the attempt. Prince Calaf, in disguise, accepts the princess’s

challenge and succeeds in his quest, but when Turandot is reluctant to fulfill her bargain, he

poses his own challenge to her, leading to a thrilling climax.

Admission to the April 27 event is free, but space is limited and reservations are required. To

reserve a space, contact Patty Harvey, director of education, Indianapolis Opera, at

pattyh@indyopera.org or (317) 283-3531 ext. 116.

The program is presented by Indianapolis Opera and the Asian Programs of the University of

Indianapolis. For more information on the Au Ho-nien Museum, visit

news.uindy.edu/aumuseum. For more information on the Indianapolis Opera, visit

www.indyopera.org.

Calendar Listing

The Music of Art

What: Chinese art presentation and Indianapolis Opera performance

When: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 27

Where: Au Ho-nien Museum, Schwitzer Student Center

University of Indianapolis, 1400 E. Hanna Ave.

Admission: Free, reservations required

Reservations and information: Patty Harvey at (317) 283-3531, ext. 116

Hi-res images available: http://news.uindy.edu/news/photoalbum/gallery.php?album=120

Posted: April 20th, 2006 under Campus News.

Comments: none |

Business conference to tackle issues of aging workforce,

boomer retirement

Sessions include national experts, preview of new statewide study

Managing the 21st Century Workplace: Value and Impact of the Older Worker

When: Thursday, May 18

Where: Indianapolis Marriott Downtown

Information: (317) 791-5930 or cac.uindy.edu

The baby boomers began turning 60 this year, and according to a new Federal Reserve study,

that generation’s retirement from the workforce will drain manpower and intellectual capital

enough to slow economic growth and raise wages and interest rates.

Employers and policymakers must change outdated practices to tap the expertise of older

workers, says Executive Director Ellen Miller of the University of Indianapolis Center for Aging

& Community. The older workers themselves, most of whom are living longer and want to

remain active in the workforce, must be willing to adjust to changes in technology and skill

requirements.

And these efforts must begin now, Miller said.

“It’s not a question of being proactive,” she said. “It’s upon us.”

The pending crunch will affect businesses of all sizes, but executives, human resources

professionals and other decision makers can learn strategies for ensuring an adequate skilled

workforce during the center’s second annual business conference, Managing the 21st Century

Workplace: Value and Impact of the Older Worker, scheduled May 18 at the Indianapolis

Marriott Downtown.

The keynote speaker is Robert Butler, M.D., the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and theorist who

first explored the concept of “ageism” in the workforce and went on to become founding director

of the National Institute on Aging. He now leads the U.S. branch of the International Longevity

Center.

Also featured is Center for Aging & Community senior fellow Barry Spiker, who will discuss

new models for assessing the contributions of older workers and offer a preview of the center’s

ongoing study on the economic impact of boomer retirements in Indiana.

Other speakers and panelists will include Ron Stiver, commissioner of the Indiana Department of

Workforce Development; Sara Rix, a senior policy advisor for AARP; Eric Lesser, associate

partner with IBM’s Institute for Business Value; Duke Energy Indiana President Kay Pashos,

who will present a best-practices case study; and Graham Toft, longtime president of the Indiana

Economic Development Council, who is collaborating with Spiker on the Indiana workforce

study.

The May 18 conference begins at 8 a.m. with registration and a continental breakfast, includes

lunch and continues until 4:30 p.m. The cost is $249. For more information, call (317) 791-5930,

or register online at cac.uindy.edu.

Managing the 21st Century Workplace has been approved for seven credit hours toward PHR,

SPHR and GPHR recertification through the Human Resource Certification Institute. For more

information, visit www.hrci.org.

Conference sponsors include AARP Indiana, CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions, Delta Dental,

Duke Energy, Your Encore, Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana, IBM and St. Francis

Hospital & Health Centers.

Posted: May 1st, 2006 under Campus News.

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Summer music camps accepting students

The Community Music Center at the University of Indianapolis is offering summer music camps

for children and teens who want to hone their skills with help from university faculty and local

professionals.

Summer Piano Camp I is a day camp for ages 7-12, with sessions from 9 a.m. to noon June 12-

16. Activities include private and group lessons on music appreciation and theory, along with

ensemble playing, musical games and a final recital. The cost is $135.

Summer Piano Camp II is a residential camp for ages 13-18, with activities scheduled 9 a.m. to 5

p.m. June 19-23. University faculty and professional musicians lead interactive master classes

and sessions on topics including piano chamber music, African drum improvisation, keyboard

skills and jazz improvisation. The cost is $420 with room and board included, or $300 for

commuter students.

