Division of Outreach and Engagement • University of Southern Indiana
New Connect with Southern Indiana class announced Twenty-three people have been selected to participate in USI’s Connect with Southern Indiana One Color Program. An annual regional leadership program, Connect with Southern Indiana was established through a grant from the Lilly Endowment in 2006 and is currently sponsored by USI’s Center for Human Resource Development. The intent of the program is to boost Indiana’s retention of intellectual capital by helping participants strengthen their skills and opportunities for involvement in community and regional projects, meet business and civic leaders, and gain greater awareness of community and regional needs. The 2012 class includes Anu Asthana, financial advisor, New York Life; Jessica Beck, sales Two and marketing Color manager, Dubois County Visitors Center; Lori Blackford, sales and customer service, WineStyles; Brad Brown, supervisor, OFS Brands; Jerry Clark, president and CEO, Evacus Technologies, LLC; Candy Cooper, community relations coordinator, Boston’s Restaurant; Brian Dale, people department representative, Jasper Engines and Transmissions; Jessica DeLorenzo, director of student services, Vincennes University, Jasper campus; John Foster, executive director, Wesselman Nature Society; Carey Franks, assistant to the provost, University of Southern Indiana; Sabrina Harpenau, student worker in News and Information Services, University of Southern Indiana; Richard Martin, president/ registered patent lawyer, Martin and Martin Attorneys at Law; Kacheyta McClellan, assistant director in the Multicultural Center, University of Southern Indiana; Ashley full Color Murray, auctions/events manager, WNIN; Sara Rhoades, senior gallery associate,
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Harmony Gallery Contemporary Art; Patrick Rich, agent, State Farm Insurance; Andy Robling, financial advisor, German American Investments; WG Bud Schaaf, city letter carrier, US Postal Service; Carol Schaefer, executive director, Historic Newburgh, Inc.; Jill Jahn Schenetzki, production planner, Leed Selling Tools; Hans Schmitz, extension educator, Purdue Extension, Gibson County; Arnold Tempel, facilities project manager, Kimball International; and Matt Zoccola, economic development analyst, Warrick County Department of Economic Development. Program participants will attend ten fullday sessions over a six-month period and will develop a collaborative project that will be presented at the end of the program. Topics for this years class include community overviews, critical thinking, personality profiles, opportunity identification, project management, public skills, presentation planning, and government relations. USI faculty and staff and Southern Indiana community leaders will facilitate each program. Connect with Southern Indiana is open to Indiana residents living in Dubois, Gibson, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, or Warrick counties who would like to improve the quality of life in their communities. Applications to participate in the 2013 Connect with Southern Indiana class will be available this summer at www.usi.edu/ extserv/outreach/connect.asp.
Snail’s Pace continued from p.3 Snail’s Pace was first exposed to the retail market during an Atlanta gift show in which the line gained interest from multiple vendors, including the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Yosemite National Park, and Chicago Zoo. Since then, the Snail’s Pace team continues to penetrate retail markets ranging from nursery, wildlife and garden centers, fresh grocery markets, paper stores, and all-natural product retailers. “It is no surprise that Snail’s Pace has already shown success in the originally planned channel as a parish fundraiser, but has also indicated even greater potential with specialty retailers and other environmentally friendly venues,” said Mayers. “I believe the Snail’s Pace team has only scratched the surface of the company’s full potential.”
A Carnegie Foundation Engaged University
Faculty conducts study on homeownership Prepared by Sara Bealor, communications intern in the Center for Applied Research Under the auspices of the Center for Applied Research, a multidisciplinary team of six USI faculty and staff members conducted a nationwide study to research the impact of homeownership on families living in homes built by Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) Women Build. The HFHI Women Build program empowers women to learn new construction skills, make connections with other women in the community, build selfesteem, and help other women in need. Members of the team included Dr. Katherine Draughon, executive director of the Office of Planning, Research, and Assessment; Dr. Matt Hanka, assistant professor of political science and director of the Master of Public Administration Program; Dr. Mohammed Khayum, dean of the College of Business; Dr. Marie Opatrny, associate professor of social work; Dr. Iris Phillips, associate professor of social work; and Dr. Ronda Priest, chair of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice Studies. The team developed and implemented a research plan that gathered perceptions of HFHI Women Build homeowners across the United States. The research examined the perceived social and psychological impact of homeownership, satisfaction with the HFHI experience, and perceived social capital impact. Questions about the affiliates’ experiences with the program were also addressed. “The survey questionnaire allowed Habitat homeowners to share different aspects of their experience, both during and after the homeownership process,” said Dr. Opatrny. “In addition, the inclusion of open-ended questions gave homeowners an opportunity to share their experiences and voice suggestions to Habitat and future homeowners.” HFHI Women Build was most interested in how the study results could be used to bring positive changes to the nonprofit housing program. “This national study revealed that the perceived quality of the neighborhood is a strong indicator of family improvement and selfesteem,” said Dr. Priest. “Our recommendation to cluster build will improve the quality of life of the Habitat homeowner and work to improve and stabilize neighborhoods and communities across the country. We have already seen these changes start to take affect locally.”
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