PUBLICATIONS Inside Illinois Vol. 21, No. 16, March 21, 2002

Six academic professionals recognized with CAPE Award
In recognition of the growing numbers of academic professionals on the Urbana campus and the variety of their contributions, six people are being honored with the Chancellor’s Academic Professional Excellence Award this year. (Three have been honored annually in the past.) This year, as in the past 13, the CAPE Award winners were selected based on their outstanding contributions in their professional fields, work units and on campus and for the positive impact each has had on colleagues, students and the public. A committee of 12 academic professionals – from different units across campus – reviewed the nominations and unanimously recommended these six people to Chancellor Nancy Cantor for recognition.

The winners will be honored at an awards ceremony and reception from 4 to 5:30 p.m. April 1 in the lobby of the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. All interested faculty members, academic professionals and civil service staff members are invited to attend.

Each CAPE winner will receive $2,000 at the ceremony and a base salary increase of $1,000 effective Aug. 21. In addition, $1,000 will be added to their departments’ budgets to be used at their discretion to benefit their workplaces.

Photo by Bill Wiegand Sonia R. Carringer associate director Campus Honors Program

During her 32-year career as an academic professional, Sonia R. Carringer has made many lasting contributions to the campus.

In his nomination letter, Bruce F. Michelson, professor of English and director of the Campus Honors Program, detailed some of those contributions.

"As associate director of the Campus Honors Program from its beginning in 1986," wrote Michelson, "Sonia Carringer originated many of the program’s outstanding features, recruited and mentored extraordinary students, created publications, organized countless activities crucial to our work and reputation, and played a central role in the recent dramatic increase in national and international awards won by undergraduates at [the Urbana campus]."

In addition, Michelson detailed Carringer’s contributions during her nine years as a staff associate in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, where she wrote the first Academic Staff Handbook, originated the Job Registry and organized the first Pre-retirement Planning conference.

In addition, Carringer worked with the Professional Advisory Committee (now known as the Council for Academic Professionals) and the Advisory Committee on Academic Professional Personnel "[Her work with these committees] resulted in the development of many new and revised personnel policies, providing increased benefits and protections for the academic-professional employment group," Michelson said.

Many students also expressed gratitude for the strong support provided by Carringer. Whether it was in guiding them toward scholarships, helping them make deadlines or providing a sounding board as they made some of their life decisions, Carringer has touched many lives.

Paul Marty, webmaster for Spurlock Museum, said, "Sonia dedicates herself to the students in her care. She is determined to see them succeed in school and in all of their future endeavors. Students in the CHP know that Sonia is there for them, as an adviser, teacher, mentor and friend. She follows their every accomplishment and triumph. She takes pride in every award granted and honor won. She strives to ensure that each student not only receives the very best education the university can offer but leaves the program with confidence, fully prepared for the future."

Photo by Bill Wiegand Jesse A. "Tony" Clements director, Campus Recreation

Jesse A. "Tony" Clements arrived at the UI as a student athlete and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the Urbana campus. He began his professional career in campus recreation and became director of Campus Recreation in 1979.

"All of his adult life has been dedicated to the UI, contributing positively to the quality of life on this campus and in this community," said S. Eugene Barton, associate vice chancellor for student affairs.

"Keeping pace with the changes among young people and in the broader society, the programs of [campus recreation] have been transformed from sport and exercise to include fitness, health, wellness and adventure among others," wrote Thom Moore, director of the Psychological Services Center. " … The transformation is a direct function of Tony’s vision."

More concrete evidence of the changes are new structures and renovations he has influenced during his 23 years as director. Most recently, students passed a referendum that may provide funds for Campus Recreation to expand and renovate the existing IMPE and CRCE facilities. (It’s awaiting approval by the Illinois State Board of Education.) "It was through Tony’s leadership, perseverance and desire to provide state-of-the-art recreational facilities that this became a reality," wrote Mary Slaughter, professor emeritus of kinesiology, and Barbara "Bobbi" Hein, administrative secretary for Campus Recreation.

Several nominators mentioned that Clements’ charismatic character and leadership skills have led him to be sought after as a community liaison, public speaker and performer (his passion is stand-up comedy).

Clements also has served on numerous campus committees, and he is an advocate for a number of community service programs, including Crisis Nursery, Urban League, United Way, Don Moyers Boys and Girls Club, Zonta, and C-U Kiwanis.

Photo by Bill Wiegand Celia M. Elliott director, External Affairs and Special Projects, physics

"Celia M. Elliott is a dynamic, hard-working, driving force in the physics department at Illinois," said David W. Hertzog, professor of physics, in a letter supporting Elliott’s nomination.

Jeremiah D. Sullivan, professor and head of physics, who nominated Elliott, outlined the major contributions she makes to the department: assists with identifying and writing research grant proposals and reports; nominates faculty members, students and alumni for awards; assists faculty members with publications, including books; develops and maintains department Web sites; is a department liaison to alumni and other donors; helped establish the Physics Advisory Board; and helped develop and is co-teaching a new course on methods of scientific communication.

In addition, Elliott was recognized by several of her colleagues for her contributions in working with scientists from the former Soviet Union. Elliott is using her talents as a technical writer and her knowledge of the Western scientific world of publishing to assist the former weapons scientists with editing technical reports in English, preparing papers for publication in Western journals and writing proposals for Western funding agencies to finance their research as they redirect it to peaceful, civilian applications. She has traveled to the former Soviet Union more than 10 times in the past six years – mostly at her own expense. She also has hosted Russian scientists on visits to the university. She even took a week of her vacation to drive one group to Princeton for an international conference.

