Meet the new faculty members of the UIS campus

Pamela Salela

Assistant professor, instructional services

Coordinator, Nonprofit Resource Center / Library Liaison

B.A. English literature (UIC)

M.A. Educational policy studies (UIUC)

M.S. Library and information science (UIUC)

Salela said she thrives on change and this change, moving to UIS, is exciting for her. Her complete educational career was completed at UIUC. Salela is interested in how the family and governmental perspective is affected by the Internet. Salela has previously worked at the Miami University and St. Cloud University . She has also worked on several projects. Salela is currently in the developmental phases of creating grant proposals for services expansion in Brookens Library and she recently coauthored a paper for The Technical Services Review .

Ratko Orlandic

Associate professor, computer science

B.S. Applied math (Moscow Energy Institute)

M.S. computer science ( University of Virginia )

Ph.D. Computer science ( University of Virginia )

Orlandic previously worked at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Suffolk University and George Washington University , among other institutions. Orlandic's research interests lie in database systems, data mining, software architecture, data clustering, distributed systems and access methods. Orlandic has produced several publications and he said his current research is on “the advancement of the infrastructure for scientific research through the development of high-performance intelligent storage systems.” Orlandic is from Bar , Montenegro , and he currently resides in Springfield .

Kathy Petitte Jamison

Assistant professor, communication

B.A. English and fine art ( Illinois College )

M.A. Mass media communication (UIS)

Ph.D. candidate Institution of communication research (UIUC)

UIS alumna Jamison returns to the communication department after her teaching careers at UIUC, Illinois College , Lincoln Land Community College and a university in France . Jamison has also worked for The State Journal-Register, Springfield Business Journal and Jacksonville Journal-Courier . Jamison is currently comparing American and French media to address women's identity with food. Jamison was not looking for a full-time position but decided to come here because of her relation to the students and positive view of the communications department. Jamison has been recognized for her work in journalism several times as well as awards for her photography.

Kimberly Armstrong

Collection Development Coordinator, Brookens Library

B.A. Music education ( University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill )

M.A. Music (Appalachian State University )

M.S. Science in library science (UIUC)

Armstrong has previously worked for the Triangle Research Libraries Network and Illinois State University . The Greensboro native currently resides in Chatham . She decided to work for UIS because of the “dynamic and changing nature of the university, and opportunity to partner with other two U of I institutions for library collection building.”

Eric Hadley-Ives

Assistant Professor, Liberal arts and independent studies

B.A. World development ( Johnston Center for Integrative Studies)

M.S.W. Social work ( Washington University , George Warren School of Social Work)

Ph.D. Social work ( Washington University , George Warren School of Social Work)

Hadley-Ives had been living and working in Urbana at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. He was attracted to UIS because it was less pressure to produce original research to scholarly journals, yet it was close enough to UIUC that he would still be able to do collaborative works with colleagues. Hadley-Ives said the LIS/INO program at UIS is reminiscent of his years as an undergraduate and the kindliness and friendliness he experienced when visiting and interviewing drew him in. Hadley-Ives does not speak of his awards or honors because he is not award-driven, however, he went from being a newspaper deliverer and radio DJ in previous years to becoming an associate professor. Hadley-Ives worked on the Youth Services Project and Gateways and Pathways Project. He currently researches the working environment in Illinois mental health clinics and the people of St. Louis , his current research interest.

Jeffrey Decker

Assistant Professor, Accountancy

Certificate, International management ( University of Hawaii at Manoa)

B.S. Management/accounting ( Ball State University )

M.B.A. ( University of Oregon )

M.A. Accounting ( University of Arizona )

Ph.D. Accounting ( University of Arizona )

Decker is interested in fraud and forensics accounting, as well as the purpose of accounting in decision-making. He also enjoys fishing, skiing and morel mushroom hunting. Decker previously worked in the University of Hawaii at Hilo and Manoa, Heald College Honolulu and Hawaii Pacific University at Honolulu . Prior to becoming an assistant professor, Decker worked as a financial analyst, controller in manufacturing and an auditor. Decker is originally from Bluffton. Decker received many offers for professorships but chose UIS for its professional development and vicinity to his home in Chatham .

Holly Thompson

Assistant Professor, Counseling

B.S. Psychology ( Bradley University )

M.A. Human development counseling ( Bradley University )

Ph.D. Counselor education and counseling ( Idaho State University )

Thompson is interested in the qualitative/quantitative debate, identities of counselors and students, counselor's knowledge and comfort level with human sexuality. She previously worked for Idaho State University and the University of North Texas , as well as Family Services Alliance of Southeastern Idaho and Catholic Social Services. She was nominated for the J.H. Shelton Excellence in Teaching award at the University of North Texas . Thompson said she decided to come to UIS because “the stars were aligned, the tarot agreed, the money was reasonable, the people are great.”

