Dr. Catherine Zeman's presentation delves into the intricate relationship between environmental factors and health outcomes, particularly focusing on disparities across human communities. By analyzing trends in U.S. lifespan and healthcare expenditures, Dr. Zeman highlights the divergent pathways experienced by different racial/ethnic groups. She underscores the impact of neighborhood characteristics, such as income levels and educational attainment, on health outcomes, emphasizing the increased risk of chronic diseases and limited access to healthcare services in disadvantaged areas.

John Early will share images from his studio art practice while discussing projects that engage deeply with the cultural and social landscapes of various communities. Through his site-based work, he explores issues of spatial injustice, urban renewal, and community identity. By addressing topics like the anti-Black racism underlying the absence of basketball courts in St. Louis’s Forest Park and the human toll of urban renewal in the St. Louis Place neighborhood, Early's work highlights the importance of understanding and respecting diverse cultural perspectives.

In this event, Dr. Todd will present research about the process some Christian faith communities engage in to become and then live out being open and inclusive to the LGBTQIA+ community. There will be a broad discussion on historic context and research focused on the intersections of religious and LGBTQIA+ identities. He will discuss a movement within Protestant Christianity to create LGBTQIA+ open and inclusive faith communities. Dr. Todd will discuss his ongoing project “Becoming and Being Open and Inclusive Faith Communities” where he has interviewed over 70 people across the U.S.

One Hundred Strings is a collaboration between musicians Nirmala Rajasekar, Sandip Chatterjee, Thanjavur K. Murugaboopathi, and Ramdas Palsule that highlights the diversity of music and culture within India and fosters cultural connections within the South Asian diaspora of the United States.

This event discusses how Asian American young adults understand, consolidate, and articulate their identities in comics. Using examples from graphic memoirs by Laura Gao (Chinese American and queer), Malaka Gharib (Filipino Egyptian American), Robin Ha (Korean American), Thien Pham (Vietnamese American), and others, it examines how comic creators are tasked with avenging their immigrant parents’ failed dreams, how they strive to follow and/or disentangle themselves from their parents’ hopes, and how they take ownership of their own aspirations.

The 19th ANNUAL ANIMATION SHOW OF SHOWS presents 16 exceptional animated shorts from around the world. At a time of increasing social instability and global anxiety, the works have a special resonance, presenting compelling ideas about our place in society and the world. “Because animation is such a natural medium for dealing with abstract ideas and existential concerns, the ANIMATION SHOW OF SHOWS has always included a number of thoughtful and engaging films,” says curator Ron Diamond.

Please visit our Theatre Productions page for more information about the play, performance schedule, ticket information and more!

Transfer and Graduate New Student Orientation: Taking Care of Business

Get ready for success at UIS! We've designed optional orientation programs to help you get settled in, feel prepared, and meet new people. 

This In-person Orientation program is for undergraduate First-Year (Freshmen/women) and Freshmen/women Transfer Students admitted to the Summer and Fall 2024 semesters. It is the second, of a 3 part series of programs for students entering their first-year or transferring with less than 24 credit hours. The program's schedule and information about how to register are available at the First Year Student Orientation & Parent Relations website.

This In-person Orientation program is for undergraduate First-Year (Freshmen/women) and Freshmen/women Transfer Students admitted to the Summer and Fall 2024 semesters. It is the second, of a 3 part series of programs for students entering their first-year or transferring with less than 24 credit hours. The program's schedule and information about how to register are available at the First Year Student Orientation & Parent Relations website.