The University of Evansville’s 167th Commencement Ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 10th to honor the Class of 2025. The ceremony will begin at 1:30 p.m. at Ford Center. No tickets are required. For those who cannot attend in-person, the ceremony will also be live streamed at evansville.edu/live/. This will also include closed captioning for those in need. Full information is available at the Commencement Central webpage at evansville.edu/Commencement.

Employees in need of a headshot can have theirs taken on Thursday, May 8 at 9:45AM.

Headshots will be taken outdoors near the southwest corner of the front oval lawn. In the event of rain, they will be moved indoors to the SOBA atrium.

To add your name to the list, please contact Abbie Perry at ap445@evansville.edu.

In September 2025, a review team from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) will visit the university as part of our reaffirmation of accreditation. To learn more about the criterion on which UE will be evaluated, please take a moment to watch the following video guides.

HLC Criterion 1 | Mission
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJYe4poqk-Q

HLC Criterion 2 | Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEcGIsTJRmU

HLC Criterion 3 | A-D Teaching and Learning for Student Success
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4M_MgYDQDg

HLC Criterion 3 | E-G Teaching and Learning for Student Success
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJAb7We7y6M

HLC Criterion 4 | Sustainability
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ4quibQzaQ

HLC Federal Compliance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fIP_9MOi0E

Gathering for Gratitude A Celebration of Donor Scholarships

Join us in celebrating the generosity that changes lives.

Thursday, April 24, 2025

5:00 – 7:30 p.m. CST
Starting in Wheeler Concert Hall then moving outside between Krannert & Hyde Hall

Come connect, celebrate, and enjoy an evening of student stories, a delicious cookout (FREE food!), live music, and lawn games.

Let’s gather in gratitude for the scholarships shaping futures.

REGISTER

For questions, contact Taylor Houchin at tb90@evansville.edu.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Mark Shifflet on his distinguished career and upcoming retirement after 27 years with the university. A reception in his honor will be held in the Dean’s Conference Room (Hyde Hall 206) on Wednesday, April 30 from 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Dr. Shifflet received his PhD in Communication from Rutgers University in 1995. He has served as Chair of the Department of Communication for eighteen years and served on the Faculty Senate as Chair. He was the recipient of the Dean’s Teaching Award for Arts & Sciences.

At UE, Dr. Shifflet has taught courses that have included multimedia design, intercultural communication, media law, health communication and world media systems. He became a Fulbright Scholar in 2010 studying characteristics of China’s media system and the development of its media law.

Join SAB to celebrate the end of the semester! We have food trucks, music, films, art, giveaways, butterfly garden, and SO much more on next Friday, April 25 from 5-8pm! We can't wait to see you there!

Join us for the National Day of Prayer on May 1, as we pray for unity across relationships, communities, and around the world.

Get ready for an exciting day filled with incredible student research and creative projects! Over 30 talented UE students will be presenting their groundbreaking work and you won’t want to miss it!

The annual Undergraduate Research and Honors Symposium perfectly captures the spirit of the University of Evansville’s mission by empowering students to think critically, act bravely, serve responsibly, and live meaningfully in a world that’s always changing. It’s a great opportunity to cheer on your peers, discover fascinating academic and artistic topics, and leave feeling inspired for your own future projects.

Presentation Schedule by Major (8:30-4:30PM): 

8:30 AM - Eykamp 252 - Business 
9:00 AM - Eykamp 251 - Music, Theatre, and Creative Writing
10:15 AM - Eykamp 252 - History and Political Science 
11:00 AM - Eykamp 251 - Exercise Science and Biochemsitry 
12:00 PM - Eykamp 252 - Biology and Biochemistry 
1:00 PM - Eykamp 251 - Archaeology and Classics 
2:00 PM - Eykamp 252 - Psychology and Neuroscience
3:00 PM - Eykamp 251 - Engineering and Computer Science

New this year!

3:30-5:00 PM - 1959 Lounge - Honors Project Poster Exhibition

Can't join us for a session, but want to see all of the projects? All Honors Projects will be on display in poster format during the Exhibition and students will be available to discuss their individual projects.

