PUBLICATIONS Inside Illinois Vol. 22, No. 7, Oct. 3, 2002

Michael J. Andrejasich
professor of architecture
"Professor Andrejasich has been a mentor to teens, an adviser to and participant in non-profit groups, a leader of a major academic unit, and educator of UI students and a critical player in the grass-roots level improvement of the most distressed areas of the state," Kathleen Conlin, dean of the College of Fine and Applied Arts, said in her nomination letter.

Other projects that have been the focus of his community service include his work as the main designer or architect of the St. Jude Catholic Worker House, the Center for Women in Transition Forbes House and the Champaign Housing Authority scattered sites project.

The East St. Louis Action Research Project joins faculty members and students from collaborating campus units — urban and regional planning, landscape architecture and the School of Architecture — with UI Extension and East St. Louis neighborhood groups on projects that address the social, economic and environmental problems of some of the city’s poorest communities.

Photo by Bill Wiegand Ann Peterson Bishop

Ann Peterson Bishop
professor of library and information science
"Ann Peterson Bishop embodies the ideals of the university’s mission for engagement with the community," Linda C. Smith, interim dean of the Graduate School for Library and Information Science, wrote in her nomination letter. "Dr. Bishop’s activities have had a significant impact on the local community as well as at the national level."

Smith noted that community service agencies from around the country and many parts of the world turn to Bishop when developing community networks to support underprivileged communities.

She has tackled digital equity issues in innovative ways that have become a model for other programs.

Bishop is a co-founder (along with Greg Newby) of Prairienet, a member- and donation-supported community information network offered as a community service by the GSLIS. In addition, through the Community Networking Initiative project and SisterNet/Afya, Bishop has found ways to introduce training and support programs that capitalize on existing social networks and are attuned to community information needs and interests.

Photo by Bill Wiegand George C. Reese

George C. Reese, associate director
Office for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education
Seven years ago the Office for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education was established to promote communication and collaboration among the many campus activities that have as their mission working with schools, K-12. George Reese began his contributions to
the office as a doctoral student in mathematics education.

In his nomination of Reese, Kenneth J. Travers, professor of mathematics education, department of curriculum and instruction, praised Reese’s continued leadership role in the office that has impacted teachers and students across the state. "George was the driving force in the development of ‘Mathematics Materials for Tomorrow’s Teachers,’ instructional materials for middle school mathematics," Travers said.

Under Reese’s leadership, the office’s Web site has grown remarkably, receiving more than 50,000 hits per day, with the majority of users being classroom teachers.

Photo by Bill Wiegand Burton E. Swanson

Burton E. Swanson
professor of agricultural and consumer economics
"Professor Burton E. Swanson’s entire professional career has been devoted to public engagement," Darrel L. Good, interim head of the department of agricultural and consumer economics, wrote in his nomination letter.

In recent years, Swanson’s focus has been on agricultural extension and the task of getting improved technology to farmers as part of the equation of improving the well-being of rural families and communities around the world.

He has traveled to China many times during the past 12 years to help design and supervise a World Bank-funded agricultural support services project.

Closer to home, Swanson gave leadership to a new research-extension project funded by the Illinois Council for Food and Agricultural Research (C-FAR). This project has already increased Illinois farm income through expanded value-enhanced crop production.

Student winners

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Campus Award for Excellence in Public Engagement

Recipients honored for public service, outreach

In its third year, the awards program was developed to recognize those who fulfill the university’s commitment to using their scholarly, creative or professional knowledge to improve the well-being of Illinois citizens. Recipients were honored at a banquet Sept. 23.

The program is an extension of the Partnership Illinois initiative and the Senate Committee on Continuing Education and Public Service.