Iwu's First Year Frequency

It was amazing to have Dean Karla Carney-Hall join us in the studio to talk about the growth value that comes as students encounter challenges on campus, and the supports provided to make sure that challenges don't become overwhelming and detract from students' curricular goals and aspirations. A look at the week that was and a glimpse ahead provides parents with a bit of detail about campus

It is so exciting to have Professor Carolyn Nadeau as our guest today. As the Byron S. Tucci Professor of Hispanic Studies, Carolyn did her undergraduate work at the University of Virginia, her master's at New York University in Madrid, and received her doctorate from Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Nadeau specializes in sixteenth-century and seventeenth-century Spanish literature. Her book, Women of the Prologue: Imitation, Myth, and Magic in Don Quixote I, explores the significance of the women of the prologue in Don Quijote I and Cervantes's impact on the pressing question of literary continuation and cultural authority in Golden Age Spain. She has also written on mythological female figures in the comedia, the role of the wife and mother in sixteenth-century advice manuals, and food representation in Golden Age texts.  Her current project is, Feeding Between the Lines: the Social Significance of Food in Early Modern Spanish Literature. Teaching at Illinois Wesleyan University since 1994, s

Liz Vales from Student Activities and Leadership Programs along with Alanna Hill from Fraternity and Sorority Life visited the FYF to talk about student involvement.  IWU students have a myriad of opportunities from which to choose to fill out-of-class hours.  From entertainment to service, leadership development to Greek life, clubs and organizations--students find a rich pastiche of fun, fellowship and rewarding activity to choose from as they get to know campus, the community, classmates and even themselves.  Program features framing what to do in the days ahead and Talking Points for Parents round out the program.

It is always an enlightening conversation with Dr. Annorah Moorman, Assistant Dean of Students and Director of the IWU Counseling and Consultation Services.  We engaged Annorah in a wide-ranging conversation about the multiple layers of transition that students are experiencing, and the ways that they can engage existing coping strategies and employ additional methods to gain capacity, buffer stress and exhibit resilience. Annorah provides a realistic approach grounded in a depth of clinical knowledge and experience with generations of students that simply can't be matched, and we were incredibly grateful for her thoughts, perspectives and advice.  

Dr. Brandon Common, Assistant Dean for Campus Life joins program host Darcy L Greder from the Dean of Students Office to talk about Turning Titan and the first week of classes and activities for students.  Academic rigor and adjustment issues are discussed along with information about the many supports available for students both inside and outside of the classroom.  Talking points are offered for parents focusing on tasks students should be attending to as first days unfold on campus.  Finally, a sampling of campus activities give parents a good insight into co-curricular life.

A bittersweet post indeed as we share our final episode of Season 6. Inviting participation from Elyse Nelson-Winger, IWU's Chaplain and Carrie Mack of the IWU Action Research Center, we dive deeply into the ways that students are engaged around IWU's social justice and service mission, and the ways that students engage purpose through faith traditions and values-based action. The conversation is delightful but brief, and in no time we find ourselves bidding farewell to another incredible series of opportunities to engage with parents, our partners.  We have had a blast with you and remain ever thankful for your listenership, but also for allowing us the chance to help shape your experience, and together to nudge students towards the best possible experiences at IWU. It truly is a great time to be a TITAN! #TGOE

We were joined in the studio by the amazing staff of the Hart Career Center to talk about the ways that students engage in discovering how their classroom passions become income producing in the world of work. Abby Reel and Laurie Diekhoff, who provide career counseling and supervise the internships program, respectively, provide exceptional guidance for how parents can encourage and reinforce critical messages about preparing for interviews, networking and gaining skills essential for success beyond IWU.