Check out the attached schedule for a detailed description of each individual presentation. 

Come for one session or stay for them all — we can’t wait to see you there!

Questions? Email Katie Haire, Assistant Director for Honors at kh530@evansville.edu

When Generosity Meets Purpose, Incredible Things Happen.

Mark your calendar—Philanthropy Week kicks off April 21! This weeklong celebration is all about recognizing the donors who help make the UE experience possible and empowering our campus community to show gratitude and give back.

We have activities planned all week long in Ridgway University Center from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., including:

• 🪙 Penny Wars
Show up (11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. daily) and help your college win the Golden Squirrel!
Competing teams:

• William L. Ridgway College of Arts and Sciences

• College of Business and Engineering

• College of Education and Health Sciences

• Staff and Administrators Assembly

• 💌 Student Thank-You Cards & Videos
Stop by (11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. daily) to write personal thank-you notes to UE donors or record a short video message. 🎁Giveaways for those who participate! It’s a simple, meaningful way to show your appreciation.

• 🗺️ Scavenger Hunt of Named Spaces
Launching Monday, explore campus to find rooms, buildings, and landmarks named in honor of UE supporters. Start the hunt in Ridgway and find all clues throughout campus for a chance to win some amazing prizes!
Prizes will include:

• Owala

• UE Flag

• JBL Blue tooth speaker

• UE Blanket

• Pickle ball paddles

• Hammock

• 👔 Professional Clothing Closet Drive
Donate new or gently used business clothing and accessories for our student Professional Clothing Closet, which supports students preparing for internships, interviews, and career fairs.
Donation bins will be available all week in:

• Ridgway University Center (Philanthropy Week Table & Career Development Office)

• Graves Hall

• Olmsted Administration Building

• Hyde Hall

• Koch Center (Main Entrances)

• SOBA (Main Entrances)

• Igleheart Building

Here’s a look at what’s happening each day:

•    🟣 Mission Monday – April 21
We’ll launch the scavenger hunt, spotlight UE’s mission in action, and invite students to personally thank UE donors through video messages and thank you notes.

•    🟣 Take Action Tuesday – April 22
This day is all about stepping up. Support the Professional Clothing Drive, continue the scavenger hunt, and continue to create video messages and notes to thank UE donors.

•    🟣 What’s Our Why Wednesday – April 23
Why is Philanthropy important to UE? Hear from faculty, staff, and other campus donors about how donor support impacts the University and why it matters.

•    🟣 Thankful Thursday – April 24
It’s time to celebrate our faculty and staff donors! Expect surprise treat bags, personal thank yous, and a visit from Ace Purple to spread the UE Spirit. •    Join us for Gathering for Gratitude, an evening picnic with free food, music, and a student panel on how scholarships have shaped their journeys! Register now!

•    🟣 Fundraising Friday – April 25: Pep and Vim!
Our Annual Day of Giving returns—and Ridgway becomes the home base. Spin the wheel for giveaways, celebrate our goals, and watch our community rally together to support what we believe in. Help us reach our fundraising goal of $100,000!

Whether you donate a blazer, write a thank-you card, or help your team win Penny Wars, your participation reflects the best of who we are.

MAKE A GIFT!   Together, let’s show our gratitude—and the incredible impact we can make as Aces.

Join us during Lent for prayer and meditation on Wednesdays at 8:30 AM in Neu Chapel.

The University of Evansville is launching a Professional Clothing Closet in Fall 2025 to ensure every Ace has access to attire for interviews, internships, and career opportunities.

We’re collecting gently used professional clothing April 21–25.

Drop-off locations:

• Ridgway University Center (Philanthropy Week table & Career Development Office)
• Graves Hall
• Olmsted Administration Building
• Hyde Hall
• Koch Center (main entrances)
• SOBA (main entrances)

Your donation can make a difference. Let’s empower each other to show up with confidence and courage—because that’s what Aces do.