Hertzog summed up Elliott’s talents well: "Celia is a state-of-the-art Web designer in an increasingly electronic world, a grant writer second to none, a perfectionist and teacher of technical communications, and a compassionate and essential colleague to Russian scientists."
Sullivan urged the selection committee to "honor this extraordinary woman whose talent and efforts at home are furthering the mission of the physics department and whose dedicated personal efforts are making the world a safe place for all of us."

Photo by Bill Wiegand Edward A. Kieser chief meteorologist, WILL-AM-FM, Division of Broadcasting

"The weather service offered by WILL-AM (580) has been greatly enhanced during Ed Kieser’s tenure," said Jay Pearce, WILL-AM program director, in his nomination letter. "He has increased the amount of weather information delivered each day on the radio station. He constantly reviews the weather programming to ensure that the information is not only accurate and useful, but that it is presented clearly and concisely."

With weather events that can be life threatening and the importance of weather to farmers and other businesses, accurate and timely information is an important part of Kieser’s job. But his contributions have gone much further.

In addition to providing information on air, Kieser’s work with the UI department of atmospheric sciences led to an extensive weather information site on the Internet. The site includes WILL-AM’s locally generated forecasts along with an array of other information.

Kieser also is actively involved in the planning and execution of a variety of activities carried out by the Division of Broadcasting. These range from programming and special events to fund-raising and community education. His weekly "Talk to Ed" segments, during which listeners may call and ask weather-related questions or forecasts, are popular with listeners.

One of the most visible and perhaps most important of Kieser’s outreach activities is his annual series of tornado shows. Now in its 12th year, the show has evolved into a computer-based multimedia display with a one-hour version that annually airs on WILL-TV and also is available at local libraries throughout Central Illinois.

Kieser also is a part-time faculty member at Parkland College where he teaches a four-credit laboratory course "Introduction to Weather" and is a part-time weather anchor on WCIA-TV, the local CBS affiliate, where he is introduced as "AM 580 meteorologist Ed Kieser. "

Photo by Bill Wiegand David W. Seibert extension educator, animal sciences, UI Extension

"David Seibert has dedicated his professional life to advancing the mission of UI Extension," said Lawrence D. Firkins, director of UI research stations and swine extension veterinarian.

Michael F. Hutjens, professor of animal sciences and animal systems program leader, said, "David Seibert is our top extension educator in Illinois and one of the best in the United States."

Jimmy H. Clark, a UI professor of animal sciences who nominated Seibert for this award, said, "Dave Seibert conducts one of the most vigorous and innovative educational programs found among the 347 academic professionals of UI Extension."

Clark further explained the impact of Seibert’s programs: "During the past five years alone, he has conducted 312 programs and made face-to-face contact with nearly 63,000 people across the state, including youth, adults, agricultural representatives, civic leaders and government officials. In addition, he responds to hundreds of producer and consumer requests for information each year."

During his 33 years with the university, Seibert’s career has been characterized by initiative and innovation, having pioneered many programs, including several nationally recognized youth programs.

When youth livestock programs in a number of states were threatened by inappropriate use of drugs and mistreatment of animals, Seibert initiated the 4-H/FFA Quality Assurance and Ethics clinics. In 1995 he initiated a statewide meeting at the Illinois Department of Agriculture to generate support for the program. Nearly 15,000 4-H and FFA members, parents, show superintendents and club leaders have been trained. Both the model and materials Seibert developed have been adopted by other states.

Another popular program initiated by Seibert is the Illinois Superior Young Producer Award based on youth knowledge and skills leading to $1,000 scholarships for youth. In 2001, 25 scholarships were presented at the Illinois State Fair from private funds and presented by Secretary of Agriculture Joe Hampton.

"Seibert has a keen interest and commitment to Illinois youth development and scholarship that impact more than 80,000 Illinois 4-H youth in animal science programs," Hutjens said. "The impact of these programs will continue in the next generations of Illinois leaders due to Dave’s commitment and leadership."

Photo by Bill Wiegand Deborah A. Trouth assistant director, Child Development Laboratory

"In her role as assistant director of the Child Development Lab since 1990, Deborah Trouth has made exemplary contributions to the teaching, research and outreach activities of the CDL program, the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences and the UI," said Brent McBride, CDL director and professor of human development. "She has established herself as a leader in the child care and early childhood education communities on a local and state level. She has a strong commitment to the child development and child-care communities and a willingness to extend her expertise beyond the boundaries of the UI campus."

In providing leadership for the early childhood programming portion of the CDL, McBride explained that Trouth works closely with the director and teachers in planning and implementing developmentally appropriate curriculum for use in the preschool and child-care classrooms.

Trouth serves as a liaison between parents, staff members and the CDL program. This role includes meeting with prospective parents about enrollment procedures, coordinating the application and admissions process, communicating with parents about developmental issues related to their children, and addressing administrative details related to the program for families.

In addition, Trouth serves as a liaison between the CDL director, faculty instructors and CDL classroom teachers for the implementation of student projects and practicum placements. And she is the liaison between the CDL program and local agencies and therapists in facilitating the inclusion of special needs children into CDL classrooms.

Outside of her role as assistant director, Trouth is regularly called upon to conduct workshops and in-service training sessions for a variety of agencies and organizations.

Trouth also actively participates in local child-care organizations and agencies. Since 1992 she has served on the Advisory Board for the East Central Illinois Young Learners Conference helping to plan the important regional child-care and early education conference.

She also is actively involved in the Child Care Resource Service program since 1995 as an Inclusion Leader.