Spring 2025 Newsletter

From the Dean: CHHS thrives in the face of challenges to higher education

These are challenging times in higher education. With a restructuring of the U.S. Department of Education, possible reductions in federal funding, challenges to what is taught in the classroom and questions regarding the value of a college degree, many are concerned about the state of higher education. At SIU, however, we continue to thrive. We recently achieved two recognitions in the Carnegie Classification, and we are among only 21 institutions in the country to attain both. We have received the highest research designation, R1, and we have been named an Opportunity College and University, which recognizes institutions with a commitment to providing educational access and fostering student success. And the College of Health and Human Sciences (CHHS) continues to be an accelerator for SIU’s success.

I write this after just celebrating our third annual Celebration of Excellence, which continues to be sponsored by Mid-America Transplant (one of our many great partners). This is an annual event to recognize the excellence of our faculty and staff. This year, we celebrated the following award winners:

• Debbie Simpson, School of Psychological and Behavioral Sciences (SPBS), Service to the College
• Dr. Valerie Boyer, School of Health Sciences (SHeS), Ernest J. And Mary C. Simon Distinguished Faculty
• Dr. Eric Lee, SPBS, Early Career Scholar Excellence
• Dr. Wasantha Jayawardene, School of Human Sciences (SHuS), Scholar of the Year
• Lisa Bickel, SHeS, Non-Tenure Track Teacher of the Year
• Dr. Daniel Hillyard, School of Justice and Public Safety, Tenure-Track Teacher of the Year.

We hosted the CHHS Honors Day to recognize 866 undergraduate students in the college who received academic honors. These students maintain a grade point average of 3.5 and above, so they truly are excelling in the classroom. On Saturday, May 10, we celebrated the graduation of 626 undergraduate students, 152 master’s degree students and nine doctoral students. We have incredible students in CHHS, and they are doing some remarkable things. So exciting things are happening in higher education at SIU.

We had a busy spring hiring faculty and staff, but I’m especially pleased to announce the hiring of two new school directors:

Dr. Valerie Boyer, Director, School of Health Sciences

Valerie E. Boyer is a tenured associate professor in the communication disorders and sciences program and the current recipient of the Mark and Susan Ashley Endowed Professorship. Dr. Boyer has served as interim director for the School of Health Sciences at Southern Illinois University since July 2024.  Dr. Boyer holds a Ph.D. in special education (2006) and M.S. in communication disorders and sciences (2000), both from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Dr. Boyer is the 2025 recipient of the Ernest J. and Mary C. Simon Distinguished Faculty Award for service to the College of Health and Human Sciences at SIU. Dr. Boyer was honored with a Women of Distinction SIU Excellence Award for her sustained commitment to women and/or issues of inclusive excellence. Dr. Boyer specializes in pediatric language and early intervention work in communication disorders and sciences. She has been a collaborator at the SIU Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders (CASD) since 2013. Current projects at CASD target development and training of assessment protocols for augmentative and alternative communication that are interdisciplinary and inclusive of child and caregiver preferences. Dr. Boyer served as program director for the communication disorders and sciences program at SIU from 2014-2018 and again from 2020-2024. The program has sustained external accreditation, a 100% job placement rating within a year of graduation and a very high retention rate. The CDS program recently received accreditation from the Council of Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association through 2033. Under Dr. Boyer’s leadership, the program has developed a more diverse curriculum, including student scholar exchange and study abroad to Brazil.

Dr. Dawn Richards, Director, School of Human Sciences

Dr. Dawn Richards is a tenured associate professor of human nutrition and dietetics at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses. A proud three-degree SIU alumna, she holds a B.S. and M.S. in food and nutrition and a Ph.D. in health education. Over her 30-year career, Dr. Richards has made a lasting impact through her roles in academics and student affairs. She began her career as a registered dietitian in University Housing, addressing student dietary needs, and later served as director of SIU’s accredited dietetic internship program, earning the Outstanding Term Faculty Teacher Award for the then College of Agricultural Sciences. As wellness coordinator for SIU’s Wellness and Health Promotion Services, she received the Mid-America College Health Association’s New Professional of the Year award and secured funding to establish the Dawg Lounge — a stress-reducing space still in use today. Dr. Richards returned to academics in 2017 as an assistant professor in human nutrition and dietetics with her research focusing on food insecurity in rural Southern Illinois, environmental nutrition and the health of brown-water mariners. She co-founded Southern Illinois Hunters for the Hungry in 2022, an initiative that has donated over 8,800 pounds of venison to local food pantries, addressing both hunger and sustainable food practices. Her work has been supported by No Kid Hungry and the NCAA and includes over 25 peer-reviewed publications and presentations at 25 professional conferences. With three decades of experience, Dr. Richards brings expertise in health promotion, food distribution, lifecycle nutrition and dietetics program leadership. She currently serves as director of the undergraduate didactic program in dietetics and associate director of the School of Human Sciences.