The UE community is welcome to attend the Faculty Retirement Tree Planting Ceremony that will take place on Sunday, April 27. This event will begin at 1:00 p.m. at Koch Center’s Koch South Lawn. The following faculty members will be honored at the event:

• Lora Becker- Professor of Psychology
• Ralph Larmann- Professor of Art
• Rob Montgomery- Professor Emeritus of Marketing
• Gregory Rike- Assistant Professor of Music
• Mark Shifflet- Professor of Communication

Please join us to wish them well in their retirement.

Lora Becker, Professor of Psychology

Dr. Lora Becker earned her PhD and master’s degrees from the State University of New York (Binghamton), dual bachelor’s from Wright State University (Dayton, Ohio) and joined the UE faculty in 1999. Since joining the University, Dr. Becker has written numerous research articles and posters with undergraduate students and supported this research with a variety of granting sources including the Ball Brothers Venture Grant, the Mead Johnson Nutritional Grant, UE's Global Scholar grant and several UExplore Research Grants, ARSAF grants and ADVANTAGE Undergraduate Research grants. All of these research endeavors were sought in order to give students the opportunity to practice science on their way to their careers in medicine, teaching, and research. Her impact was felt on campus through several director positions over the past 20 years including the Neuroscience Program, the Summer Reading Program, the Major Discovery Program, the Academic Assessment Committee, and General Education. She spent a term as Faculty Senate Chair where she established meetings between Faculty Senate Executive board and the President's Cabinet. Her committee work is too numerous to list. Dr. Becker was the second recipient of the Eykamp Prize for extraordinary contributions by UE faculty to the University. She was also awarded the Mentor of the Year award from Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience (or FUN). Nationally, she served as president of Nu Rho Psi, the honor society for neuroscience, overseeing the first Indiana chapter of the organization established at UE. She served as treasurer of FUN and spent twelve years on the Board of Directors for Phi Kappa Phi, the largest interdisciplinary honors society, culminating her time serving as President in 2024. But through it all, it was the classroom that motivated Dr. Becker the most. She built several courses in the neuroscience program and now retires having taught every neuroscience course that the University of Evansville offers. What a great 26 years!

Ralph Larmann, Professor of Art

Professor Larmann has taught painting, drawing, computer graphics, graphic design, games design, and art general education courses, exhibits paintings nationally, and writes art texts for college and advanced placement high school art programs worldwide. He has received the Berger Award for Excellence in Scholarly Activity and twice served as Visiting Professor at Harlaxton College. His composite portrait of Gregory Gregory was unveiled and dedicated at Harlaxton College in 2017.

Students in his painting courses have worked in many painting medias including oils, acrylics, encaustic, egg tempera, casein, watercolor, and buon fresco. General education courses Introduction to the Visual Arts is an overview focusing on visual literacy, and Introduction to Studio Art is a survey of art studio materials and techniques. His paintings have been included in international shows at the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University Bloomington and UE branch campus Harlaxton College in the United Kingdom. National group exhibitions include Art at the X, Xavier University, where he won the Best of Show Award earning a solo exhibition in the University's Gallery. Other solo exhibits include Indianapolis Museum of Art, Loyola University Chicago, and the Dayton Visual Arts Center. Professor Larmann is the coauthor of Gateways to Art, Journal for Museum and Gallery Projects, and the Thames & Hudson Introduction to Art, all published by Thames & Hudson and distributed by W. W. Norton in the United States. Gateways to Art has been translated into Mandarin Chinese and Korean.

Rob Montgomery, Professor of Marketing

Dr. Rob Montgomery is Professor Emeritus of Marketing at the University of Evansville where he served on the faculty since 1998. Prior to UE, Dr. Montgomery was Assistant Professor of Marketing at the University of North Carolina Pembroke for five years. He received his DBA and MBA at Mississippi State University and his BSBA from the University of Southern Indiana. He taught nearly every marketing course at one time or another. His last taught courses were EMBA Global Marketing, Principles of Marketing, Personal Selling, Marketing Management, and Marketing Research. Dr. Montgomery's current research interests include The Hunting Consumer and Thrift Store Marketing. His research has appeared in the Journal of Marketing Management, Great Ideas for Teaching Marketing, International Journal of Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Marketing, The Sports Journal, Journal for Economics Educators, Journal of Ministry Marketing Management, Journal of Nonprofit and Public Sector Marketing, The Academy of Marketing Studies Journal, and others.