Chamber Music Institute is a residential camp for ages 14-18 scheduled July 9-15. Students

collaborate in chamber music settings under the direction of professional musicians. Activities

include private lessons, master classes, ensemble coaching, theory classes and a final recital. The

cost is $520 with room and board or $380 for commuters.

Vocal Arts Institute is a residential camp for ages 14-18 scheduled July 20-29. Students explore

the vocal arts in both concert and staged settings. Activities include classes in various repertoires,

movement, sight singing, theory and the International Phonetic Alphabet. The cost is $950 with

room and board or $720 for commuters.

For more information on the above camps, call (317) 788-2109 or visit music.uindy.edu/cmc.

Also, UIndy’s director of jazz studies, Harry Miedema, is offering Circle City Jazz Combo Camp

for ages 14 to adult. Scheduled June 12-16, the activities will include instruction in

improvisation, listening, jazz theory and combo performance. Instructors will include Brent

Wallarab, Mark Buselli, Gary Walters and other acclaimed local jazz artists, and nightly concerts

will feature the city’s top players. The cost is $335. For more information, visit

circlecityjazzcamps.com.

Posted: May 16th, 2006 under Campus News.

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Author Chittister to speak on spirituality

Celebrated religion writer and social justice advocate Sister Joan Chittister will

speak Monday, Nov. 6, at the University of Indianapolis during the annual citywide Spirit & Place Civic

Festival.

Chittister’s talk, titled “Bringing Treasures from the Storehouse: Wisdom From the Past for

Spiritual Journeys,” will begin at 7 p.m. in the university’s Ransburg Auditorium, 1400 E. Hanna

Ave. Admission is free.

In a public career spanning more than three decades, Chittister has built an international reputation as a

social psychologist, communications theorist and author of 40 books including Called to Question: A

Spiritual Memoir (2003); Scarred by Struggle, Transformed by Hope: The Nine Gifts of Struggle (2003);

and the contemporary classic Wisdom Distilled from the Daily: Living the Rule of St. Benedict Today

(1991).

A regular columnist for the National Catholic Reporter and a member of the monastic Order of Saint

Benedict, she is widely recognized for her work on issues including world peace and women’s rights,

both in society and in the church.

In keeping with this year’s Spirit & Place theme Tradition and Innovation, Chittister’s talk at UIndy will

explore two related questions: How does spiritual tradition affect innovation? How is spiritual

innovation born from tradition? In this light, challenges to the status quo can reflect obedience to the

traditions of the past.

The event is presented by the Office of Ecumenical & Interfaith Programs at the University of

Indianapolis and the Sisters of St. Benedict-Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove.

On the previous day, Sunday, Nov. 5, Chittister will join Hoosier filmmaker Angelo Pizzo and African-

American studies expert Manning Marable in the festival’s centerpiece event, the 2006 Public

Conversation at Clowes Memorial Hall. More information on Spirit & Place is available at

www.spiritandplace.org.

CALENDAR LISTING

Lecture: Sister Joan Chittister

“Bringing Treasures from the Storehouse: Wisdom From the Past for Spiritual Journeys”

7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6

Ransburg Auditorium, University of Indianapolis, 1400 E. Hanna Ave.

Admission: Free

Information: (317) 788-2106

Posted: October 19th, 2006 under Campus News.

Business, civic leaders join Board of Trustees

Three central Indiana community leaders have been named to the Board of Trustees at the

University of Indianapolis.

Brian E. Martin of Indianapolis (46236) is director of financial services for Frank & Kraft

Wealth Care Corp. A 1988 graduate of UIndy, he serves on the board’s Institutional

Advancement Committee and also is president of the university Alumni Association’s Board of

Directors.

John S. Myrland of Indianapolis (46260) is pastor of McCordsville United Methodist Church and

former president of the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce. He serves on the board’s

Academic Affairs Committee.

Dennis J. Reinbold of Carmel (46032) is president and CEO of Dreyer & Reinbold. He serves on

the board’s Environment and Facilities Committee.

Posted: October 25th, 2006 under Campus News.

‘Shakespeare Behind Bars’ figure to speak Nov. 6

The theatrical director whose work with prison inmates was detailed in the

award-winning documentary Shakespeare Behind Bars will speak Monday, Nov. 6, at the

University of Indianapolis.

Curt L. Tofteland is founder and artistic director of the Louisville-based Shakespeare Behind Bars

program, which assembled a production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest starring convicted felons inside

Kentucky’s Luther Luckett Correctional Complex. The 93-minute film that followed the casting, rehearsal

and performance of the play shatters preconceptions about criminals and prisoners in our society.

Directed by Hank Rogerson and Jilann Spitzmiller, it premiered at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival and

went on to win 10 awards at festivals around the world.

