January 02, 2013
Open forums set for Student Success finalists
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Three finalists seeking to become coordinator for Student Success Courses at Southern Illinois University Carbondale will meet the campus community in January in open forums during a campus visit and interview process.
The candidates are: Amber L. Manning, graduate assistant for University College and Saluki First Year at SIU Carbondale; Nicholas Weshinskey, a former instructor and graduate teaching assistant in the Department of Educational Administration and Higher Education at SIU Carbondale, and Jeffrey Woodward, a retired lieutenant colonel with the U.S. Army.
Each candidate will make a presentation on the topic of “Academic and Developmental Arguments for Student Success Courses.” The forums give each candidate an opportunity to present their vision of the challenges and opportunities for improving student success and retention at SIU Carbondale. The presentations are open to the public.
Here is a schedule of the forums:
- Weshinskey will hold his forum from 10:10 to 11 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 8, in the Balcony Conference Room in Anthony Hall.
- Woodward will hold his forum from 1:45 to 2:45 p.m., Jan. 15, also in the Balcony Conference Room, Anthony Hall.
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Manning will hold her forum from 10:10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Jan. 16, also in the Balcony Conference Room in Anthony Hall.
Weshinskey is a two-degree graduate of SIU Carbondale. He earned a master’s degree in educational psychology from the College of Education and Human Services in 2011, and a bachelor’s degree in social studies education in 2004. He also earned an associate degree from John A. Logan College.
Weshinskey is currently a mental health therapist for The H Group in Carbondale. A nationally certified counselor, he also holds a teaching certificate in Illinois. From August 2009 to July 2011, Weshinskey was an instructor and graduate teaching assistant for two sections of a 300-level undergraduate course in the fall, spring and summer semesters. He was also a course facilitator in fall 2010 for a specialized class offered by the Department of Educational Psychology and Special Education for at-risk undergraduate students. From 2005 to 2008, Weshinskey was a social studies teacher at Carbondale Community High School, where he was also active in the school’s Lifesaver’s organization.
Woodward brings more than 20 years of experience in human resources. He retired from the U.S. Army in 2010 from the human resources management branch, and spent 24 years on active and reserve duty. Woodward’s duties relating to education focus on developing and teaching curriculum for United States and European students, including work with business majors in Darmstadt, Germany; integration of curriculum with secondary education teachers in the United Kingdom; and coordinating and integrating initiatives in curriculum for operating soldier success programs during Iraqi Freedom.
Woodward has considerable managerial experience. As part of his duties Woodward regularly prepared official reports for offices of the Secretary of the Army, Secretary of Defense, and congressional officials. He is a co-author on an article published in “Issues in Informational Systems.” He earned a master’s degree in human resources development from Webster University in St. Louis in 2004, and a bachelor’s degree in education from Central Michigan University in 1989. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Army Command General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and a certified sponsor for Lean Six Sigma Green Belt projects.
Manning has been a graduate assistant with University College and Saluki First Year since September 2009. A two-degree graduate of SIU Carbondale, Manning is currently working on her dissertation to attain her doctorate degree from the Department of Educational Administration and Higher Education. Manning earned a master’s degree in counselor education in August 2009, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2004. She also earned a certificate in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies in August 2011, and is a licensed professional counselor in Illinois and a national certified counselor.
Her duties have included organization of the University College 101: Foundations of Inquiry course now required for all incoming freshmen, and development and implementation modules for the UCOL 101 course in SIU Online. She also conducted training sessions, instructor workshops, and brown bag sessions for ongoing UCOL instructor support, and served as chairperson for faculty and staff UCOL 101 instructor training, and workshop planning. She was consultant for discipline-specific UCOL 101 classes as well, and had many other roles pertaining to the course and to University College activities. Before her role with University College, Manning worked with the SIU Carbondale Summer Bridge program, the University’s Wellness Center, and with Union County Counseling Services in Anna.