Gregory Rike, Assistant Professor of Music

Dr. Rike served as Musical Director for the nationally-recognized UE Theatre until 2016. Prior to coming to Evansville, he held teaching positions at the University of Mississippi, The Ohio State University, Ohio Northern University, Heidelberg University, and the University of Findlay.

Dr. Rike is comfortable with opera, oratorio, art song, and musical theater genres. He has been musical director of such shows as A Little Night Music, Follies, Company, Urinetown, Grand Hotel, The Last Five Years, Into the Woods, Parade, Assassins, The Mystery of Edwin Drood and Sweeney Todd as well as The Marriage of Figaro, Baby Doe, and Tartuffe. He has performed with various opera companies as well as the Evansville, Toledo, Charleston, Columbus, and Ohio State Symphony Orchestras. He has judged National Association of Teachers of Singing competitions in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Ontario, Canada, as well as the Metropolitan Opera auditions in Memphis, Tennessee.

Dr. Rike currently teaches courses in applied voice, song literature and vocal pedagogy.

Mark Shifflet, Professor of Communication

Dr. Mark Shifflet received his PhD in Communication from Rutgers University in 1995. He has served as Chair of the Department of Communication for eighteen years and served on the Faculty Senate as Chair. He was the recipient of the Dean’s Teaching Award for Arts & Sciences.

At UE, Dr. Shifflet has taught courses that have included multimedia design, intercultural communication, media law, health communication and world media systems. He became a Fulbright Scholar in 2010 studying characteristics of China’s media system and the development of its media law. He has been a member of The Association for Chinese Communication Studies. In more recent years, teaching and research has included work in the area of health communication with a focus on communication strategies for lowering infant mortality rates. Prior to joining academia, Dr. Shifflet worked in the global telecommunication industry focusing on international agreements for the first Trans-Atlantic and Trans-Pacific fiber optic cables (1988-89).

The Menstrual Equity Club is hosting the annual Jampon Event (Jam for tampons). It will be on the East Terrace Lawn APRIL 13TH AT 5:30PM. We need artists, vendors, comedians, dancers, or any talented people. It's for a great cause, low stakes, and a fun time!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScyyNKHXJp1DIb7dRgoImr8fCiE5jVbclvcBbi0eu6_sZklQg/viewform?usp=sharing

Reach out to Katie Lawhorn or Delaney Ross OR fill out this form before the 10th of April.

Happy Jamming!

Join the Pep and Vim Virtual 5K!
Celebrate in a healthy way and receive an exclusive T-shirt!*

www.uealumnionline.com/2025PV5K

Event Details:

•          Complete your 5K anytime between April 21 – April 25.
•          Submit your time online (a link will be emailed).
•          Prizes will be awarded based on various criteria.

Registration & Fees:

•          General registration: $25
•          Current UE students: $15 

Important Dates:

•          Register by Friday, April 11 to guarantee you receive your T-shirt by Pep and Vim (Friday, April 25).

Questions?

•          Contact the Office of Alumni and Engagement at alumni@evansville.edu.

The Department of Art is pleased to announce the 63rd Annual Undergraduate Student Art Exhibition in the Melvin Peterson Gallery from March 24 - April 12, 2025.  Many of these original pieces of art are for sale.

Please join us at the public reception honoring these UE students on Thursday, March 27 from 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.  Light refreshments will be served.

Gallery hours are Monday, Friday & Saturday 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. and Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Join us Wednesday mornings @ 8:30 AM throughout Lent for a time of meditation and prayer.

Due to the Easter break, our hours of operation are changing as follows on April 16th:

- Aces Grill Exchange: closes at 8 PM

- Ace's Place: closes at 8 PM

- Rademachers: closes at 4 PM

- Chick-fil-A: closes at 6 PM

- The Eatery: closes at 6 PM

On April 20th, The Eatery will open at 4:30 PM.

Normal hours of operation will resume on Monday, April 21st.

UE is in the process of hiring a new Assistant Director for Facilities Management and Planning, who will oversee grounds, moving and events.