In the absence of Matthew and Jack, Dr. Brandon Common, a popular contributor and Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion joined Darcy L. Greder to think and talk about course registration for Spring and the experience, purpose and process of academic advising with guest Chandra Shipley, Director of Academic Advising.  And then conversation turned to Study Abroad possibilities with Stacey Shimizu, the Director of the International Office.  Study abroad and domestic off-campus study programs are critical opportunities that students engage in to develop capacity and cultural fluency, and not suprisingly over half of students will engage in off-campus study during their time at IWU. Darcy and Brandon also discuss the week of Homecoming that kicked off as the show was broadcast, and celebrated their Titan Spirit and the Homecoming theme of Titan Green Over Everything #TGOE! We hope you enjoy the episode, and remember that it's a great week to be a Titan!

We had an amazing time talking about the theory that ground students' developmental trajectories and experiences, and what students and families might expect from opportunities students have to grow and change on campus.  Dr. Phyllis McCluskey-Titus, who serves as chair of ISU's graduate preparation program for Student Affairs practitioners was our first guest, and the conversation was insightful and delightful (notice the rhyme!).  IWU's own Dr. Brandon Common, Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion joined us in the bottom half of the show to talk about the value that students get when they engage in cultural exploration and celebration and what the context and climate for engagement around diversity (by its broadest definition) looks like at IWU. As always, we found time lacking and conversation abundant!  We hope you enjoy the episode and look forward to another great conversation next week.

It was amazing to have Dean Karla Carney-Hall join us in the studio to talk about the growth value that comes as students encounter challenges on campus, and the supports provided to make sure that challenges don't become overwhelming and detract from students' curricular goals and aspirations. Dean Greder shared another musical selection and then we closed out the show discussing campus bike culture and the ways that parents might gently ask about and nudge academically purposeful engagement as students close out the first third of the semester.  We hope you enjoy the show and tune in again next week!

We invited Byron S. Tucci Professor of Hispanic Studies Carolyn Nadeau into the studio to talk about the rigorous classroom dynamics at IWU and the ways that students can be successful in their course work and in cultivating their relationships with faculty.  As a Kemp Honoree for Teaching Excellence, the highest award bestowed upon faculty at IWU, Carolyn is intimately familiar with the promise and potential of IWU students, and the way that engaged students can make the most of their learning expeirences.  It was wonderful to unpack some of these issues and walk away with a better understanding of strategies stduents might employ at IWU.  We also talked a bit about roommate relationships and getting support in the face of conflict or differing life patterns.  As always, it was a fast hour, but we hope you enjoy it as much as we did!  Tune back in next week for more!

Jack, Darcy and I had a great time processing the week's activities on campus and those upcoming, as well as talking with Lauren Ajacks who serves as the President of College Panhellenic Council, or the coordinating body of IWU's social sororities.  Lauren shared her perceptions of the system, along with priorities and possibilities and the ways that students select into fraternity or sorority membership through a mutual process.  We also talked about the many other ways that students establish and develop lasting communities of peers to serve their needs on campus and through their whole lives.  We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed creating it. 

We had a blast talking with Dr. Annorah Moorman, Assistant Dean of Students and Director of the IWU Counseling and Consultation Services.  Matthew and Jack engaged Annorah in a wide-ranging conversation about the multiple layers of transition that students are experiencing, and the ways that they can engage existing coping strategies and employ additional methods to gain capacity, buffer stress and exhibit resilience. Annorah provides a realistic approach grounded in a depth of clinical knowledge and experience with generations of students that simply can't be matched, and we were incredibly grateful for her thoughts, perspectives and advice.  The second half of the show was more a discussion of the ways that students had the potential for relatively quick feedback about their performance in some classes and a more distributed pace of assigments and their return in others.  Jack shared some of his perspectives as a student, and Matthew talked about the importance of surriounding oneself with th

We are so pleased to be uploading this first episode of Season 6 of the First Year Frequency. In episode 1 we enjoyed hosting Colin Stewart, the Director of Student Activities and Leadership Programs joining us in the studio to talk about involvement, the Registered Student Organization fair, and these first transitional days of the semester.  It's going to be a great season, and future episodes should be posted within a day of live broadcast.  Join us tonight at 6 PM for Episode 2 where we discuss the emotional and psychological transtion that students are experiencing with Dr. Annorah Moorman, Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Counseling and Consultation Services.