Ron Michaelson

Visiting Professor, Political Studies

Undergrad ( Wheaton College )

M.A. Political science (Northwestern)

Ph.D. Government (Southern Illinois University at Carbondale )

Michaelson is a 37-year resident of Springfield . He served as assistant to the governor and executive director of the Illinois State Board of Elections before retiring in 2003. He is not necessarily new to UIS, as he taught as an adjunct for over 30 years. Michaelson's focus is on state legislative politics and campaign finance reform. Michaelson is now a full-time member of the faculty and works jointly in political studies and the Center for State Policy and Leadership.

Michele Gribbins

Assistant Professor, Department of Management Information Systems

B.S. Finance ( Illinois State University )

M.B.A. Business administration ( Eastern Illinois University )

Ph.D. (in progress) Information systems (UIUC)

Gribbins is currently residing in Forsyth, finishing a degree at UIUC and teaching here at UIS. She was named to the Incomplete List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent at UIUC. She has received several offers from other universities but chose UIS because it was student-focused and matched personal values set for a prospective work environment. Gribbins is interested in researching effective use of IT through IT-Process Fit and management of e-procurement technologies. She has some of her works published and presented at several conferences. Gribbins is currently finishing her dissertation and coauthoring ongoing research projects.

Joseph Huff

Assistant Professor, Management

B.A. Psychology ( Bowling Green State University )

M.A. Experimental psychology ( New Mexico State University )

Ph.D. Industrial/organizational psychology ( Northern Illinois University )

Huff's research interests include the investigation of the role of employee perceptions and attitudes. He also has ongoing research projects with previous students measuring employee-fit into the company meanings, trust level in downsized companies and job satisfaction. Huff previously worked at the University of North Texas , and NCS/London House. Huff came to UIS upon escaping the “publish or perish” atmosphere of the previous university he worked for. He said, “ I can both teach and conduct research, without devoting myself to one course or the other.”

UIS plans fall festival

By Janee Mitchell - Feature Writer

The Office of Student Life is attempting a new event this year, combining Homecoming and Family Weekend to create Fall Festival 2005. Fall Festival will be Monday through Oct. 2. Various homecoming events will be that week and Family Weekend events will be Sept. 30 through Oct. 2.

The concept of a Fall Festival was decided on last year by the Student Government Association. Various clubs and organizations will participate in the homecoming events and some of the events from last year may be expected with perhaps a few new ones.

The Family Weekend events will keep with the traditional events seen in times past

such as the luncheon, collegiate dinner, instructor demonstrations and the opportunity for families to see the college experiences of their students and get a feel for the university.

Cynthia Thompson, director of student life, said that those wishing to attend the family weekend events must RSVP with Student Life prior to attending. Brochures for the Fall Festival will be sent out in the weeks before the events are set to take place.

New degree program

UIS now offers program in legal aspects of education

By Janee Mitchell - Feature Writer

The Educational Leadership Program at UIS now offers a graduate degree program in the legal aspects of education. Sources say the program was designed for professionals seeking to enhance their current degree.

EDL faculty and program chair Margaret Noe said the first classes of the program were offered previously, in the spring of 2003. After this course offering, the development of the program was sought.

According to Noe, the positive response was cause enough to launch a certificate program for students interested in school-law issues.

Noe and Professor Emeritus Frank Kopecky led in the development of the graduate certificate program in 2004, shepherding it through review at the department, college, campus and university levels.

She said she designed the program with the professional development of teachers in mind. After realizing that the program could be useful in a number of ways. Noe and Kopecky decided that the program would be more accommodating online.

The online course program was “designed to remove barriers to accessibility to quality educational programs,” according to Noe. The program is only available online as a matter of convenience for the professionals enhancing their education. Students looking to join a course that is not online will be limited to two courses that are only related to the law but not a part of the program.

The graduate degree program in legal aspects did not include traditional students in its development plan; however, some traditional students have enrolled in some of its courses. Noe said that students wishing to take the course have the option to use courses in the new graduate degree program as electives or complete both a certificate and a degree.

Noe said the degree will “authenticate that the student has knowledge, skills and dispositions to address contemporary legal issues in schools. The certificate will demonstrate that a student has taken a series of courses that meet an important need for both employers and employees to maintain up to date knowledge about critical legal issues in schools.”

To fulfill the degree requirements the program requests 18 completed hours of work. Noe said the program, at present, holds 10 courses offered at two hours each for a one-year minimum.

Meet the new faculty members of the UIS campus

UIS plans fall festival

New degree program