As part of the process, the Office of Facilities Management and Planning will be hosting Open Forums for three candidates. University employees are welcome to attend and participate in these forums. All forums will take place in Library 209 – Robert Morris Conference Room.

Below is the schedule:

• Colton Barnes – April 21 at 1:00 PM

• Darrell Sanford – April 23 at 9:00 AM

• Trace Stevens – April 29 at 10:00 AM

Savannah College of Art and Design Assistant Professor of Sound Design, Nihan Yesil (they/them), is visiting the University of Evansville this weekend to mentor the student sound designer for the UET production of Little Women. A member of Women in Audio Mission (WAM) and a nationally recognized artist, Yesil brings a wealth of experience in theatrical sound design and music composition

The visit was coordinated by Visiting Assistant Professor Jon Robertson, who co-founded the SoundTheatre collective with Yesil in 2010. Their past collaborations include projects with the Kansas City Fringe Festival and the Kansas City Electronic Music Alliance.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about sexual violence and supporting survivors. Sexual assault is a pervasive issue on college campuses, with 13% of all students experiencing rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation. Among undergraduate students, 26.4% of females and 6.8% of males experience these forms of sexual violence. Members of historically marginalized communities face even higher rates of sexual violence.

It's crucial that we come together to address this issue and promote a safe and respectful environment for everyone.

We have several events planned throughout the month to educate and engage our community:

• Healthy Relationships Program: Join us on April 10th from 5:50-6:45pm in SOBA 71 to learn about building and maintaining healthy relationships.
• Library Display: Visit the library to explore a curated display on sexual assault awareness and prevention.
• Interactive Exhibit: Engage with an interactive exhibit in the Multicultural Student Commons that highlights the impact of sexual violence and ways to support survivors.
• Lunch and Learn: Attend a session with Nursing professor Chantal Wood on Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners on April 29th from 12-1pm in the Multicultural Student Commons. This session will provide valuable insights into the role of these specialized nurses in supporting survivors and collecting evidence.

We encourage all community members to participate in these activities and to always ensure that they obtain clear and enthusiastic consent from their partners. Let's work together to create a campus culture where everyone feels safe and respected.

*Your exclusive Columbia Employee Store Invite has arrived. *

Columbia Employee Store Invitation Details:

• University of Evansville Alumni Association offer is valid April 18th - May 11th! 
• Shop our family of brands – Columbia, Mountain Hardwear, SOREL and prAna at 40% off retail pricing
• For store access, please provide your digital invite (printed or shown on your mobile device) + proof of affiliation
• Invitees can bring up to four additional guests with each visit
• This offer is for store access (not valid online)
  
  

Have a wonderful week!

Kentucky Employee Store Team| Columbia Sportswear Company

Store Location: 2480 US-41 N | Henderson, KY 42420

Store Phone: (270) 854-3265

Email: kentuckyemployeestore@columbia.com 

Columbia Sportswear | Mountain Hardwear | SOREL | prAna

SPAN 211 and SPAN 212 will be offered during Summer Session 1 and Summer Session 2, respectively. Foreign language courses through the 212 level are required for those seeking BA degrees. Both courses are online and asynchronous to accommodate busy schedules and diverse locations.

Questions?  Contact Dr. Cindy Crowe: cc109@evansville.edu

If you are interested in building bridges instead of walls, register for CHNG-310-S02: Latino Community Outreach for the fall semester. In this ChangeLab, students will explore ideas and work collaboratively with businesses and nonprofits to promote diversity and multicultural  harmony and to meet the needs of the local Latino community. Examples of outreach include working with healthcare providers; presenting research; translating documents; teaching basic Spanish and promoting Latino culture in after-school programs; tutoring English language learners in local schools; and offering English classes for adults. Students choose the project or projects that interest them.  Heritage speakers are encouraged to join!

If you want to learn more about our award-winning ChangeLab, contact Profe Cindy Crowe: cc109@evansville.edu

Would you like to help the tri-state’s growing Haitian population overcome challenges and successfully integrate into our community while maintaining their cultural identity? Then register for CHNG-310-S02: Haitian Community Outreach for the fall semester.  Students can earn up to 4 credit hours while supporting our Haitian community and developing projects to meet their needs. If you speak Haitian Creole, you are especially needed! However, speaking the language is not a requirement.