Tofteland will screen the film and answer questions beginning at 7 p.m. Monday in the

university’s Good Hall, southeast corner of Hanna and Otterbein avenues. The event is presented

by the departments of theatre and sociology. Admission is free.

Tofteland has been the producing artistic director of the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival since 1989. As a

director and Equity actor, he has more than 200 professional productions to his credit. He conducts

residencies, workshops and master classes at theaters and universities around the country.

CALENDAR LISTING

Film/lecture: Shakespeare Behind Bars

Who: Curt L. Tofteland, founder and artistic director, Shakespeare Behind Bars

When: 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6

Where: University of Indianapolis’ Good Hall, Hanna and Otterbein avenues

Admission: Free

Information: (317) 788-3251

Posted: October 30th, 2006 under Campus News.

Art exhibition offers soldier’s view of Iraq

A series of paintings from an Indiana National Guardsman’s recent

tour in Iraq will go on display Nov. 13 at the University of Indianapolis.

Bill Smock: Watercolor Paintings of Iraq will run through Dec. 8 in the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center

Gallery, 1400 E. Hanna Ave. A reception is planned 4 to 7 p.m. Nov. 17. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

weekdays. Admission is free.

A graduate of the University of Indianapolis, Smock has taught elementary art for 35 years, 32 of them in

the Decatur Township schools.

The exhibition features 83 watercolor works created in Iraq by Smock, who deployed in 2005 as a chief

warrant officer with the Indiana Army National Guard’s 139th Field Artillery. He ran radar by night to

locate enemy mortar positions, then painted during the day to capture the moments of intensity and

the everyday routines of U.S. personnel as they worked in the hot, dry, dangerous environment.

“Bill is a talented painter who brought his art to bear on these extreme circumstances,” said Professor

Dee Schaad, curator of the gallery and chair of Art & Design at UIndy. “Beyond the impressive detail and

intimacy, these watercolors represent a chapter of American history.”

The subjects of the paintings were the soldiers and firemen of Forward Operating Base Marez near the

city of Mosul. The paintings were reproduced on calendars used at the base in 2005.

Posted: November 6th, 2006 under Campus News.

Suzukis continue Beethoven sonata concerts

In the second of three concerts, retired Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra

concertmaster Hidetaro Suzuki and his wife, pianist Zeyda Ruga Suzuki, will continue their chronological

presentation of the Beethoven Sonatas for violin and piano on Monday, Nov. 13, at the University of

Indianapolis.

The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Ruth Lilly Performance Hall of the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts

Center, 1400 E. Hanna Ave. The program will feature four works from 1800-1802: the terse rhetoric of

Op. 23 in A minor; the gentle “Spring” Sonata, Op. 24; the less-common Op. 30, No. 1, in A Major; and

the dramatic Op. 30, No. 2, in C minor.

This concert cycle marks the fifth time the Suzukis have performed the complete cycle of Beethoven

sonatas in the past 30 years. Other concert locations have included Indianapolis (in 1984), Toronto,

Quebec City and the Grand Teton Festival in Wyoming. The Suzukis have been performing Beethoven

together since 1961, during their days as students at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia. The series will

conclude with the third concert on Feb. 26.

CALENDAR LISTING

Faculty Artist Series: Beethoven Sonatas II

Hidetaro Suzuki, violin; Ruga Suzuki, piano

When: 7:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 13

Where: Ruth Lilly Performance Hall, Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center

University of Indianapolis, 1400 E. Hanna Ave.

Admission: Free

Information: (317) 788-3251 or arts.uindy.edu

Posted: November 6th, 2006 under Campus News.

UIndy Sculpture Walk displays regional artists’ work

Thirteen sculptures by Midwestern artists are on display in the latest edition of the

University of Indianapolis Campus Sculpture Walk, available for viewing through August 2007

on the campus at 1400 E. Hanna Ave.

A pamphlet available in the Department of Art & Design office in the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center

provides a map of the sculptures’ locations and information about the artists and their work. The artists

include art professors and teachers, a former speech pathologist and even a man with no formal art

training, most of whom were selected from the 2006-2007 Campus Sculpture Walk competition, open to

artists from Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois and Michigan. Each winner also received a $1,000

honorarium.

The sculptures vary in size and are made from durable materials such as cedar, aluminum, steel and

limestone. They range widely in style and subject, from Jay Dougan’s “Geodecent,” based on childhood

puzzles, to Jerald Jacquard’s “The Flying Wedge,” which reveals the aesthetic differences between

architecture, landscape and art.

The Campus Sculpture Walk is supported by a grant from the University of Indianapolis InQuery

Collaborative, a Lilly Endowment-funded program that promotes collaborations among faculty,

students, industry and the greater community. For more information, visit http://art.uindy.edu.

Posted: November 6th, 2006 under Campus News.

