Why I love commencement

This is commencement weekend. I love going to the ceremony for one simple reason: I see so many happy people, especially happy students, who have achieved something significant. All around the convention center are smiling faces. Big smiles. Whatever angst I might have been feeling in recent weeks always melts away when I see those faces and watch people celebrating these accomplishments. I posted a few pictures from last year's ceremony on Flickr; you can see them here. And you can watch this year's ceremony on a live webcast at 2 pm Saturday, May 10. What a great time of year!

Favorite professors, and awards

Everyone who goes through college has a story to tell about a favorite professor. Mine was an economics professor in the 1970s who used "multimedia" TV screens before anyone used that word. He also would read from biographies, and poetry, during his lectures "just because I thought it is interesting." He was interdisciplinary all by himself at the University of Missouri, and his biggest lesson was: Education is not about what you know, but what you can figure out. This man was also deaf and could handle large lecture halls and small classrooms equally well. His name was John Kuhlmann.

UIS honored its own top faculty members of the year this week at a very upbeat ceremony. Hats off to the great teachers we have!

A great opening at Emiquon

I hope to savor for a long time the upbeat spirit at the grand Grand Opening ceremony at the Emiquon Field Station north of Havana. It was a celebration of a remarkable partnership that includes UIS, The Nature Conservancy and the adjacent Dickson Mounds Museum. All were well represented today. I had a chance to chat with Dr. Mike Wiant of Dickson Mounds, with TNC state director Leslee Spraggins, and of course, our own Professor Mike Lemke. What they have in common is passion. Passion for one of the most remarkable floodplain restoration projects in the world. I always love hearing Mike talk about Emiquon and how he wants to bring students literally into natural settings to teach them. Courtney Westlake gave us a look at the Emiquon research last fall, and she was there again today to cover the event. [ADDED SATURDAY MORNING]: Chris Young of Springfield's State Journal-Register had a really good article about the event in today's paper.

Tired

I heard someone say this week that at every meeting she attends now, it seems that somebody is tired or angry (and expresses it) or both. Indeed, it is a time of year when so many people are running on fumes or low energy. Every year at this time I remind myself of that. It's partially the result of so much hard work for so long. So many things just have to be finished before the end of the semester and commencement. So I also try to create a blame-free zone wherever I go -- to give people a little more understanding, to give them a safe place to vent if necessary, and then to do what I can to help. Nothing wrong with admitting we're a bit tired. So let's name it and do our best.

Jobs and careers

I was at an alumni meeting a few days ago. A dean asked what we remember wanting when we were in college -- something that alumni might have been able to help us with. I answered in one word. Jobs! I was graduating and I wanted a job. That makes me wonder what our current students are thinking, and how the job search might be going for our soon-to-be graduates. ANd what advice our faculty might have for students wanting a job. UIS has a Career Center to provide assistance for students AND employers. I wonder if that's enough.

International "Block Party" a huge success

I'm hearing rave reviews about the "block party" on campus Friday night. Food and dancing lessons, sharing cultures! Lots of energy in the room, to be sure. I'd love to hear from people who were there to describe their experience of it.

Earthquake

Yeah, I felt it this morning. I was in bed and must have been awakened by it about 4:36 a.m., the reports are saying. What a strange feeling to feel this monumental shaking. Another reminder that nature always has its way, that the natural order just overpowers us sometimes, and we're not as in control as we might imagine or pretend to be. Nobody hurt, no damage, as far as I know, and that's the good news. They're saying it was 5.2 on the Richter scale. And now, life goes on.