If you want to learn more about this ChangeLab, email Dr. Cindy Crowe: cc109@evansville.edu

Join Center for Inclusive Excellence intern and USI BSW student Shelby Gardner from 11:30 am-12:30 pm on Wednesday, April 16th, in the Multi-Cultural Student Commons, for a Service Dog Etiquette Lunch and Learn Program. Shelby will share information about service animal dog laws and rights, how to interact with service animals in public, and how to assist individuals in the disabled community with service animals.  Feel free to bring your lunch!

UE students seeking financial aid or intending to use loan funds for summer courses at UE should complete a Summer Financial Aid Application and return it to the Office of Student Financial Services (Olmsted 105) however is most convenient by May 1, 2025. The application will allow our office to assess your financial aid and loan eligibility.

Work-Study:

On-campus jobs are available for continuing UE students during the summer. You do not need to be eligible for need-based Federal Work-Study during the academic year in order to apply. You may also apply regardless of your enrollment in summer courses. Applications will be available within the Student Employment area of Self-Service.

Family, friends and loved ones of the late Dr. Marvin E. Hartig are pleased to announce the application process for the Dr. Marvin E. Hartig Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is dedicated to the loving memory of Dr. Hartig, Dean of Evansville College’s Evening College in 1967, and administrator for the Center for Advanced Study, director of the Evansville chapter of the American Institute of Banking (AIB), and the international student advisor. In 1974, Dr. Hartig was appointed Dean of Academic Services. He retired in 1984 after serving his alma mater for thirty-five years and passed away in 2007.

This scholarship will be awarded annually to a deserving sophomore student. Preference will be given to a student working while being enrolled as a full-time student. International students are encouraged to apply.

Eligible students for the 2025-2026 Hartig Memorial Scholarship will be sophomores in the 2025-2026 academic year.

Download the application.

Deadline: Please return all materials to the Office of Student Financial Services by April 28, 2025. The decision will be announced by May 27, 2025.

Questions: Amber Chandler, Administrative Assistant to the Office of Student Financial Services, at ac547@evansville.edu or 812-488-2364

The Margaret E. Schriefer Liberal Arts Scholarship has been established for the University of Evansville in loving memory of Margaret E. Schriefer. This scholarship will be awarded annually to a deserving student, covering full tuition, books, supplies, materials, and laboratory fees. To be considered for this scholarship, students must meet the following qualifications:

• Must be enrolled at the University of Evansville and have a major of study in Literature, English, Music or Theatre.
• Must be a natural-born citizen of the United States of America with no prior criminal record, other than minor traffic violations.
• Must be a free and accepted Mason in good standing in a local lodge under the authority of the Grand Lodge of its state, or be the descendant, sibling, or nephew/niece of a Master Mason in good standing in his respective lodge under the authority of the Grand Lodge of its respective state. If the related Mason shall not be living at the time of the student’s consideration for this scholarship, a letter shall be obtained from the Lodge of the related Mason to the effect that the related Mason was in good standing at the time of his death.

Must have and maintain a “C” average.

If you meet the requirements for this scholarship, please complete the scholarship application and return to the Office of Student Financial Services by April 18, 2025.

Questions may be directed to the Office of Student Financial Services by email at studentfinancialservices@evansville.edu or by phone at 812-488-2364.

2025-26 MARGERY FLORENCE KAHN SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION NOW AVAILABLE

It was the desire of the donor, Margery Florence Kahn, that her scholarship be awarded to "dedicated and conscientious students who exhibit a true passion for their chosen fields of study, and who, in the opinion of the members of the University of Evansville faculty, are likely to bring the same enthusiasm into the performance of their jobs or the practice of the professions which they will pursue following graduation."

All University of Evansville full-time undergraduate students who will be juniors or seniors in the 2025-26 academic year may apply. An essay of about 300 words must accompany the application along with two to five faculty recommendation letters.

