Kudos

Governor George H. Ryan officially declared March 22, 2002, Manfred Thullen International Education Day. Thullen, director of International Programs, was honored for more than 20 years of work for the advancement of international education and global understanding at Michigan State University and NIU. He also served in a leadership role with the Illinois Consortium for International Education.

Forensics students from across the state recently honored NIU's Forensics Coach Judy Santacaterina, presenting her with the "Dennis/Ross Coaching Award," which recognizes inspirational Illinois forensics coaches. Santacaterina received the award during a state forensics competition held in East Peoria in early March. Jeff Pryzybylo, head coach at Harper College, made the presentation. He is one of eight Illinois forensics coaches who were mentored by Santacaterina at NIU. In 1999, the American Forensics Association awarded Santacaterina with the Distinguished Service Award for her numerous contributions to coaching and years of service.

Nadine Dolby, assistant professor in the Department of Educational Psychology and Foundations, is the recipient of the 2001 Joyce Cain Award from the Comparative and International Education Society. The award recognizes "excellence in scholarly articles that explore themes related to people of African descent." Dolby's award-winning article was titled, "The Shifting Ground of Race: The Role of Taste in Youth's Production of Identities" and appeared in "Race Ethnicity and Education," 3 (1).

English Professor William Baker is the co-author of "George Eliot: A Bibliographical History" with John C. Ross from Wellington, New Zealand. The book is a result of more than 30 years of research by Baker and the most comprehensive reference work on the prolific 19th-century British writer in print. Mary Ann (Evans) Cross, who used the pen name George Eliot, dominated the British literary scene during the height of the Victorian Age as one of its most successful authors. The book is published by Oak Knoll Press.

Sandi Kuchynka, director of academic advising for the College of Health and Human Sciences, was presented with an Outstanding Service Award for her service to Commission XVI of the American College Personnel Association (ACPA). ACPA is a national organization dedicated to serving student affairs professionals through educational and developmental programs, publications and networking opportunities. Kuchynka has served as the commission chair since 1999, convention program reviewer since 2000 and most recently has chaired the commission's Task Force on Oversight and Operations.