Although spring is just wrapping up, we are already planning for a big summer and fall semester. We will have a number of events and opportunities for you to return to your alma mater this fall. A partial list is included below, but we are most excited to invite you back for our Fourth Annual CHHS Alumni, Faculty and Staff Appreciation Tailgate for the Homecoming game on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. on Saluki Row.

• School of Aviation Dave NewMyer Golf Scramble: June 23 (Boulder Ridge Country Club, Lake in the Hills, Illinois). For details on participation and sponsorship, visit the SIU Foundation website.
• First day of fall classes: Aug. 18
• Saluki football home game: Aug. 30 (Thomas More College)
• Family Weekend: Oct. 3-5
• Saluki football home game: Oct. 4 (Indiana State University)
• Saluki football home game: Oct. 18 (University of North Dakota)
• SIU Homecoming 2025: Oct. 20-26
• CHHS Alumni, Faculty and Staff Appreciation Tailgate: Oct. 25
• Saluki football home game: Homecoming game, Oct. 25 (Northern Iowa)
• Saluki football home game: Nov. 15 (University of South Dakota)
• 2025 Fall Commencement: Dec. 13

A major focus for our CHHS team this year is the development of the Community Care and Education Center (CCEC), a new initiative designed to meet the growing demand for behavioral and mental health services across Southern Illinois. The CCEC will serve as a vital hub for students, faculty and community members — providing access, continuity of care and a beacon of hope for individuals and families in need of behavioral and mental health support. Please see the full article in this newsletter for more details on the CCEC.

In closing this edition of the Dean’s Corner, I thank you for your support of CHHS. We have much to be proud of, and together, we are redefining the landscape of health and human sciences education. We appreciate your partnership as we champion innovation, research and service – pillars that define the College of Health and Human Sciences at SIU.

Please follow us on Facebook at SIU College of Health & Human Sciences and Instagram @siu_chhs .

Best Wishes and Go Dawgs,

Robert Morgan, Ph.D.
robert.d.morgan@siu.edu

Able Flight founder Charles Stites (left) with SIU Provost Sheryl A. Tucker and SIU aviation personnel in fall 2024 celebrate the donation of planes and funding for people with physical disabilities to continue receiving intensive flight training through the School of Aviation (Photo by Russell Bailey)  

Taking off: School of Aviation, Able Flight head into second year 

By Pete Rosenbery  

CARBONDALE, Ill. — As the School of Aviation prepares to embark on a second year in its partnership with Able Flight, an aviation nonprofit for people with physical disabilities to receive intensive flight training, the legacy of SIU Carbondale’s commitment to inclusiveness continues. 

Enabling people to access opportunities in an arena that many might consider unavailable, the program also benefits aviation students, said Steven Goetz, chief flight instructor and SIU Aviation associate professor. 

“I can’t overstate how important it is for our aviation students, who will be professionals in the industry upon graduation, to see people with disabilities succeeding in aviation,” he said. “This program fits well with SIU's history of inclusive practices and current embracing of diversity. The students we train through Able Flight all have their own stories, and I'm thrilled that SIU has been given the opportunity to help them expand their skills and achieve their goals.” 

After a successful inaugural cohort last summer where five Able Flight students trained with SIU Aviation instructors to become licensed pilots certified to operate light sport aircraft, the incorporated nonprofit organization last fall formally transferred ownership of two Vashon Ranger Light Sport airplanes to the university, along with donating funds for program expenses at SIU for a minimum of seven years. 

Beginning May 23, six more Able Flight students will begin their training at Southern Illinois Airport, spending up to eight weeks of intensive training before taking their check rides in early July. Started in 2006 by Charles Stites, 98 licensed pilots have already completed the program. 

First year at SIU a success 

Goetz said that last year’s initial cohort at SIU went well, “but we were very much inventing as we went along.” 

“This year, we have streamlined the curriculum some and are working with campus authorities to ensure the best experience for the students based on what we learned last year,” he said. 

That includes the logistical challenges of the modified airplanes valued at about $170,000 apiece. The airplanes are dedicated solely to Able Flight scholarship recipients during its annual program, which runs from May through July, and are available for use by SIU students the remainder of the year. 

“We have a better understanding of the logistical challenges of the aircraft,” Goetz said. “They were brand new last year, so we were learning about them as we operated them. With what we know now, we’re hopeful that we’ll face less aircraft downtime and be able to complete these students faster than last year’s group.  In addition to our maintenance planning, we have already had more robust communication with our students to prepare them for this program.” 

This year, three or four SIU flight instructors will participate in the program with Victoria Mathieu, an associate instructor, once again running the day-to-day operations, Goetz said. 

School of Aviation Director Chien-Tsung Lu said the continuity of the Able Flight program “showcases our commitment to inclusivity and expanding access, inspiring our community by empowering individuals with disabilities to pursue aviation.” 

“Through the Able Flight scholarships, the School of Aviation was able to help promote aviation and empower enthusiasts to build their confidence or pursue careers in aviation-related fields,” Lu said.