View the application and faculty recommendation information.

Completed applications and recommendation letters should be returned to the Office of Student Financial Services by MAY 9, 2025.

Questions may be directed to the Office of Student Financial Services at 812-488-2364 or studentfinancialservices@evansville.edu.

Erin Lewis, executive director of the Center for Innovation and Change, and Robert Dion, director of the Political Science program, recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate as judges in the national finals of the We The People competition.  State champions from high schools all across America converged on the capital last week to show their knowledge of the Constitution and the American political system.  Lewis and Dion were part of a three-member panel of judges that focused on federalism and the rule of law.  They were joined on the panel by Jonathan Varat, a former dean of the UCLA law school and coauthor (with Vikram Amar) of a leading textbook on constitutional law.  Their facilitator for the two days of competition was Atara Muhammad, global programs specialist for the District of Columbia Public Schools. Erin Lewis participated in the We The People program as a high school student at Castle and then went on to run the entire program in the state of Indiana. She currently serves on the board of the Center for Civic Education, which administers the We The People program nationwide.  For the past several years, the University of Evansville has been proud to host the regional competition for southwestern Indiana schools at our campus.

Each year, the Indiana Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (IACTE) recognizes outstanding future educators from universities across the state. This year, recipients from the University of Evansville are Alana Striverson, an Elementary Education major; Cristina Alvarado, a Spanish Education major; and David "Ty" Bernhardt an Elementary Education major. These individuals were selected by the School of Education faculty for their accomplishments throughout their education programs and for their exceptional promise as future classroom teachers.

Dr. Omid Khormali, Assistant Professor of Mathematics, represented the University of Evansville at the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) Trisection Meeting, held at Northern Kentucky University. Dr. Khormali served as moderator for a well-attended panel discussion on Mental Health in the Mathematics Community: Challenges, Strategies, and Hope as part of his role as Vice Coordinator of the Indiana Section NExT.

First-year math student Alexander Bastien competed solo in the Undergraduate Math Competition in MAA Trisection Meeting, earning an impressive 10th place team ranking out of 29 teams, despite being the only one-person team in the field. Notably, all top 11 teams were from Indiana, and Alexander’s performance placed him ahead of all teams from Ohio and Kentucky.

Congratulations to Alexander and Dr. Khormali for representing UE with excellence and energy!

Three students presented their undergraduate research at the National Conference on Undergratuate Research (NCUR), which was held in Pittsburgh, PA from April 7-9. NCUR is the largest symposium for undergraduate research with nearly 4000 students from all disciplines. Essa Ahmed and Swarup Bhatta, both senior mechanical engineering majors, presented research titled "Effect of Hot-Leg Height with Varying Collector Angle on Thermosiphon Performance" with Douglas Stamps serving as faculty adviser. Anna Robbins, a senior archaeology major, presented research titled "Study of a Private Lithics Collection from Southeast Missouri" with Jennie Ebeling and Alan Kaiser serving as faculty advisers.

The University of Evansville (UE) proudly announces that Professor Mohammad K. Azarian has made history as the first Muslim and the first Iranian American mathematician to have two prestigious mathematics awards named in his honor by the American Mathematical Society (AMS) and the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

These honors, established under his name, recognize his outstanding contributions to research, problem creation, and his unparalleled service to the mathematics community.

His extensive academic work includes the publication of 47 papers, 87 problems, and over 60 presentations at international, national, and reginal meetings and conferences. Professor Azarian served four years as a Discipline Peer Reviewer for the Fulbright Scholar Program (2015-2018) and published 78 reviews in the AMS's Mathematical Reviews (MathSciNet) and the European Mathematical Society's zbMATH Open (Zentralblatt MATH).

The Mohammad K. Azarian Prize for Mathematical Reviews Reviewers, established by AMS, honors mathematicians who have demonstrated exceptional contributions to the peer review field. This prize will recognize notable achievement by peer reviewers, past, present, and future. By providing quality reviews of scholarly articles, reviewers provide a vital link for researchers between established research and works in progress. The inaugural award will be presented at the Joint Mathematics Meetings in Washington, D.C., in January 2026, when AMS and 16 other mathematics organizations will gather for their joint annual meeting.