Auditions open for inaugural Battle of the Bands

Local original-music artists will compete for the grand prize of a

professionally produced album-length recording in the inaugural UIndy Battle of the Bands 2007

at the University of Indianapolis.

The contest is open to any style of music, but at least half the members of each performing group must

be current, full-time high school or college students.

Live two-song auditions will be conducted Jan. 13, 14 and 21 before a panel of industry professionals,

who will select six finalists. A $25 entry fee is due at the time of audition. Audition registration forms are

due by Monday, Jan. 1.

In the final concert Feb. 17, the six selected acts will perform 20-minute sets before celebrity judges and

a live audience in the university’s 750-seat Ransburg Auditorium, with professional sound, lighting, set

design and stage management. The top act selected by the audience and judges will win the grand prize

recording package from Big Walnut Studios.

For registration forms and more information, visit arts.uindy.edu or contact Battle of the Bands

coordinator Will Pfaffenberger at arts@uindy.edu or (317) 788-2183.

Posted: November 15th, 2006 under Campus News.

UIndy to host national video analysis lab

The University of Indianapolis has signed an agreement to become the nation’s premier site for training

law enforcement officers from around the world in high-level forensic video analysis, and to serve as a

command center for this type of work when needed during national emergencies.

The partnership is bringing to the university state-of-the-art software and hardware that has exciting

applications for a number of academic disciplines, enabling students to apply classroom learning

through simulations and other hands-on experiences.

Under the agreement, the Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Video Association, the lead agency

that provides forensic video training for law enforcement professionals, is establishing a $285,000 lab at

the university, to be outfitted with computers and software for performing highly sophisticated analysis

of crime scene video, such as footage from surveillance webcams.

As the first of its kind in the United States, the lab is expected to become a hub for processing large

quantities of multimedia evidence that must be analyzed if a national crisis occurs, such as 9/11. LEVA

has trained a number of forensic video analysts who processed video not only for 9/11-related

investigations but hundreds of high-profile cases across North America.

An independent, not-for-profit agency, LEVA will use the lab for training 12 weeks each year, making it

available the remainder of the time to UIndy faculty and students for such work as video editing and

simulations.

“From an academic standpoint, LEVA is bringing an incredible resource to the university,” noted

Deborah Balogh, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “This one-of-a-kind lab will be a great

asset not only to our communication students, but also to many other disciplines such as archeology and

criminal justice.”

Since October 2004, UIndy has been the national host for LEVA’s courses in Forensic Video Analysis and

the Law. The relationship developed out of LEVA’s longstanding association with Thomas Christenberry,

director of public safety education in the university’s School for Adult Learning. Christenberry was the

chief of media and technology for the FBI Academy in Quantico, Va., responsible for training special

agents and law enforcement personnel, before his move to academe.

“LEVA is not teaching students how to use a specific system or software; it is focusing on how the

technology can be used to solve cases,” said Jan Garvin, forensic video training vice president for the

association. “We stress the value of agencies integrating forensic video analysis into their investigative

arsenals. The university’s cooperation, enthusiasm and commitment to this project already have

resulted in a tremendous impact to the global law enforcement community.”

The establishment of this unique lab will further strengthen the ability of law enforcement agencies to

prepare for and respond to a crisis, Garvin noted. “In the event of a national or regional incident

involving a large volume of analog or digital multimedia evidence, the lab at UIndy can evolve into a

secure site for LEVA-trained and certified analysts to assist local, state and federal investigations.”

Posted: November 20th, 2006 under Campus News.

Singer Jearlyn Steele to perform at MLK event

Nationally known gospel singer and radio host Jearlyn Steele will be the featured

speaker and performer at the University of Indianapolis’ annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration

on Monday, Jan. 15.

The free 90-minute program will begin at noon in the university’s Ransburg Auditorium, 1400 E. Hanna

Ave. Steele will be accompanied by her pianist brother, Billy Steele, a member of the Grammy Award-

winning group Sounds of Blackness.

Jearlyn Steele’s vocal career has included touring with Prince, recording with George Clinton and Mavis

Staples, and performing on Broadway and in Carnegie Hall. Born in Indiana and now based in Minnesota,

she has been a frequent guest on public radio’s A Prairie Home Companion and has been heard on local

and national commercials for such clients as Marshall Fields, Aveda and Target.

Aside from performing solo and with her siblings as The Steeles, she is the host of the nationally

syndicated radio show Steele Talkin’. A mother of two, she is deeply involved in public service, often

focusing on ways to inspire women and children through her music and public speaking.

Each year UIndy celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a special program and a modified class

schedule that encourages students and faculty to attend. The celebration kicks off a schedule of campus

events exploring African-American history and achievement that continue through February.

Posted: December 21st, 2006 under Campus News.