Welcome to the November 2024 edition of GradNews for the 2024-2025 academic year!  This monthly newsletter will include key information and resources to support your success as a graduate student at SIUE.  Each month we will bring you news about upcoming events, campus resources, research funding, professional development, campus engagement, and graduate student success stories.  Watch for GradNews coming to your email inbox each month!

Have feedback for the Graduate School? Fill out the Feedback Form to let us know!

History Department: Research-in-Progress Speaker Series 

The History Department is excited to welcome guests and the public to their fall Research in Progress Speaker Series. The series will feature three speakers and topics ranging from Madison County History immigration, ivory is Assyria, and the links between women and Route 66. No RSVP is needed. Each presentation will be in Peck Hall, room 3117.

"Tickling the (Nimrud) Ivories: Ivory Objects as Sites of Wonder in Assyria in the Early First Millennium BCE" 
Allison Thomason, PhD, Chair and Professor 
Friday, Nov. 15 
Noon-1 p.m. 
PH 3117 
 
"Women and Route 66" 
Cheryl Eichar Jett, Independent Historian 
Friday, Dec. 13 
Noon-1 p.m. 
PH 3117  

Cahokia Mounds Walking Tour with Dr. Julie Zimmermann 
Saturday, 11/16/24, 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site 
30 Ramey St, Collinsville, IL 62234

Join Dr. Julie Zimmerman, professor and chair of SIUE's Anthropology Department for a guided walking tour of Cahokia Mounds! Meet outside the Interpretive Center at Cahokia Mounds. Not sure where to go? Click here for directions. Details to come. 

Click Here to RSVP

Sip & Shop

The Cougar Store's Sip & Shop, Tuesday, Nov. 19! It's the perfect way to start your holiday shopping. Enjoy appetizers and drinks while mingling at the Cougar Store. Save 25% off regularly priced SIUE imprinted clothing, gifts and non-imprinted items. This event is just for faculty and staff, and you must have your Cougar card or name tag to enter. For inquiries, email Anna at [email protected].

Sip & Shop
Tuesday, Nov. 19
5-7 p.m.
MUC: Cougar Store

S'moresgiving 2024 
Tuesday, 11/19/24, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Morris University Center Goshen Lounge 

Late Night at the MUC is throwing a S'moresgiving bash! Mark your calendars for November 19th at 6:00 P.M. in the Goshen Lounge! 

Get ready to indulge in scrumptious s'mores galore, featuring the classic treat, a sweet and salty twist, and a whole lot more! Plus, unleash your inner artist with a fall-themed craft that you can paint, construct, and proudly take home! Don’t miss out on the s'more-tastic fun at S'moresgiving! 

Click Here to RSVP

Cougar Cupboard Fall 2024

The Cougar Cupboard is located in Room 0012 of the Morris University Center (MUC) on the lower level near Textbook Service.  

The Cougar Cupboard is open the following days and times during the Fall 2024 semester (No appointment necessary): 

       Monday:    11:00 am – 2:00 pm 
      Tuesday:    CLOSED 
Wednesday:    11:00 am – 2:00 pm 
    Thursday:    3:00 pm – 6:00 pm 
          Friday:    11:00 am – 2:00 pm 

Preparing for a Job Search

Whether you'll be launching a job search in the near or distant future, you want to be strategic in your approach.  Searching for a new position is a significant investment of time, energy, and resources.  Here are some tips to be sure your search efforts are both efficient and effective!

• Use the Career Development Center! They offer services including online job postings for students, resume and cover letter reviews, mock interviews, and more to provide you with individualized support during the job search process.
• Cover the basics before you get started by taking 2 minutes to read "Top Strategies for a Successful Job Search."
• Did you go straight through to graduate school after undergrad?  Read How to Land your First "Real" Job after Graduate School.
• Ready for career advancement after completing your graduate degree?  Take a look at the "10 Tips on Effectively Looking for a Job While Still Employed."
• Develop and continually update your LinkedIn profile.
• Use your SIUE network!  Talk to your faculty, GA supervisors, and others you've developed relationships with on campus about your career interests and ask for their advice on next steps.

The Power of Relationships: Networking Your Way to Success in Business with Guest Speaker, Kal Maadi 
Tuesday, 11/12/24, 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Alumni Hall 2401 

Please visit this LinkTree Here for more information about our Guest Speaker and the topics he will be speaking on.  

Free food will be provided.  

Topics that will be discussed include mental health advocacy, the art of networking, leveraging relationships for growth, building trust and influence, from executive to entrepreneur, and networking in the digital age. There will also be time for students to ask questions and network with Kal Maadi.  

Click Here to RSVP

SIUE Serves: Clean-Up East St. Louis with Empire 13
Friday, 11/15/24, 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Morris University Center Legacy Room

Join Empire 13 founder, JD Dixon, as he shares the work Empire 13 does to fight systemic and environmental racism in East Saint Louis. Volunteers will travel to East St. Louis to pick up trash from illegal dumping that has occurred in that community.

This event will occur outdoors (rain or shine) at a location in East St. Louis, IL. Volunteers must be able to stand and walk for long periods of time and be able to bend over and carry items such as heavy trash bags and debris from the road. Please be sure to wear warm clothes and closed toe shoes. Work gloves and transportation will be provided.

Check in will begin at 11:30am on Friday, November 15th in the Legacy Room (2nd Floor of the Morris University Center). We will then load a bus and head to the location. We will leave the service site at 4pm with return time to SIUE at approximately 4:30pm.

Space is limited! Please sign up here.

Emerging Leaders Total Experience (ELTE)
Saturday and Sunday, 11/16/24 & 11/17/24, 10:00 AM  to 3:00 PM 
Student Success Center

The Kimmel Belonging & Engagement Hub is dedicated to providing the Cougar Community with inclusive leadership experiences year-round. We are thrilled to share this exciting leadership development opportunity - Emerging Leadership Total Experience (ELTE) - for student leaders interested in advancing their skills when working with diverse communities.  

ELTE is a two-day inclusive leadership experience designed to invite students to build on their existing interest in leadership development, passion interests, and community-oriented leadership. This immersive program provides them with the opportunity to develop their leadership identity through an equitable lens and build the skills to advocate for themselves and others within their chosen fields of study.

Click Here to RSVP

Meet NFN Abdullah, MA in Management Information Systems

NFN Abdullah studied finance, but his involvement in research projects made him interested in analytics which prompted his decision to shift to cloud computing. He decided to enrich his knowledge in analytics and the cloud computing field; hence, he chose SIUE for its comprehensive curriculum.

He is actively involved in two research projects and engaged in teaching activities and helping professors deliver their courses successfully. One of his favorite places on campus is the SIUE garden, which is a beautiful spot for him to wander around and take in the surroundings. 

His current plan is to complete his program and enhance his expertise in cloud computing and Salesforce. In the long term, he aspires to become a Solutions Architect in Salesforce, specializing in AI and analytics.  He aims to bridge the gap between technology and business, driving innovation and efficiency in the industry.

Dr. Zeng from Management and Marketing had this to say of him, "Abdullah has done an excellent job as a graduate assistant for me and another two colleagues in Fall 2023. He is a highly capable and responsible and has great time management skills."