Professor Azarian, a lifetime member of the AMS since 1983, has been an active force in the mathematical community for decades. His contributions include serving on the Human Rights of Mathematicians Committee and chairing the committee in 2023. Additionally, he has represented AMS on the American Association for the Advancement of Science Human Rights Coalition.

Similarly, the Mohammad K. Azarian Scholar Award, established by MAA, celebrates excellence in mathematical problem creation. This award recognizes individuals whose original, thought-provoking problems challenge and inspire the mathematical community.

Honorees will be selected from contributors to MAA publicationsThe American Mathematical Monthly, Mathematics Magazine, The College Mathematics Journal, and Math Horizons-as well as from problem creators featured in the American Mathematics Competitions (AMC), American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME), the Putnam Competition, and the Mathematical Olympiad Program (MOP). By spotlighting outstanding problem creators, this award reinforces the vital role of problem-creation in advancing mathematical thinking and education. The inaugural award will be presented in August at MathFest 2025, in Sacramento, California. Professor Azarian will be a speaker at this conference.

Professor Azarian has been a member of MAA since 1986, with a distinguished record of service. His numerous contributions include serving on the Executive Board of the Indiana Section of the MAA (2001-2007), where one of his responsibilities was overseeing the Indiana College Mathematics Competitions for all of Indiana's colleges and universities. He was honored with the Mathematical Association of America-Indiana Distinguished Service Award in 2017.

With these two honors, Professor Azarian becomes the first Muslim, the first Iranian American, and the third mathematician to have two distinguished mathematics awards named in his honor by AMS and MAA, the two largest, oldest, and most respected mathematics organizations in the United States. These recognitions underscore his lasting impact on mathematical scholarship and problem creation.

The University of Evansville congratulates Professor Azarian on this remarkable achievement and looks forward to celebrating his contributions to the global mathematical community.

To learn more about Professor Azarian's scholarly work, please visit faculty.evansville.edu/ma3/

Faculty in UE's School of Education engaged in a self-study to evaluate the effectiveness of their elementary and intermediate classroom programs in preparing future educators. The self-study was submitted to the International Literacy Association (ILA) for evaluation. The International Literacy Association National Recognition is awarded to outstanding licensure, certificate, and endorsement programs that prepare literacy professionals.

We are proud to announce that the University of Evansville has become the fifth higher education institution in the United States to earn ILA National Recognition for program alignment to rigorous ILA standards. Only fifteen universities in the United States have earned this distinction, and the University of Evansville is the first university in Indiana to qualify for this honor.

Earning ILA National Recognition demonstrates that UE's School of Education adheres to a rigorous set of standards for preparing literacy professionals, setting us apart from similar programs. This seal of approval, granted only by ILA, shows that the program at UE meets or exceeds ILA's high standards for excellence.

Special thanks are extended to our Dean, Dr. Andy Lampkins, and our Program Chair, Dr. Shari Millikan, for their enduring support and encouragement throughout this long process. We are thankful for your guidance and leadership!

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Another home game is on tap Tuesday when the University of Evansville softball team plays host to Indiana State at Tri-State Orthopaedics Field at James and Dorothy Cooper Stadium.  First pitch is set for 5 p.m.

Over the weekend, the Purple Aces faced off in a 3-game series against Drake.  Taylor Howe and Jenna Donohoo led the offense, each batting .429 with three hits in seven at-bats.  Howe added two runs and three walks in the series on her way to a .600 on-base percentage.

Morgan Adams provided the power numbers, recording a home run and three RBI against the Bulldogs.  Adams reached base 66.7% of the time on the strength of four walks.

Prior to the weekend series against Drake, UE faced the Sycamores in a doubleheader last Tuesday in Terre Haute.  After dropping the first game by a final score of 5-3, the Purple Aces rallied to take the second contest by a final of 6-0.

Gracie Hollingsworth tossed a gem, allowing just four hits in the complete game shutout.  She set a new career high with eight strikeouts.  Highlighting the offense was Morgan Adams, who recorded a 3-run home run.